12 June 2012

Segways just for the tourists

| johnboy
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Simon Corbell has announced that segway hire in tourist areas will be allowed to keep going.

“Segways have become a notable and unique piece of the fabric around Lake Burley Griffin and have proved popular with locals and tourists alike, and a recent Segway review has not found any major safety issues with their continued use in this type of environment, under direct supervision,” Mr Corbell said.

“I have, however, made the decision based on the recommendations of a review conducted by the ACT Government, that Segways should not be allowed to be used for personal or commercial use on public roadways in the ACT as a general mode of transport.”

segways

[Photo by pdsphil. CC BY]

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thatsnotme said :

So, the max speed of a Segway is about 20km/h. When I ride my bike, I can hit 60 km/h. Segways have an electric motor, so apparently they need special regulation, whereas my bike, with me as the motor, doesn’t.

Doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.

The whole system for classifying and regulating vehicles is a bit of a mess. I doubt many 50cc motorcycles can get much over 60km/h (….to continue the irony of your example). People are riding unregistered electric bicycles that are well over the 200 or 300 watt capacity that is currently allowed and I am seeing an increasing number of unregistered petrol powered bicycles. Registration and CTP insurance for low powered motorcycles motorcycles is ridiculously high for some of those bikes that are not capable of racing speeds or even upper speed limits (eg single cylinder, road trails, low watt electric scooters) or that cannot carry a pillion (meaning that the likelihood and cost of third party claims are ridiculously low).

So, the max speed of a Segway is about 20km/h. When I ride my bike, I can hit 60 km/h. Segways have an electric motor, so apparently they need special regulation, whereas my bike, with me as the motor, doesn’t.

Doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.

Sandman said :

AG Canberra said :

What about the bloke that rides his along the footpath next to Limestone Ave each day (I reckon to the CSIRO building). Is he breaking the law or not?

Yep. Motorised vehicles need a power output less than most kids toys to qualify for non-rego/non licence status.

200w I believe (soon to be 250w). Enough so you don’t have to peddle quite as hard is used to “assist” a pushie, but not nearly enough for something like a Segway.

I found one source stating a segway as having an output of upto 750w, and another mentioned 1.5kw. Probably varies with model, either way, well over the limit.

Parkway Parker5:37 pm 13 Jun 12

ah, the ACT government media releases.

AG Canberra said :

What about the bloke that rides his along the footpath next to Limestone Ave each day (I reckon to the CSIRO building). Is he breaking the law or not?

Yep. Motorised vehicles need a power output less than most kids toys to qualify for non-rego/non licence status.

poetix said :

What fabric would that be? Are knitters involved? Or seamstresses? (If I had a little longer, I could probably make this into a seamless segue.)

Always got time for a good yarn.

Do they still have those multi-person bikes? Used to be hilarious watching people try to ride them “Goodies” style.

%u201CSegways have become a notable and unique piece of the fabric around Lake Burley Griffin …,%u201D Mr Corbell said.

What fabric would that be? Are knitters involved? Or seamstresses? (If I had a little longer, I could probably make this into a seamless segue.)

The photo here is not good advertisement for segways. All of the pictured people could really stand to do a bit more walking, and a lot less bludging around on powered vehicles.

What about the bloke that rides his along the footpath next to Limestone Ave each day (I reckon to the CSIRO building). Is he breaking the law or not?

XO_VSOP said :

Tourists can have the w**kways all they want.

Don’t be like that – they’re a bit of fun. And kids love them.

Which reminds me – anyone know whether any age restrictions are applied here?

Do you really have to wear those faggy helmets on a Segway? Because, and forgive my crassness, it looks really (I’m sorry for this, but there is no other word to describe it) retarded. Really, really retarded.

When will someone invent a smexeh bike-helmet? I reckon that’s the biggest hurdle when it comes to turning everyone in Canberra into cycling numpties, the fact that you cannot legally ride without looking like the “special” cousin from the family basement.
I know that refusing to wear a helmet for the sake of vanity is irrational and as a human being I try to be rational. But as a human being I also suffer from vanity, so why can’t we compromise and make a decent looking helmet, it doesn’t have to look cool. It just needs to look normal

Tourists can have the w**kways all they want.

Good.

This should never have been an issue in the first place. Thank you, Nanny State ACT government.

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