Trolleying round town

JONATHON CAMERON/ Manawatu Standard

TROLLEY GOOD: Duncan Ferguson with the 50cc shopping trolley he built.

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Duncan Ferguson is legally getting trolleyed on New Zealand roads.

The innovative 19-year-old mechanic has repeatedly baffled police by cruising around Palmerston North in his motorised shopping trolley, which he built "for the hell of it".

Equipped with a 50cc moped engine, the Write Price cage can hit speeds of 45kmh atop wheels taken from a ride-on lawnmower.

It costs $6 to fill up - petrol which lasts the week - though the lack of wiring means his arms get plenty of exercise as indicators.

But no matter how many times he is pulled over, the police can find no legal fault with it.

Mr Ferguson said he was in a "motorising phase" when he constructed it about a year ago. "I worked at Write Price in Feilding and just looked at a trolley one day and was like 'why not?'," he said.

"It's all legal, I made sure of that and the police have checked quite a few times. I take it out and cruise round The Square on Friday and Saturday nights. I get a few looks."

His joy-riding is somewhat lonely though, as he can't legally take passengers.

But he is getting set to make modifications, he said, so anything is possible yet.