4 July 2011

Hardened Segway criminals rampaging along the lake foreshore

| johnboy
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Segway scooters are famously not legal to ride in Australia either on the footpath, or upon the road.

But it is the way of scofflaw criminals to video themselves in breach of the law and publish it for all the world to see on YouTube.

segway criminals

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creative_canberran said :

On a side note, the founder of Segway Jimi Heselden died late last year after riding one off a cliff into a river in “non suspicious” circumstances.

Meanwhile, the actual inventor of the Segway (Dean Kamen) drinks his own piss on stage, and was doing it long before Bear Grylss made it pouplar.

creative_canberran said :

On a side note, the founder of Segway Jimi Heselden died late last year after riding one off a cliff into a river in “non suspicious” circumstances. Wonder how many tourists will end up over shooting Regatta Point and ending up in Central Basin?

To my knowledge, their power and physical size make them illegal on all public property. I would think if these are legit, then it is by virtue of the NCA controlling land use and having the power to grant exemption on permit and with appropriate public liability cover.

Have to say though, I blame the idiot using these. Aside from who would want to look like a dorky mall cop… you’ve got legs!

You make it sound like it was foolishness on his part, he was being polite and moved to one side to let someone coming the other way on the path get by. Carelessness, I admit, but you attempt to create a false impression by with-holding all the facts. For shame

Classified said :

These things are all over the place, and lots of people use them with no ill effects. We should legalise them to remove the criminal element and to minimise harm.

Would you mind though if i installed a 2HP electric motor on my bicycle and overtook you driving on Northborne? As far as i can tell, the segway motor is 7 times the legal limit.

creative_canberran said :

On a side note, the founder of Segway Jimi Heselden died late last year after riding one off a cliff into a river in “non suspicious” circumstances. Wonder how many tourists will end up over shooting Regatta Point and ending up in Central Basin?

Holy misinformation, Batman! (With thanks to niftydog.)

He was not the founder of Segway. He bought the company behind Segway in 2009.

creative_canberran6:46 pm 04 Jul 11

On a side note, the founder of Segway Jimi Heselden died late last year after riding one off a cliff into a river in “non suspicious” circumstances. Wonder how many tourists will end up over shooting Regatta Point and ending up in Central Basin?

To my knowledge, their power and physical size make them illegal on all public property. I would think if these are legit, then it is by virtue of the NCA controlling land use and having the power to grant exemption on permit and with appropriate public liability cover.

Have to say though, I blame the idiot using these. Aside from who would want to look like a dorky mall cop… you’ve got legs!

Looks like a classic case of the law not catching up with technology. Perhaps if we get a person running in front of the Segway with a red flag…

These things are all over the place, and lots of people use them with no ill effects. We should legalise them to remove the criminal element and to minimise harm.

I would’ve assumed that drivers had the legal sanction to mount curbs in order to hit Segways that strayed too close, much like killer whales hunting seals on Argentinian beaches.

Mrs aronde and I had a go of the Segways at the Sunshine Coast. They were only allowed there because it was private property and even then we could not go on the beach because the council would not allow it. If it is true they can be rented out in Canberra I’d like to know how they got around the illegality of them on footpaths and roads.

And for anyone interested they are easy to ride once you get the hang of them. They have a ‘turtle’ mode that cripples them to 10km/h and can do about 20 or so unrestricted. We cruised around in turtle mode for an hour or so before being let loose on full speed and boy was that fun! Weird sensation flying along at speed whilst standing up. Anyway great for a laugh but I think not so great for extended periods as a transport method as you get really sore calf muscles after a while – much better to walk or cycle.

Don’t worry, I found it. I just thought you were referring to the recent thread here about the fabled “rule 73”.

churl said :

If the driver is turning left or right … the driver must also give way to any pedestrian at or near the intersection who is crossing the road, or part of the road, the driver is entering.
Stop signs etc don’t come into it.

Care to cite the rule you’re referring too?

Sorry for the thread Segue

churl said :

niftydog said :

Glad I wasn’t trying to overtake her on my bike… actually, a well timed ‘ding’ might have sent her for a swim!

churl said :

Well I dont know about Segways, but if you’re turning into a road, you have to give way to ‘continuing’ pedestrians. (Try this at your own risk in Canberra, however.)

Holy misinformation, Batman! This only applies to T-intersections with no traffic lights, stop sign, stop line, give way sign or give way line. Not a lot of them around when you think about it.

Sounds like you’re one of our problem ‘might is right’ drivers. Have a look at the road rules:
If the driver is turning left or right … the driver must also give way to any pedestrian at or near the intersection who is crossing the road, or part of the road, the driver is entering.
Stop signs etc don’t come into it.

Yes..”.Have a look at the road rules:”
PEDESTRIAN not Segwestrian.

churl said :

niftydog said :

Glad I wasn’t trying to overtake her on my bike… actually, a well timed ‘ding’ might have sent her for a swim!

churl said :

Well I dont know about Segways, but if you’re turning into a road, you have to give way to ‘continuing’ pedestrians. (Try this at your own risk in Canberra, however.)

Holy misinformation, Batman! This only applies to T-intersections with no traffic lights, stop sign, stop line, give way sign or give way line. Not a lot of them around when you think about it.

Sounds like you’re one of our problem ‘might is right’ drivers. Have a look at the road rules:
If the driver is turning left or right … the driver must also give way to any pedestrian at or near the intersection who is crossing the road, or part of the road, the driver is entering.
Stop signs etc don’t come into it.

Do the road rules mention if over power electric scooter like devices are counted as pedestrians?

niftydog said :

Glad I wasn’t trying to overtake her on my bike… actually, a well timed ‘ding’ might have sent her for a swim!

churl said :

Well I dont know about Segways, but if you’re turning into a road, you have to give way to ‘continuing’ pedestrians. (Try this at your own risk in Canberra, however.)

Holy misinformation, Batman! This only applies to T-intersections with no traffic lights, stop sign, stop line, give way sign or give way line. Not a lot of them around when you think about it.

Sounds like you’re one of our problem ‘might is right’ drivers. Have a look at the road rules:
If the driver is turning left or right … the driver must also give way to any pedestrian at or near the intersection who is crossing the road, or part of the road, the driver is entering.
Stop signs etc don’t come into it.

Glad I wasn’t trying to overtake her on my bike… actually, a well timed ‘ding’ might have sent her for a swim!

churl said :

Well I dont know about Segways, but if you’re turning into a road, you have to give way to ‘continuing’ pedestrians. (Try this at your own risk in Canberra, however.)

Holy misinformation, Batman! This only applies to T-intersections with no traffic lights, stop sign, stop line, give way sign or give way line. Not a lot of them around when you think about it.

troll-sniffer2:06 pm 04 Jul 11

Was walking the lake yesterday.

A few of these were promenading near the Carillon.

No energy was expended by the lazy sods.

KPH? Who can say, I\’d be running to keep up though?

Each to their own but I made my derision plain to see.

Rest assured, Canberra is not a place where the LA lifestyle is a natural fit.

Seems to me that embarrassment is not enough to prevent some people from looking stupid.

Now read the first letter of each line.

Why havent these people been arrested already? Its only 600m from the AFP headquarters. We should be spending less time trying to find attackers, rapists, and commodore drivers, and more time finding illegal high-powered electric scooters.

helium said :

I nearly hit one guy who was riding ‘hands free’ and failed to give way (he saw me) as he crossed a road that I was turning into. BTW they are fun to ride but I’d rarther be on a bike

Well I dont know about Segways, but if you’re turning into a road, you have to give way to ‘continuing’ pedestrians. (Try this at your own risk in Canberra, however.)

They are only illegal because they have to much power to be classified as a ‘scooter’ 200 W max, and they have 1500 per wheel, also they go too fast, max 10 kph. Perhaps they could be legalised with the ‘slow’ key.

I nearly hit one guy who was riding ‘hands free’ and failed to give way (he saw me) as he crossed a road that I was turning into. BTW they are fun to ride but I’d rarther be on a bike

Queen_of_the_Bun1:09 pm 04 Jul 11

If it’s not legal, how come you can hire them from the kiosk near Water’s Edge? There were four people riding them around the lake last Monday when I went for my lunch time walk. They were crossing the Kings Av bridge with signs saying “Rent this Segway now”.

I’ve got no problem with them beside the lake but don’t think they should be allowed on the bridges – the footpaths are too narrow and the Segways are too clumsy and apparently difficult to steer (from my observations of the girl leading the pack who almost fell off every time she waved to the traffic).

Could be a very awkward situation with a Segway coming towards you, a couple of yummy mummies with super prams running up behind you, and a lycra warrior speeding up on the inside. Throw an overly friendly labrador into the mix and it could be ugly.

They ain’t hurting anyone, let ’em be.

Find something worthwhile to whinge about

I am constantly amazed at the lengths (some of) we humans will go to, to avoid expending some energy – i.e. getting some exercise. Now the lazy buggers don’t even need to walk! Yet if they lost that ability they’d be the first to whinge and complain and cry “poor me”

(grumpy Monday)

Shoot ’em on sight, with a nerf gun.

Not wearing a seatbelt either.

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