Segway's on Open Space trails? Now that would be funny.

[smmokan]

Can you imagine anyone yielding to some jackass on a Segway on an Open Space trail? I think this would be a huge mistake if they ended up passing the bill... and the person who introduced it should be fired.

- Boulder residents are worried about a bill making its way through the state Legislature they say could allow a motorized two-wheeled vehicle onto the city's sidewalks and Open Space and Mountain Parks trails.

Sponsored by Sen. Deanna Hanna, D-Lakewood, Senate Bill 168 expands the state's legal definition of "pedestrian" to include "a device that has two non-tandem wheels, uses electric propulsion, is self-balancing, is designed to transport one person and has a maximum design speed of 12 1/2 miles per hour."





Only one vehicle answers that description: The Segway.

By putting the vehicle on equal footing with pedestrians, Hanna's bill would allow Segway riders to take their vehicles on sidewalks and anywhere else walkers are allowed, like the Pearl Street Mall and open space trails and bike paths.

Cities like Boulder still could prohibit devices on their sidewalks, but transit officials would have to buy and erect "official traffic control" devices all over the city to enforce the rule. And it would allow Segways to travel on bike paths and open space trails — something not allowed for other motorized vehicles.

The Boulder City Council voted in December to take a position opposing the measure, and the pedestrian-advocacy group Walk Boulder has been lobbying the issue furiously.

Kate Gardner, chairwoman of Walk Boulder, said she and other people in her group see Hanna's bill as the beginning of the slippery slope. If lawmakers pass a measure specifically allowing one motorized vehicle on sidewalks and paths this year, it could open the floodgates to other devices, she said.

"Motorized vehicles really change the environment on paths and trails," she said.

Hanna did not return a call seeking comment. Her bill passed the Senate Transportation Committee last week and will be considered by the full Senate this week. If approved, it would head to the House.

Rep. Jack Pommer, D-Boulder, said he doesn't think it makes sense to write legislation to deal with individual vehicles on a case-by-case basis. Pommer is working on a bill that would put together a committee of transportation experts to classify new vehicles as they hit the market, an approach he thinks would deliver better results.

"We really need to have a comprehensive rule, so we're not just carving out exemptions for individual brands," he said.

[vinzclortho]

I think they passed some regulation or some such foolishness in Boston allowing those things on the streets. 2 years ago or whatever I can remember seeing pictures of cops on them in the Boston Herald basically saying "these gay scooters will allow us to monitor crime in and around Boston more effectively."

I've never seen on around town or otherwise and I honestly can't see how they would really help that much in fighting crime...I mean they go what? 12 miles per hour? what happens if the cop ditches the thing to chase people upstairs or something? they are expensive and could easily be stolen.

Who here has ever even seen one of these things besides on tv or the newspaper? I thought the Segway was supposed to be this revolutionary form of transportation....seems to be an expensvie useless alternative to walking for lazy people to me.

[crashnburn'd]

Who here has ever even seen one of these things besides on tv or the newspaper? I thought the Segway was supposed to be this revolutionary form of transportation....seems to be an expensvie useless alternative to walking for lazy people to me.

My local bike shop has one. I'm not sure what it's purpose is there because people just ride around on it and as far as I know, it was never for sale. They actually have a lot of other useless, non biking related things in there too.

[smmokan]

I've seen one on the street... and boy did that guy look lazy.

[Shredhead]

[QUOTE=vinzclortho]
I've never seen on around town or otherwise and I honestly can't see how they would really help that much in fighting crime...I mean they go what? 12 miles per hour? what happens if the cop ditches the thing to chase people upstairs or something? they are expensive and could easily be stolen.
/QUOTE]

They are a frickin blast to ride. 12MPH is fast and they are coming out with one that will do 30 for the coppers. They have a key/chip.

We toured the lake front and it was really fun.

http://www.segwayexperience.com/

[Free Range Lobster]

They are a frickin blast to ride. 12MPH is fast and they are coming out with one that will do 30 for the coppers. They have a key/chip.

Queue gay little scooter comments.

[ridefree]

Sad to admit, but we rented those in Tahoe last summer for the touristas. Everyone wanted to check them out- very few wanted to actually ride them around/ be seen on them. Quite the moped/ big girl novelty.

[Big E]

I was down in Arlington, VA for a meeting a few weeks ago and actually observed some moron using one. He was going into a bank (!) and actually pulled up to the door, opened it, maneuvered himself through the doorway, and then pulled up to the ATM. If the wheels had spokes, I would have hung around and jammed a big spoke in one of them.

[Free Range Lobster]

[Shredhead]

They go 17 miles on 10 cents worth of electricity. Maybe if we could get the lazy fats guys out of there 6000 lbs SUV's, it would make a difference.

[Free Range Lobster]

And they'll still be fat.
You have feet, start using them instead of foaming at the mouth at another way you can be a stupid lazy american.

[SquawMan]

nothing is more rad than Bay area Segway polo....

oh, the humanity!

[Tuckerman]

I like it when they fall.

[philippeR]

Who here has ever even seen one of these things besides on tv or the newspaper? I thought the Segway was supposed to be this revolutionary form of transportation....seems to be an expensvie useless alternative to walking for lazy people to me.

I did a few times in some Paris touristic spots (around the Eiffel Tower for instance). There's an (american owned) operator of City Tours on Segways, targeting lazy (american ?) tourists.
http://www.citysegwaytours.com/paris/
They move like a small and slow herd, it's quite funny actualy.

[TurxSki]

I know those "polo" guys

They have a place just around the corner from me.
http://slide4less.com/
I haven't had a ride on a Segway yet. Keep meaning to though.

They have a bunch of way more powerful, off-road, "sort-of-segways" too

Their electric sk8-boards are kind of cool, actually...
Best Product: Volcano by Storz & Bickel...

[72Twenty]

nothing is more rad than Bay area Segway polo....

oh, the humanity!

Well, there's a buck-o-five of my life I'll never get back. Thanks.

[jpcski]

I don't think Boulder Open Space has much to worry about. I can hardly see them doing laps on the Mesa Trail anytime soon. Boulder Open Space trails are hardly designed for mt. bikes let alone these glorified mopeds.

[DemonInomeD]

I went in to the office the other day (telecommute 95% of the time) and went down for a cup of joe w/some of the regular cube dwellers. There was some lazy piece of shit on one of those Segways riding around the food court/table area in this 10,000+ capacity bldg I work in. A few smart remarks later, I find out that he basically substiutes riding that thing for walking, no matter how small the trip. He had a cute little cup holder for his coffee and donuts. What a moron. No wonder there are so many fat pieces of shit in corporate America.

[ak_powder_monkey]

I went in to the office the other day (telecommute 95% of the time) and went down for a cup of joe w/some of the regular cube dwellers. There was some lazy piece of shit on one of those Segways riding around the food court/table area in this 10,000+ capacity bldg I work in. A few smart remarks later, I find out that he basically substiutes riding that thing for walking, no matter how small the trip. He had a cute little cup holder for his coffee and donuts. What a moron. No wonder there are so many fat pieces of shit in corporate America.

Holy shit even I'm not that lazy