(Photo By Flickr User Soar Boards)

According to cinewsnow.com and news.illinois.edu, Bradley University and The University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have joined a growing list of schools banning hoverboards on campus.

A number of explosions and fires have been reported while the hoverboards have been charging.

Bradley made the decision after several safety commissions recommended that the boards be watched at all times while charging.

Nathan Thomas, vice president for student affairs said,
“That’s just not a reality for our students. It’s probably not even a reality for me. I’m going to charge something and just leave and let it go, and that’s where we become really uncomfortable with it; If those are the recommendations and we’re not sure those recommendations are to be reasonably followed by our students then we’re putting others at risk and that’s really where a decision was made.”

Down the road on Interstate 74 East, the popular self-balancing motorized devices known as hoverboards will not be allowed in any facilities owned, leased, occupied or controlled by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will take effect in Mid-January.

Craig Grant, director of campus code compliance and fire safety at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign said,

“We have consulted with our fire protection providers and determined that it is prudent for the safety of our campus community to recommend that all battery-powered self-balancing personal transportation devices be prohibited in our campus facilities at this time.”

The campuswide prohibition covers the use, carrying, charging, storage or other possession of the devices in classrooms, laboratories, meeting rooms, and all other campus facilities. Those who violate the policy could face sanctions.

Users will be required to follow the same university guidelines regarding skateboards.