19 September 2011

Segways to roll by Lake Burley Griffin

| johnboy
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segway

Simon Corbell has announced he’s granting a special exemption to make the shores of Lake Burley Griffin a Segway mecca.

“Following the recent establishment of a Segway hire business, and its subsequent closure last month, I requested a review of Segway use in the ACT,” Mr Corbell said.

“As a thorough review will take some time to complete, I have granted a limited exemption from the road transport legislation to enable Segways to be used as long as certain conditions are met.”

Mr Corbell said he was pleased to be in a position to grant an exemption for the use of Segways in Lake Burley Griffin, coinciding with high visitor numbers to the area for Floriade over the coming month.

A number of business operators have approached the ACT Government in relation to the operation of Segway hire businesses in the ACT.

“The main consideration in allowing Segways to operate in the ACT relates to the safety of Canberrans and visitors. These operators obviously must have appropriate insurance coverage and take every step necessary to ensure that pedestrians, as well as people who use Segways, remain safe,” Mr Corbell said.

The exemption started on Saturday 17th September and will remain in place until 30 June 2012. The exemption will not be extended if the review of Segway use concludes that its use should not be continued.

While we’re granting exemptions why not let electric bicycles join the rest of the world with the power limit lifted?

[Photo by pdsphil. CC BY]

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The CT today says that the owners have to have $20m public liability insurance. Despite the exemption, I presume that the lake Segways are still not classed as “bicycles” and therefore, like other vehicles in the ACT, are subject to uncapped third party liability. If so, in the unlikely event that a significant injury occurs, who would pay the excess over $20m? The owners or the ACT Government?

Dante said :

Keijidosha said :

It will only take one numpty to topple into the lake before the fun police bring their hammer down.

No worries, then let’s ban bikes and rollebaldes around the lake as well. I’ve seen heaps of people have accidents on them.

In fact, we need to ban cars as well. Plenty of car accidents.

and people trip up on things in their houses. ban houses. and feet. 😉

can you wear lycra and ride a segway? i wanna have a go on one, anyway – wheeeeeeeeee… 🙂

Pork Hunt said :

Power boats were not allowed on the lake until ONE company applied to use them.

Did they apply first? or did they do it anyway, get shutdown, *then* apply to have it?

I’ll write simon a letter next week, asking for an exception to the 200w motor limit for my bicycle. Do you think he will let me ride down northborne on my new super motorised bicycle?

Henry82 said :

Common sense?

How is it fair that one ‘company’ is allowed an exception to the law, but someone caught riding a homemade version will probably lose their drivers license?

Power boats were not allowed on the lake until ONE company applied to use them. If someone wants to be a pioneer and try something new, they get sniped at.
I’ll bet my left nut that the whingers of today would have complained about the invention of the penny farthing, motor car and power poles in the street.

Live and let live ffs….

alaninoz said :

Nifty said :

Actually, it was the National Capital Authority, the pretend administration for the Parly triangle (ie the Feds) who issued a licence to operate this Segway hire business without checking whether they were legal under the AUSTRALIAN Road Rules. The ACT Govt had to fix up their stuff up.

No, the ACT government didn’t have to fix it, they could have just stood by while the hire business sued the NCA. Piddling difference though. The taxpayer would have paid anyway.

Actually, I think Nifty is on the mark. They clearly issued licenses for vehicles that are subject to ADRs at time of import. I’m not sure how they got these in. Have a check of the forums, other people have been knocked back
http://forums.segwaychat.com/archive/index.php/t-5881.html

troll-sniffer said :

“While we’re granting exemptions why not let electric bicycles join the rest of the world with the power limit lifted?”

200W is more than enough power for a power-assisted bicycle. There were good reasons for setting the figure, to do with matching a fit person’s maximum power output etc, and the risks in adding power to a person’s power etc.

When you can do 40km/hr on the flat with the same effort it takes to do 20km/hr pedalling normally or 20+km/hr up Belconnen Way etc, that’s plenty of power.

The figure was actually picked to prevent petrol motor’d scooters in, as you cant detune even a model aircraft motor less than 200W (not kW!! woops typo!). The law was brought in to stop these as some kid killed himself on one, hence the political response. Anything above 200W was subject to ADRs and requires an import approval to clear Customs. As far as I can see, the only way they could have got these in was either bs’ing Customs or claiming their mobility vehicles for disabled people. Otherwise they could be a bit matey with the Minister and applied for exemption (which is bloody hard to get).

Henry82 said :

What happens if you lean forward quickly?

Let George W Bush demonstrate for you-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2989000.stm

woot! Let the segways be. If the rest of the world has proven anything they are no more dangerous than a bike, rollerblades or a knife wielding zombie.

will they have to have bells? Do you need to ding if you pass someone else? 🙂

Henry82 said :

Dante said :

Segways don’t have accelerators.(…)It’s not like any other powered vehicle where the user could easily slam on the accelerator (…).

What happens if you lean forward quickly?

Gravity bites.

Nifty said :

Actually, it was the National Capital Authority, the pretend administration for the Parly triangle (ie the Feds) who issued a licence to operate this Segway hire business without checking whether they were legal under the AUSTRALIAN Road Rules. The ACT Govt had to fix up their stuff up.

No, the ACT government didn’t have to fix it, they could have just stood by while the hire business sued the NCA. Piddling difference though. The taxpayer would have paid anyway.

Dante said :

Segways don’t have accelerators.(…)It’s not like any other powered vehicle where the user could easily slam on the accelerator (…).

What happens if you lean forward quickly?

Dante said :

L
Why the Segway hate?

They are preposterous machines which are ridden by prats and hipsters, and are a menace on footpaths.

Seriously, have you seen the dipsticks who ride these things?

troll-sniffer2:50 pm 19 Sep 11

“While we’re granting exemptions why not let electric bicycles join the rest of the world with the power limit lifted?”

200W is more than enough power for a power-assisted bicycle. There were good reasons for setting the figure, to do with matching a fit person’s maximum power output etc, and the risks in adding power to a person’s power etc.

When you can do 40km/hr on the flat with the same effort it takes to do 20km/hr pedalling normally or 20+km/hr up Belconnen Way etc, that’s plenty of power.

Keijidosha said :

It will only take one numpty to topple into the lake before the fun police bring their hammer down.

No worries, then let’s ban bikes and rollebaldes around the lake as well. I’ve seen heaps of people have accidents on them.

In fact, we need to ban cars as well. Plenty of car accidents.

Let’s get some perspective.

Segways don’t have accelerators… they use gyroscopes to keep the vehicle balanced and upright at all times. When you lean forwards, the Segway moves forward to keep you balanced. It’s not like any other powered vehicle where the user could easily slam on the accelerator by pressing a button.

They have a max speed of just over 20km/h, so they’re easily overtaken by human powered vehicles.

They’re hardly different from an electric wheelchair, and people don’t freak out when someone with a disability comes rolling down the footpath in one… or when they come down the road as I have seen frequently around the CBD.

Why the Segway hate?

DrKennethNoisewater said :

I can see why they are illegal… 200kw – the power to weight ratio would be mental!

He means 200w, which is basically nothing. According to google, a segway motor is 1500 watts. It’s not a few watts over, its blatantly illegal.

I find it hard to believe that an “entrepreneur” didn’t stop to consider his idea might be illegal before investing thousands of dollars.

p1 said :

If I start a business selling heroin, only to find out later that it is illegal, do you think Simon will give me an exemption?

i think he might. 🙂

alaninoz said :

AG Canberra said :

Common sense…a novel approach by the ACT Government.

Stupid – making an exemption to benefit one hire company. The only justification is to paper over the bureaucratic stuff-up that allowed the operator to open in the first place.

Actually, it was the National Capital Authority, the pretend administration for the Parly triangle (ie the Feds) who issued a licence to operate this Segway hire business without checking whether they were legal under the AUSTRALIAN Road Rules. The ACT Govt had to fix up their stuff up.

Not quite a Pink Batts fiasco but getting there…

DrKennethNoisewater1:56 pm 19 Sep 11

what_the said :

milkman said :

Henry82 said :

Common sense?

How is it fair that one ‘company’ is allowed an exception to the law, but someone caught riding a homemade version will probably lose their drivers license?

Relax komrade, it’s gunna be ok…

He’s got a point. The laws were brought in to stop electric scooters coming into the country, hence the 200kw limit which Segways get caught up in also. So why is it suddenly ok to use a segway but not a majority of electric scooters around the lake? There will definitely be a few importers that will be peeved.
Another question this raises, if they can exempt the rules for scooters, why cant they exempt the helmet laws which are stuffing up the bike schemes in Melbourne and Sydney?

Another question – how long until some muppet steers a Segway into the lake!!!

I can see why they are illegal… 200kw – the power to weight ratio would be mental!

Unless of course, you had some slick glasses and some fat tyres for your Segway, like the gentleman in red jumper.

I still don’t know how he rides with his hands in his pockets. Perhaps he is the Chuck Norris of the Segway riding community?

1967 said :

Homemade?
Where can I get the plans for that?

This is a good start for understanding whats required. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKHPN9RIKxg
There are a lot of designs here: http://hackaday.com/?s=segway

And as usual, google is your friend.

p1 said :

If I start a business selling heroin, only to find out later that it is illegal, do you think Simon will give me an exemption?

Good point, and it raises the spectre of a rise in diluted Segways hitting the footpaths as people try to maximise their profits, cutting the Segways with Hubos and wheelbarrows and shopping carts. Then some poor unsuspecting fool used to the crap will think they can handle pure Segway and have a trip straight into Lake Burly Griffin.

Henry82 said :

Common sense?

How is it fair that one ‘company’ is allowed an exception to the law, but someone caught riding a homemade version will probably lose their drivers license?

Homemade?

Where can I get the plans for that?

milkman said :

Henry82 said :

Common sense?

How is it fair that one ‘company’ is allowed an exception to the law, but someone caught riding a homemade version will probably lose their drivers license?

Relax komrade, it’s gunna be ok…

He’s got a point. The laws were brought in to stop electric scooters coming into the country, hence the 200kw limit which Segways get caught up in also. So why is it suddenly ok to use a segway but not a majority of electric scooters around the lake? There will definitely be a few importers that will be peeved.
Another question this raises, if they can exempt the rules for scooters, why cant they exempt the helmet laws which are stuffing up the bike schemes in Melbourne and Sydney?

Another question – how long until some muppet steers a Segway into the lake!!!

If I start a business selling heroin, only to find out later that it is illegal, do you think Simon will give me an exemption?

Mr Corbell said he was pleased to be in a position to grant an exemption for the use of Segways in Lake Burley Griffin, coinciding with high visitor numbers to the area for Floriade over the coming month.

In Lake Burley Griffin? But won’t they sink?

Kath said :

Perhaps this is a step towards legalising the use of Segways, once it’s obvious that they haven’t lead to carnage around the lake?

It will only take one numpty to topple into the lake before the fun police bring their hammer down.

Does this mean that the 200w limit on electic bicycles may be lifted to say 1kw at the minister discretion?

Perhaps this is a step towards legalising the use of Segways, once it’s obvious that they haven’t lead to carnage around the lake?

Henry82 said :

Common sense?

How is it fair that one ‘company’ is allowed an exception to the law, but someone caught riding a homemade version will probably lose their drivers license?

Relax komrade, it’s gunna be ok…

Bet Simon is asking for a share of profits.Pretty common. 🙂 Are you, Simon?

AG Canberra said :

Common sense…a novel approach by the ACT Government.

Stupid – making an exemption to benefit one hire company. The only justification is to paper over the bureaucratic stuff-up that allowed the operator to open in the first place.

Common sense?

How is it fair that one ‘company’ is allowed an exception to the law, but someone caught riding a homemade version will probably lose their drivers license?

Common sense…a novel approach by the ACT Government.

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