Segway Human Transporter Taken Off British Roads And Tracks

The Segway Human Transporter has proven itself to be a handy substitute to cars and buses since its debut in 2001. France, Spain and most US states permit its use on sidewalks; Austria and the Netherlands allow it on cycle paths, while Italy allows it on both.

This acceptance, however, cannot be found in Britain, as its government has declared the $5,000 self-balancing scooter unfit to be used in sidewalks and roads. Invoking the Highway Act of 1835, Britain’s Department of Transportation has banned it from sidewalks, and the EU vehicle-certification rules to keep it off roads. According to the department, it is stipulated in the “Regulations for Self-Balancing Scooters”  that  “You can only ride an unregistered self-balancing scooter on land which is private property and with the landowner’s permission.”

It also rejects proposals that the Segway should be treated like the faster electric bicycle. In further explanation, “A self-balancing scooter does not meet requirements [for electric bicycles] as it cannot be pedaled.”

This ruling of the Department of Transportation has been met with criticisms by advocates of the Segway Human Transporter. Bae Systems, Segway gyroscopes developer at its Plymouth, England research center, accused the department of failing to test it properly. Andy Hughes, a spokesman for the company, has said that of the four officials who attended a testing session , three refused to ride it, while the fourth traveled only 100 yards. “The department seems reluctant to accept new technology, and there is a degree of [butt]-covering in the regulations,” Hughes said.

A department spokesperson, however, has hinted that the regulations might be reviewed. “We are still in contact with the company and keeping up to date with developments.”

The Segway Human Transporter was invented by American Dean Kamen. He suggested that it would be the solution to all transport woes, eliminating queues of belching cars and replacing them with Segway riders gliding silently along at 12mph. In description, Kamen has predicted that it “will be to the car what the car was to the horse and buggy.” This self-balancing scooter is kept upright by gyroscopes and microprocessors.

The Segway Human Transporter has proven itself to be a handy substitute to cars and buses since its debut in 2001. France, Spain and most US states permit its use on sidewalks; Austria and the Netherlands allow it on cycle paths, while Italy allows it on both.

This acceptance, however, cannot be found in Britain, as its government has declared the $5,000 self-balancing scooter unfit to be used in sidewalks and roads. Invoking the Highway Act of 1835, Britain’s Department of Transportation has banned it from sidewalks, and the EU vehicle-certification rules to keep it off roads. According to the department, it is stipulated in the “Regulations for Self-Balancing Scooters”  that  “You can only ride an unregistered self-balancing scooter on land which is private property and with the landowner’s permission.”

It also rejects proposals that the Segway should be treated like the faster electric bicycle. In further explanation, “A self-balancing scooter does not meet requirements [for electric bicycles] as it cannot be pedaled.”

This ruling of the Department of Transportation has been met with criticisms by advocates of the Segway Human Transporter. Bae Systems, Segway gyroscopes developer at its Plymouth, England research center, accused the department of failing to test it properly. Andy Hughes, a spokesman for the company, has said that of the four officials who attended a testing session , three refused to ride it, while the fourth traveled only 100 yards. “The department seems reluctant to accept new technology, and there is a degree of [butt]-covering in the regulations,” Hughes said.

A department spokesperson, however, has hinted that the regulations might be reviewed. “We are still in contact with the company and keeping up to date with developments.”

The Segway Human Transporter was invented by American Dean Kamen. He suggested that it would be the solution to all transport woes, eliminating queues of belching cars and replacing them with Segway riders gliding silently along at 12mph. In description, Kamen has predicted that it “will be to the car what the car was to the horse and buggy.” This self-balancing scooter is kept upright by gyroscopes and microprocessors.