22 January 2009

Segway sighted!

| johnboy
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I saw this old fellow roaring around O’Connor footpaths this afternoon.

It’s only the second Segway I’ve seen in Australia.

In NSW it’s illegal on “both roads and footpaths”.

Any thoughts on its legality here in Canberra dear reader?

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I took my wife and kids down to the Segway hire place near the National Library about 2 months ago, and zoomed back and forth along the lake foreshore for half an hour. It was an absolute blast, and I hope they’re back in operation shortly.

Segways look like magic to the uninitiated, but they’re just an implementation of a solution to the inverted pendulum problem, which is a classic scenario in control system engineering. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_pendulum has a good explanation of the problem, with some of the background math. It’s interesting stuff, and worth a read.

And there’s an engineer in the states named Trevor Blackwell (http://tlb.org/scooter.html) who built a home brew transporter out of stuff you can buy at Bunnings and Dick Smith for about a thousand dollars. That sounds pretty clever, but what I really admire is his self balancing unicycle, built using the same principles. Now that’s cool.

Hi I have seen these for hire near the National Gallery on the lake foreshore

Closed down by the fun police.

The fun police were on 666am this afternoon. Apparently under current laws the rider isn’t insured, so would end up completely liable if they crash into someone. The guy on the radio claimed to be sympathetic and working towards a solution that would allow them to get back operating.

There is a petition to keep them at the coffee stand under the Commonwealth flags by LBG, I think the other stall is where they are hired from.

shadow boxer said :

tristan8181 said :

I have been on a segway tour of San Francisco and it was great. Last weekend I was driving along and I seen a group of 5 or 6 segway riders on what looked like a tour of Canberra. They were down near the lake cutting through the park called Flynn place. I’ve got friends coming to visit in a couple of weeks so I immediately started searching for segway tours of Canberra in google. I found this website which clearly says Segway Tour Lake Canberra Adventures but then doesn’t have any further details.

http://www.justforfun.com.au/Adventures-segway-tour-lake-canberra

Can anyone else provide any info for me?

Closed down by the fun police.

The fun police were on 666am this afternoon. Apparently under current laws the rider isn’t insured, so would end up completely liable if they crash into someone. The guy on the radio claimed to be sympathetic and working towards a solution that would allow them to get back operating.

Anything above 200Watts is subject to ADRs, hence the reasons lights, indicators etc. It was to stop any petrol scooters and high powered electric scooters. Apparently everyone else in the world is capable of handling Segways, but not the land of rules and regulations.

Just came back from Europe and North America – they’re pretty common in both places, though mainly for “Segway tours” and that kind of thing.

shadow boxer3:30 pm 11 Aug 11

tristan8181 said :

I have been on a segway tour of San Francisco and it was great. Last weekend I was driving along and I seen a group of 5 or 6 segway riders on what looked like a tour of Canberra. They were down near the lake cutting through the park called Flynn place. I’ve got friends coming to visit in a couple of weeks so I immediately started searching for segway tours of Canberra in google. I found this website which clearly says Segway Tour Lake Canberra Adventures but then doesn’t have any further details.

http://www.justforfun.com.au/Adventures-segway-tour-lake-canberra

Can anyone else provide any info for me?

Closed down by the fun police.

Managed to find this which at least gives you a phone number: http://www.diplomathotel.com.au/segway-hire-,news_viewItem_43-en.html

“Segway hire is new to Canberra and close to the Diplomat Hotel. Ride around the cycle paths on beautiful Lake Burley Griffin 7-days a week. To book call Charlie or Di Orr on 0406 379 518.”

I have been on a segway tour of San Francisco and it was great. Last weekend I was driving along and I seen a group of 5 or 6 segway riders on what looked like a tour of Canberra. They were down near the lake cutting through the park called Flynn place. I’ve got friends coming to visit in a couple of weeks so I immediately started searching for segway tours of Canberra in google. I found this website which clearly says Segway Tour Lake Canberra Adventures but then doesn’t have any further details.

http://www.justforfun.com.au/Adventures-segway-tour-lake-canberra

Can anyone else provide any info for me?

I’m guessing if it does 20kmph it runs at over 200W.

There was a guy riding a Segway in Questacon today.

speers said :

I think segways have a more powerful motor than 2cc

(From Vehicle Regulations 2000 s20)
Note Under the definition in the Australian Road Rules a bicycle does not include any vehicle with an auxiliary motor capable of generating a power output over 200W.

I wonder if this means if your segway runs at less than 200W, that you evade the requirement?

Beserk Keyboard Warrior4:50 pm 23 Jan 09

It’s completely irrational but I can’t help but feel like anyone who rides one of dem things is a kiddy fiddler.

Geoffco said :

I often see one in the afternoons coming through the forest near the Cotter Rd/Tuggeranong parkway intersection.

Still seems out of place here. Keep double checking to see if it’s Steve Wozniak… 🙂

I think I’ve seen the same guy. Either way the guy I’ve seen rides (or at least used to ride) past Coolaman Ct on his to the forrest each morning. He’s been doing this for at least 3 years. I’ve often though about riding past and pushing him in the back just to see if he’d tip over. Luckily, I’ve contained this urge (so far….)

wikipedia advises that it has a top speed of 12.5 miles per hour (20.1 km/h). here is the link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segway

I was under the impression that there was a power limit before rego was required on push bikes. Over a (very small) power output and it isn’t legal, which is why you only see very low power electric scooters for sale.

I think segways have a more powerful motor than 2cc

Kinda crazy. Is it because it’s got a motor. pushbikes with a 2cc motor aren’t banned.

Also it would need indicators, headlights, tail lights, horn…

I reckon the ACT legislation would require the segway driver(?) to wear a helmet – like electric and petrol powered bicycles.

My understanding was that a Segway couldn’t be registered as a motor vehicle either, because it doesn’t have brakes as such.. braking is just a correction of your balance, as is all movement on the thing.

I’m still keen to give one a fang one day.

bring on the star trek teleporters

I think Immigration would try to get those banned.

I actually saw him yesterday too. He went flying past and rode off into the sunset while I was stuck in traffic on Anzac Pde.

Holden Caulfield8:43 am 23 Jan 09

jessieduck said :

I see that guy at O’Connor IGA all the time- I think he has a skeletal problem. It’s fantastic that there is technology out there being used to assist people with disabilities.

I feel like giving him a high five whenever we pass!

That’s pretty cool.

I have to get out to the local shops a bit more, I’ve never seen him.

I think lawyers (hence polititions) enjoy trying to define things like vehicles to the n-th degree and make it law. It gives them more irrelevant work to do at our expense and of course it doesn’t stand the test of time because things always change. I say, bring on the star trek teleporters, that way we can get around the whole road registration bullshit once and for all.

At a minimum cost of $9000 new (according to website below) I can think of a lot of other toys I would rather have. That said, the technology used to keep them upright is quite interesting, and accounts in part for the steep price tag.

http://www.segwaysoutherncross.com/price_list.html

PM said :

What sort of government bans something like that?!

All Governments in Australia (so it seems). I’m not sure why anyone is surprised, bureaucratic simpletons making decisions who can’t figure out a way to tax it.

I see that guy at O’Connor IGA all the time- I think he has a skeletal problem. It’s fantastic that there is technology out there being used to assist people with disabilities.

I feel like giving him a high five whenever we pass!

I was staying in the old part of Vilnius (capital of Lithuania) in June, and there is a business there which hires them out so tourists can zoom around the old city streets.

Eyeball that’s as good as the cops in Paris on rollerblades.

Gerry-Built: There’s an exemption in the regulations:

Vehicles used by certain people with disabilities
The registration provisions do not apply to a registrable vehicle
that—
(a) is designed, and while on a road or road related area is used
only, to carry a person with a disability that substantially
impairs the person’s mobility; and
(b) cannot travel faster than 10km/h on level ground.

also noticed that in QLD, mobility carts (the things the oldies drive) must be registered… do they need to be here too (ie Pandy@ #9)?

Questacon owns at least 1 – usually kept in the yellow storage locker at the base of the spiral… but not used outside of Questacon (I’ve not seen it used, but was told it gets used at private functions and after hours things)

Holden Caulfield10:55 pm 22 Jan 09

fribibb said :

yeah the only time i’ve seen one was a guy on one crossing the road down near Narrabundah College the other week.
-He looked quite please with himself too

lol

Well, it’s the 21st century recumbent, so I’m not surprised, haha.

yeah the only time i’ve seen one was a guy on one crossing the road down near Narrabundah College the other week.
-He looked quite please with himself too lol

I rode one with the Segway Tours at Olympic Park. They’re not as easy to use as they look.

We were fine using them around Olympic Park and Bicentennial Park. We used the lowest lowest speed around Olympic Park while we were learning to use the things. When we reached Bicentennial park, we moved up to tne next key to increase the speed key. When we got to a lesser used area of Bicentennial park, we put the speed all the way up. When we arrived back at Olympic Park we changed back to the middle speed. I just wish I could remember what the different speeds were.

We only had a couple of restrictions – we had to wear a bike helmet,and we had to get off the thing to walk it across the road. Again, not a particularly easy maneuver.

A big problem I had was my feet went numb after a while because we weren’t moving them around. Oh, and the fact that I fell off mine going around a corner on a gravel path at high speed, and broke one of the controls…..Oops.

What sort of government bans something like that?!

I’ve only seen one, and it was near Cooleman Court about a year ago.

Eyeball In A Quart Jar Of Snot9:14 pm 22 Jan 09

Portugese police use segways in their inner-city patrols.

That could have been it.

Were they blue or green? I was thinking maybe I saw them once advertising internet. Or Electricity. Or drugs.

or, it was Dick Smith.

Fiona, when the big Dick Smith Powerhouse opened in the Canberra Centre they had people riding them all over the place with placards stating that the big Dick Smith Powerhouse was now open in the Canberra Centre.

don’t they use them for advertising in some places? Kinda like the scooters that tow mini trailers with signs on them… but I don’t remember where that was. Could have been Syd.

I’ve seen a guy on one leaving Geoscience Australia a couple of times. I’m guessing he’s the same guy others have seen around and about in Narrabundah.

toriness said :

Hehe very ‘arrested development’. I like.

The first thing I thought of was Gob Bluth.

Anyone for a frozen banana?

Vic Bitterman8:05 pm 22 Jan 09

I’d love to do one of the rides at Olymic Park in Sydney : http://www.segwaytours.com.au

Why should it be licensed and buff grannies riding race bikes should not?

It’s not legal on a road or road-related area in the ACT. The reasoning is as follows:

The Segway is clearly unregistered (lack of registration plates).

The Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Act 1999 says in s.18(1) that a person may not use an unregistered registrable vehicle on a road or road-related area.

The same Act defines “any motor vehicle” as a registrable vehicle. In turn it defines a motor vehicle as “a vehicle built to be propelled by motor that forms part of the vehicle”, which clearly includes the Segway.

The Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2000 exempts certain vehicles from the registration provisions (like bicycles), but none of the classes applies to the Segway.

Note that footpaths adjacent to roads and bike paths are both are “road-related areas”.

Hehe very ‘arrested development’. I like.

Holden Caulfield6:50 pm 22 Jan 09

I’ve seen a couple of these in town, or possibly the same one twice. Both on the fringes of the Parliamentary triangle from memory. Maybe it was Narrabundah way too???

There’s a bloke in the Narrabundah area who gets around on one.

There’s a guy I’ve seen in Ainslie a couple of times lately. Raced across the road in front of me down the road from me. He’s a speed merchant.

I often see one in the afternoons coming through the forest near the Cotter Rd/Tuggeranong parkway intersection.

Still seems out of place here. Keep double checking to see if it’s Steve Wozniak… 🙂

There’s one in Rivett, too. Often see him going to the shops and back. it looks like fun to ride. If someone offered one to me I’d take it, but they’re about a hundred times too expensive to justify buying I’m afraid.

As for legality – no idea. In terms of safety I’d rather meet a Segway than a monkeybike on a footpath.

Remarkable machines. Anything to aid mobility adds to the enjoyment of life.

Gov would have a problem defining the machines to extract the maximum fees and taxes.

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