5 March 2012

Simon on Segways [With poll]

| johnboy
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simon corbell and a segway

Attorney-General Simon Corbell is asking for your thoughts on people riding Segway scooters around town.

“Segways have proven to be a popular activity around Lake Burley Griffin, and the government has taken a detailed look at a range of situations where they could be used, like on or off roads,” Mr Corbell said.

“Segways operate in many great cities around the world where they are used for tourist, general transport and mobility reasons, and the ACT government is looking into the possibility of creating legislation that would allow segways to be more widely used in the ACT.”

A Segway is a self balancing, two wheeled vehicle that is currently illegal to use in the ACT other than on private property or in accordance with the Road Transport (General) (Segway Exemption) Determination 2011 (No. 2).

Mr Corbell said that special consideration had been given to the safety of those riding segways and also other road users in developing the discussion paper.

“Safety of all road users and pedestrians is paramount in this discussion, and community views from key stakeholders are welcomed as part of the consultation period,” Mr Corbell said.

A number of case studies, from around the world, have also been considered in the discussion paper, which give an important insight into some of the challenges and benefits that segways have presented in a practical sense already.”

JACS are hosting the discussion paper which has three options:

    1. Permit commercial Segway use only
    2. Permit individual Segway use only
    3. Permit both commercial and individual Segway use

Your thoughts?

Segways

View Results

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[Photo in which Simon is disappointing not on a Segway courtesy of his office]

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GardeningGirl3:03 pm 10 Mar 12

Sandman said :

Watson said :

Why do 25 members (so far) want them banned completely?

Because the large portion of people who would be using them don’t have the appropriate skills and co-ordination to operate in a safe manner around other users. I’d like to be able to let go of my 2 year olds hand while walking around Garema place without fear of her getting squashed by a twatmobile. Easier to ban before everyone gets used to it rather than try to take them away later. (by the way, this is the opinion of someone who owns almost every kind of wheeled or motored vehicle. If they do legalize them I’ll buy one, even though I don’t think society as a whole is ready for them).

Sad but true. (Except I’d add it’s not just skills and coordination but attitude.) I haven’t voted yet. I like the idea, I wish it would work. But people will spoil it and then it’ll be a problem to get rid of.

Watson said :

Why do 25 members (so far) want them banned completely?

Because the large portion of people who would be using them don’t have the appropriate skills and co-ordination to operate in a safe manner around other users. I’d like to be able to let go of my 2 year olds hand while walking around Garema place without fear of her getting squashed by a twatmobile. Easier to ban before everyone gets used to it rather than try to take them away later. (by the way, this is the opinion of someone who owns almost every kind of wheeled or motored vehicle. If they do legalize them I’ll buy one, even though I don’t think society as a whole is ready for them).

Dante said :

If electric scooters are acceptable to use on footpaths and roads for those WITHOUT disabilities, then Segways should be accessible to all without restrictions on their use.

I can’t think of any vehicle that is permitted both on the roads and footpaths. I’ve noticed 3 positives mentioned about Segways:
1) They’re good for tourists
2) They’re fun
3) People with disabilities use them

In response:
1) We should legislate for this city to be good for the people who live here first, then think of tourists. People cruising around everywhere on Segways will present a nuisance.
2) Lots of things are fun. Not all fun things should be legal everywhere.
3) People with certain disabilities can legally use mobility scooters on footpaths/bike paths. If Segways are more convenient for some people than mobility scooters I don’t see why they shouldn’t be allowed to use them, so long as they qualify. For everyone else, use your legs.

thy_dungeonman12:00 pm 06 Mar 12

john87_no1 said :

There is no use spending money on bike path upkeep

They do that?

johnboy said :

You can already get a working bike for $40 at Tiny’s Green Shed. Frankly you’ll pay more for the hemet, lights, and lock.

Well you can’t really beat $40 for a bike I guess! But even that could be subsidised on a % basis. If we are going to pay a carbon tax then there should be green energy subsidies for bikes, segways ect.

Doing Civic mainies on Friday nights could be fun on a Segway…..

I think that the Govt should talk about subsidising not only Segways but also bikes for every tax payer. There is no use spending money on bike path upkeep if they are not being used to their full potential.

You can already get a working bike for $40 at Tiny’s Green Shed. Frankly you’ll pay more for the hemet, lights, and lock.

While we’re at it why not also adopt a Paris-style bike hire.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/articles/2009/01/22/1232471476891.html

If electric scooters are acceptable to use on footpaths and roads for those WITHOUT disabilities, then Segways should be accessible to all without restrictions on their use.

Skidbladnir said :

Assuming someone can get the legalese correct, some variation on “Gyroscopic-balanced two-wheeled contraption which complies with Australian Safety Standards X, Y, Z” .

Or “twatmobile” for brevity’s sake?

Henry82 said :

I also disagree with changing the rules for one business because they didn’t read the road rules ahead of time.

I understood this to be an NCA snafu; the ACT government came to the rescue with the exemption.

ehh quote fail.

thy_dungeonman said :

There’s someone at the ANU who I always see riding a segway around

That person is disabled, not using it for recreation. I don’t think the AFP want to kick a disabled person off their transportation.

Watson said :

Why do 25 members (so far) want them banned completely?

care.

i voted ‘ban them all’ because i don’t think they should be letting through only one manufacturer. Either they should ban it all, or allow anyone to put the same powered motor on their bicycle etc – which i doubt they would do.

I took the family down for I ride on these things last year. It was an expensive half hour, but we had a blast and the kids absolutely loved it.

For some reason they thought I looked like a dork riding one while they didn’t. How could that be?

Why do 25 members (so far) want them banned completely?

Pork Hunt said :

Skidbladnir said :

Rawhide Kid Part3 said :

Um… I think the Segways are in fact only made by one company world wide.

Which is why enshrining a single supplier or manufacturer of device into law is a terrible idea. Not only for monopolistic reasons, but just in case Segway ever goes bankrupt or changes their name.

Assuming someone can get the legalese correct, some variation on “Gyroscopic-balanced two-wheeled contraption which complies with Australian Safety Standards X, Y, Z” would allow not only the Segway, but also the S-Walker and future competitors into the (presumably) lucrative “buzzing around Canberra’s lakes” market.

What about bobcats? What’s their scientific name?

skid steer loader

Northbourne Ultimatum7:57 pm 05 Mar 12

Pork Hunt said :

What about bobcats? What’s their scientific name?

Bobcat species name is Lynx rufus.

I think that electric wheelchairs, bikes, skateboards, scooters, segways (and other self balancing transport machines) should all be legal with some sensible speed or power limit.

I just dont get these – whats wrong with your legs ya lazy bums.

Skidbladnir said :

Rawhide Kid Part3 said :

Um… I think the Segways are in fact only made by one company world wide.

Which is why enshrining a single supplier or manufacturer of device into law is a terrible idea. Not only for monopolistic reasons, but just in case Segway ever goes bankrupt or changes their name.

Assuming someone can get the legalese correct, some variation on “Gyroscopic-balanced two-wheeled contraption which complies with Australian Safety Standards X, Y, Z” would allow not only the Segway, but also the S-Walker and future competitors into the (presumably) lucrative “buzzing around Canberra’s lakes” market.

What about bobcats? What’s their scientific name?

thy_dungeonman5:37 pm 05 Mar 12

There’s someone at the ANU who I always see riding a segway around and they have been using since way before this whole lake tour thing got the government’s attention, I wonder if they knew it was illegal (common sense wouldn’t lead you to think it was) or just didn’t care.

Rawhide Kid Part3 said :

I don’t see why riding Segways is any different to riding pushbikes or Gophers on paths.

Yeah, but Segways look really dorky. Unlike pushbikes (recumbent bikes excepted).

Rawhide Kid Part3 said :

Um… I think the Segways are in fact only made by one company world wide.

Which is why enshrining a single supplier or manufacturer of device into law is a terrible idea. Not only for monopolistic reasons, but just in case Segway ever goes bankrupt or changes their name.

Assuming someone can get the legalese correct, some variation on “Gyroscopic-balanced two-wheeled contraption which complies with Australian Safety Standards X, Y, Z” would allow not only the Segway, but also the S-Walker and future competitors into the (presumably) lucrative “buzzing around Canberra’s lakes” market.

Rawhide Kid Part34:51 pm 05 Mar 12

I don’t see why riding Segways is any different to riding pushbikes or Gophers on paths. I do have a problem with being on the road though other than pedestrian crossings.

Shouldn’t be limited to a manufacturer. We should either allow all electric devices, or ban them all.

I also disagree with changing the rules for one business because they didn’t read the road rules ahead of time.

Rawhide Kid Part34:46 pm 05 Mar 12

p1 said :

Just so long as the rules are written in such a way that I am not required to purchase a machine produced by one specific manufacturer…

Um… I think the Segways are in fact only made by one company world wide.

This government ‘consults’ on the most inane stuff.
Surely the Govt could make a decision on this.

I would be interested in getting one of these contraptions but only if they can be fitted with a bull bar, tow bar and a gun rack.

Only if they are registered and riders are not allowed to wear spandex

How about we ban politicians hell bent on banning things?

Then we’d have no politicians left! 🙂

Just so long as the rules are written in such a way that I am not required to purchase a machine produced by one specific manufacturer…

having people ride these around wouldn’t bother me at all.

i recently had a friend visit me from overseas and we did the segway tour and i don’t think i’ve laughed so hard in ages. it’s actually so much fun… even if you look like a smug d***head. everyone riding a segway looks like they’re powering the vehicle with their own sense of self-satisfaction which is sort of what makes it so hilarious. definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a laugh or something to do with an out-of-towner.

so yeah… they’re super easy to use and don’t go all that fast so i don’t see why they should be banned, really.

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