The message is ready to be sent with the following file or link
attachments:

Shortcut to:
http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=03b11159-
fd53-4235-85ed-0807ef96f41e
 Tuesday > June 28 > 2005

Segue to the Segway? Toronto eyes options
People mover: Legal confusion has kept unique machine in park

Jason Chow
National Post


Tuesday, June 28, 2005
www.segway.com

The Segway human transporter is a two-wheeled, self-propelled machine
that can achieve a top speed of 20 km/h, turn on a dime with the twist
of a handle and come to a complete stop by the rider's subtle lean on
the back of a heel.

So, should the machine be treated as a bicycle, a scooter or a
pedestrian? Lawmakers are still trying to decide.

For all the hype the Segway received when it was unveiled in 2001 -- it
was touted by inventor Dean Kamen as a great innovation that would
"change civilization" -- the machine remains a subject of debate over
where they can be allowed to roam.

The use of Segways is regulated by individual municipalities, which is
why all eyes are on Toronto lawmakers -- who are expected to table a
policy on the machines next month.

"All municipalities are waiting to see what Toronto does," said Robyn
Reisler, president of Segway of Ontario, a Toronto dealership that sells
and rents the machines and has been lobbying the city for
Segway-friendly legislation. "The U.S. is mostly regulated, but in
Canada, it's all barebones. There is no legislation."

Yesterday, Segway of Ontario, a Toronto dealership, presented the
machines to the media. Also on hand was Councillor Bill Saundercook, a
member of Toronto council's pedestrian committee.

Mr. Saundercook volunteered to try out the machine for a few weeks,
integrating it into his daily work routine. He's scheduled to table a
report, based on his experiences and research, when the committee meets
on July 14.

And while he wouldn't reveal yesterday exactly what he plans to say in
his report, Mr. Saundercook was upbeat about what he sees as the
Segway's benefits.

"The most obvious benefit would be the environment-friendliness of the
machine. It has no emissions," he said, adding that he has been using it
for his morning commute to work. "I was travelling faster than the
traffic caught in the congestion."

The machine remains a novelty. There are an estimated 250 Segways in
Canada, and with a price tag of $5,200, the machine has yet to appeal to
a mass market. The legislative confusion has also turned away business.
Potential clients -- delivery companies, for example -- are unlikely to
use the machines if they're unable to travel the sidewalks alongside
pedestrians.

In the United States, 46 states have passed Segway-friendly legislation,
though most have decided to give municipalities the right to restrict
their use at their own discretion. Few have done so but there have been
pockets of virulent opposition against the use of Segways in some
cities.

In January, 2003, San Francisco became the first large municipality to
outlaw the Segway on its sidewalks.

And it became a divisive issue for Washington, D.C., policymakers, who
couldn't decide whether to ban the machines from rush-hour trains and
buses. Many tour groups use Segways in that city, but their rising
numbers have prompted officials to bar them from using them at certain
historical sites, such as the Mall.

Major U.S. cities also have vocal pedestrian advocacy groups that are
pushing for Segway bans, citing safety concerns about the "SUV of
sidewalks."

Segways can travel up to 20 km/h and weigh 69 pounds.

Toronto's pedestrian committee had recommended a ban on the Segway this
year, but Mr. Reisler appealed to the committee and loaned the machine
to Mr. Saundercook.

This month, police in Long Beach, Calif., added six Segways to their
fleet. "It's a great public-relations tool," said spokesman Nancy Pratt.
"People stop and chat with the officers. The Segway also gives the
officers more visibility. They are standing a few inches higher."

C National Post 2005








Copyright C 2005 CanWest Interactive, a division of CanWest Global
Communications Corp. All rights reserved.
Optimized for browser versions 4.0 and higher.


Note: To protect against computer viruses, e-mail programs may prevent
sending or receiving certain types of file attachments.  Check your
e-mail security settings to determine how attachments are handled.


begin 666 story.url
M6TEN=&5R;F5T4VAO<G1C=71=#0I54DP]:'1T<#HO+W=W=RYC86YA9&$N8V]M
M+VYA=&EO;F%L+VYA=&EO;F%L<&]S="]N97=S+W-T;W)Y+FAT;6P_:60],#-B
M,3$Q-3DM9F0U,RTT,C,U+3@U960M,[log in to unmask];V1I9FEE9#TV
3,$0R13,Y,$0T-T)#-3 Q0D$-"@``
`
end