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- ACT
This was published 7 years ago
Segways to be approved for recreational use on Canberra paths and roads
By Georgina Connery
Gliding along the footpath to work in your very own Segway will be possible in 2017 after new regulations are introduced to permit their use on ACT paths and roads.
Justice Minister Shane Rattenbury announced the changes following the publication of the 2016 Segway Review Report and with a bicycle hat strapped on, demonstrated the ease of using the electric vehicle.
Justice and Consumer Affairs Minister Shane Rattenbury announces new road rules for private and commercial Segway use. Credit: Elesa Kurtz
"Segways will generally be treated as pedestrians with some additional requirements placed on them, such as wearing an approved bicycle helmet and having lights, reflectors and a bell or other warning devices fitted to the Segway," he said.
"The findings of the review showed that that there is no reasonable basis for prohibiting Segways from being used on footpaths and shared paths in the ACT."
The ACT government will treat Segway riders similarly to pedestrians under new regulations permitting Segways in the ACT Credit: Elesa Kurtz
The new provisions won't include any age restriction for Segway use and Mr Rattenbury said the road rules would allow for riding on footpaths, cycle ways and very limited on-road use.
"They are not a road-based vehicle but there will be places where for example a footpath runs out and you are required to pass onto the road to get to the next section of footpath," he said.
With an $11,000 price tag, Mr Rattenbury expected the uptake for personal Segway use could be slow.
But he emphasised the need for responsible use of the vehicles, which had a speed limit of 20km/h.
"We do expect people to be courteous and mindful of others" he said.
"Just as someone should not ride a bicycle at a tearing speed down a footpath in Braddon, because it is a very busy area, we will have the same expectations of Segway riders."
Mr Rattenbury said commercial operator Seg Glide Ride had "led the charge" with the single permit to offer tours in the capital on the self-balancing vehicles.
"Originally there was uncertainty about how they would be used, how to classify them," he said.
"The commercial operators that have been in operation a number of years now have really given us some experience around the use of Segways and enabled this change in the regulation."
The government would develop the regulation amendments next year to enact the change.
However, Segway use would continue to remain restricted to the existing commercial guided tours until this happened.