[via Torontoist] Accordion City lawyers say that Segways are catch-22
victims:
- They’re motor vehicles, which means they can’t be used on sidewalks
- They lack the safety equipment that meets the standards of the Ontario Highway Traffic Act, which means they can’t be used on roads (the “Highway” in the Act refers to any road).
Thanks to this catch-22, the only place you can legally operate a
Segway is on roadways in city parks (and perhaps Segway rinks, should
they ever come into vogue).
Naturally, Segway of Ontario is upset at this development, and I’m sure
that Chariot Media, who use the innovative cute-woman-on-a-Segway
advertising platform are none too pleased either:
A photo from a blog entry of mine in 2003
— she’s promoting the CIBC outside Union Station. I’ve seen a fleet of
women on Segways advertising Revlon products on Queen Street West too.
3 replies on “No Way, Segway”
Well, I agree with the idea of not using them on sidewalks. I’m a pedestrian and I can understand the hazard. It’s the same with bikes or skateboards (but what can you do about skateboards, right? or can you do anything?). Anyway, that’s why they’re called sideWALKS.
I guess that means they will be forcing the electric wheelchair and motorized tricycles off the sidewalk too!
I have no objection to Segways on the side walks. They take up very little room. Segway users deem to be a lot more considerate than cyclists. I almost got mowed down yet again today by a cyclist on the sidewalk at Bloor and Yonge at rush hour today. I was bring on the Segways!
Same is true for those gas-powered skateboards. Can’t use ’em on the sidewalk, can’t ride ’em on the roads, can’t have ’em in the parks. Nor the electric-assist bicycles either.