It’s just amazing how much bigotry there is in evil little Finland.

First I was wondering why some many disabled people had come to DisneyWorld and Universal Studios’ parks, but then I noticed many fat people hired them at the gat for not having to walk during the day. So they took a bus from the parking area, walked a few metres and then got a wheelchair after that.

Here in Baltimore we used to have a problem (like the one in the UK mentioned a few posts up) where kids were riding their motor scooters and mopeds on sidewalks.

But then there was my brother’s friend who had a “go-ped” and would ride that on busy streets. A go-ped is a really small almost Segway-like scooter that goes about 10 mph. That’s genius.

http://tyler.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2005/4/25/618820.html

Here’s a sample…

QUOTE

Segway driver in Niagara Falls was fined $8,000 last year. Latest updated Mon, 04 Oct 2004 13:35:57 EDT
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2004/10/04/segway_041004.html

San Francisco has banned Segways Nov. 25/04

21282. Notwithstanding Section 21966, for the purpose of assuring the safety of pedestrians, including seniors, persons with disabilities, and others using sidewalks, bike paths, pathways, trails, bike lanes, streets, roads, and highways, a city, county, or city and county may, by ordinance, regulate the time, place, and manner of the operation of electric personal assistive mobility devices as defined in Section 313, and their use as a pedestrian pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 467, including limiting, prohibiting entirely in the local jurisdiction, or prohibiting use in specified areas as determined to be appropriate by local entities.

New York has banned Segways (in Aug 2003 the NYPD banned the use of the Segway HT on public streets, sidewalks, and parks. Not sure what the situation is now)

Disney has banned Segways from their theme parks
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/02/10/segways_banned_from_happiest_place/

Most of Europe except France is off-limits to Segway. Apparently Segway didn’t seek approval in the European Union. Under current regulations, the gyroscope-driven scooter would have been classified as a moped even though it doesn’t meet basic technical requirements for such a vehicle. Among other things, the Segway doesn’t have lights or brakes, which are mandatory on a moped.

In some states, under new regulation, electric vehicles i.e. Segways will be allowed on the sidewalks, but only at maximum speed of 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) per hour, about the speed of an average pedestrian. However, going that slow on a Segway, which can travel at speeds up to 12.5 miles per hour (20kph), seems to defeat its purpose. As stated on the Segway site at (http://www.segway.com ) the idea of the Segway is to “travel quicker and accomplish more in less time.”

The scooter finds itself with more detractors than customers. Consumer and health advocates warn of possible injuries and rising obesity.
City governments worry about chaos on their sidewalks.
Workers at businesses and municipalities that have tested the transporters aren’t exactly sending in rave reviews, either. “You can’t keep warm if you’re not walking,” says a postal worker in Concord, N.H. “You end up like a frozen popsicle on a stick.”( Ref http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/jan2003/sb20030116_1926.htm )

END QUOTE

Of course all this does tend to get in the way of bashing the dastardly Finnish authorities, which is a crying shame, as we all know. On the other hand, I’ve ridden an HT (great fun, but silly price-tag), and my sister-in-law has one. She’s been busted not once but twice in NYC for riding it on the street. Not the sidewalk.

So there’s nothing very special about the present situation here. Hope for (but don’t hold your breath) a change in the law, or a compromise by the manufacturers/importers. And it WAS totally f**king daft of them not to get type-approval.

If you read the Hesari piece, you will see a BBC link that contains the following, referring to the situation in the UK:

“The low sales can in part be put down to the legal nightmare the two-wheeled scooter finds itself in, as well as an average price tag of ?£2,800.

Segways are designed for use on the pavement, but the only motorised vehicles allowed alongside pedestrians in the UK are electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

It would require Parliament to change the law for the Segway to become legal. BAE has been lobbying hard for such a change, but as yet without success.”

It’s a worldwide conspiracy!

I might point out to those who don’t like Segways: you don’t need to use them. But some people might need something between a motorize wheelchair and using their own legs to get around. People should be free to choose if it doesn’t hurt others.