Toronto to Segway: No way!
Toronto city lawyers, after spending the past few months examining the legality of allowing Segway Human Transporters on sidewalks and city streets, have concluded that the battery-powered two wheeled vehicles aren’t allowed on either. (For background, click here and here). Segway of Ontario, the largest Segway dealer in Canada, vows to keep on fighting.
What I find odd is that there was a request to perform a 1-year pilot study so that city council could be more informed before banning a vehicle that has the potential to benefit many. It was completely shot down.
I’ve heard all the arguments about why Segways shouldn’t be allowed on roads and sidewalks, but none of them are strong enough in my view. Sure, there are safety concerns, and certainly there should be certain safety requirements before anybody gets on a Segway — helmets should be used, reflectors and lights should be used at night, and pedestrians must have the right-of-way. But when you compare Segways to other vehicles that are permitted on bike lanes and the sides of slow city streets — bikes, electric four-wheel scooters — they’re no more or less dangerous.
One argument that bothers me is that in this age of obesity and sloth we should be encouraging people to walk, run and ride their bikes to get the exercise, not take another mode of motorized transportation. That’s just paternalistic hogwash. It makes no sense to zero in on one particular mode of transportation, particularly one that is superior to others that are permitted. Again, a strictly legal analysis doesn’t do the Segway justice. People need to try these things, get used to them, understand how they work, before denying people the freedom to choose.
As I demonstrated in a previous post and column (the one about banning low-speed electric vehicles in Ontario Parks) sticking with the letter of the law often contradicts the spirit of the law. Times are changing. Technology is changing. Toronto and Ontario needs to wake up to this reality and be more progressive with its policymaking.
Frankly speaking, I’m somewhat embarrassed to live in a city and province making decisions such as this. I’m also miffed that my freedom to choose is being restricted by a handful of people acting like our parents.
Tyler Hamilton is senior energy reporter and columnist for the Toronto Star, Canada's largest daily newspaper. In addition to this Clean Break blog, Tyler writes a weekly column of the same name that discusses trends, happenings and innovators in the cleantech market. This blog is a personal project started in April 2005. It is not an official blog of the newspaper. Tyler can be reached at tyler@cleanbreak.ca
November 11th, 2005 at 5:17 pm
Apparently the Segway Corp has never provided the public with specific data from crash test that demonstrate the resulting damage of a Segway/pedestrian collision. Considering the Segway mass + velocity, I would think that the pedestrian is in for a lot of damage.
Also �The National Safety Council has determined that the average reaction time for an emergency braking situation is three-quarters of a second. At even 12mph (i.e. 20kph), a Segway would therefore travel an average of 13 feet before the user would even initiate braking.� Segway claims that the device can be stopped in an additional 5 feet (which would be a remarkable 1 g of deceleration force if true!) for a total stopping distance of 18 feet — the Question BEGS Is 18 feet stopping distance sufficient safety factor to be used on Toronto�s crowded sidewalks, pedestrian paths and multi use trails? Even if the Segway device were able to come to an abrupt halt from a speed of 12.5 mph, the operator will be thrown forward and into the pedestrian or other object that was struck based on the laws of Newtonian physics. Individuals that speak to how quickly the Segway can stop are also forgetting that a young child can dart unexpectedly in front of one of these devices traveling at top speed with no time for the operator to react. A collision is inevitable and the laws of physics will prevail, and potentially, a significant energy transfer will occur to the pedestrian and also to the operator, resulting in injury. Segway representatives demonstrate a Segway riding over the top of a person�s hand without injury; however, this is irrelevant bafflegab to the real injury hazard of the device colliding head-on into a pedestrian.
December 28th, 2005 at 10:22 am
OK, Bill, I don’t know who you are, but I can no longer stay silent. You seem to be the only voice on these blogs-not exactly a balanced view.
It would seem to me that you have never taken a serious ride on a Segway, and if you have, and if your informed opinion is that these machines are a menace to the streets, you then, with all due respect, must be a total spaz.
I rode a Segway for 3 hours through Austin Texas. Not one of the 15 riders on the tour had the least trouble negotiating pedestrians, traffic, crosswalks, paths, trails, etc.
To be frank, riding these things is a total joke. You need to understand, Dear Reader, that the Segway is in intuitive experience, such as you have NEVER had before.
It is NOT like a bike, it is NOT like rollerblades, it is NOT like an electric scooter, it is NOT like a skateboard, and it is NOT like a hundred other things you might use to defame the Segway.
It is, in fact, a transportation experience like no other, and must be compared only to itself for safety, etc.
Now, let’s examine the question of actual utility. I have read a few comments, the jist of which went something like: too much money to do something your feet do, and I can’t ride it across the whole city so what’s the point? Blah, blah.
OK, you guys are REALLY not paying any attention at all. I can tell, because you are the ones hopping into the car to drive the 4 blocks to the grocery store, shopping, and driving home. And you think you are just peachy-keen…
Well, here is the punch-line…what’s wrong with your feet? Wouldn’t the walk to the store and back be good for your heart? And carrying all those grocery bags, well, that’s good for the pecks…what an opportunity!
But, YOU CAN’T walk….for one, you can’t spare the extra 30 minutes, because you are disorganized like the rest of us, and for another, carrying the groceries home would be a royal pain…cut into your fingers, and besides, you need MILK…to heavy to carry. So, into your car you go…
How is the view from on top of that high horse now, pal? Not so clear? That’s ok, I am not judging you, so don’t worry.
The fact is that most of us live in suburbs where there are not even any sidewalks for walking on even if you wanted to.
So, here’s the extra kicker….something like 75% of ALL car travel is for tiny little trips here and there.
The idea, and the real hidden value, is that with Segway, these small trips that are really not practical to walk, become not only practical on the Segway, but are fast, fun, efficient, environmentally WONDERFUL, and frankly, BETTER than using your stupid car.
As for the cost, once you accept the FACT that the need for a second, and for sure a third car is eliminated, cost becomes irrelevant…you have saved money.
Bye for now…Evan
December 28th, 2005 at 10:37 am
Wait, one more thing….
Let’s ban running shoes too….can you imagine the real injury hazard of someone getting in these things and RUNNING AT TOP SPEED INTO A PEDESTRIAN! The damage could be deadly, especially if the VICTIM happens to be elderly. In fact, let’s launch a class action suit against NIKE right now….
December 28th, 2005 at 10:53 am
Can’t argue with that analysis… glad to see some debate going on. I agree, people who haven’t yet taken a ride on a Segway are in no position to pass judgement.
May 14th, 2006 at 12:36 pm
The Segway is a gorgeous machine, wonderful technology. Also silly.
Yes, it is nothing like an electric scooter. My only experience with two wheeled electric vehicles has been with an electric scooter manufactured about 8yrs ago in Thailand, for an Australian firm.
I bought the scooter second-hand from a Bloor bike shop for $500Cdn.
Since then I have “motored” Toronto sidewalks for three years and over 10,000km.
As a pedestrian in Toronto, the little scooter has been my “running machine”. It is small enough to fly as luggage, makes a great grocery cart walking around the aisles in Loblaws, most of it fits under a subway seat.
The last two tires I had to buy cost $4.50 each.
Ask Segway how much their replacement tires cost? Toronto sidewalks are littered in glass and car parts.
I have been stopped by hundreds of my fellow pedestrian, who always question “How Much?” and “How Far?” and “How Fast?”.
I have handed over the scooter to dozens of neighbours and fellow travelers who generally just “take off” on the thing after a one minute orientation.
Replacement batteries (100% recyclable) cost me $100 incl.taxes last time. Ask Segway how much their replacement battery packs cost?
Have you tried carrying a Segway around? eg up a flight of stairs? The scooter weights about 50lbs, so this is still manageable. How heavy is the Segway?
Canadians are ignorant. And they look foolish. Sorry