Segways on Mass Transit

[Cube128]

Originally Posted by boggabri

I'm a newby and don't yet own a Seg. I have accessed the Seattle City Ordinances on Personal Transporters but they are dated 7/6/04 and I believe that there has been talk of Segs being prohibited on sidewalks during the period 6am till midnight, i.e. during the day. Does anyone have any update on this?

I live in Oro Valley AZ and the latest AZ State law is very accommodating treating them like wheelchairs, but should we return to Seattle, I would like to think that my Seg would be allowed on the sidewalk downtown.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

Boggy

I looked into the Seattle city government website. The talk you heard of Segways being banned from 6 AM to midnight was back in mid 2002, right about the same time SF started flipping out as well, and was from the city's pedestrian advisory board. Luckily, Seattle was a bit more reasonable. The 2004 legislation, to the best of my knowledge, still stands.

[SidewalkSkimmer]

Here in Portland, Oregon, Segways are permitted on our light rail system ("Max") pretty much subject to the same rules as bikes. (i.e., roll it on and off, etc.) They are not permitted on buses unless you are disabled, and then obviously only on buses properly equipped for wheelchairs.

I've made a number of trips in and out of downtown Portland via Max, and it really couldn't be easier.

[cmonkey]

Metrolink may be up to something. I have a voicemail that I've kept on my phone, (to play to conductors not in the know) from a Christine in passenger services from Metrolink. In her message, "Policy states that Segways are ok but must be secured with the bike straps on the lower level of the train, and they may not be ridden on the platform; any further questions and I can call the customer service # @ 800-371-5465."

Well, I rode the metrolink again yesterday, and now one conductor asked me if I was hancicapped, and that only hadicapped users are allowed to bring segways on board. And another metrolink employee said they recently changed the rules, but he wasn't sure because they kept changing their minds.

So I find the customer service bldg.... (but oops, it's the MTA the subway and bus folks) and I call their customer service line and find out segways are allowed on the MTA Rail cars. I didn't ask about the busses since i never use them. The call took a while because the customer service rep had to go up three levels to a VP to get the answer.

[boggabri]

Thansk Cube. See my PM. I'm still getting used to this bully board format.

[robochick84]

I have done it a couple of times in Philadelphia. I do not think there is a current law in place. Both times the conductor of the light rail (known as the R) has told me that he did not have to allow me on the train. I am handicapped, and told him that he had to let me on no matter what (ADA). They allowed me on, but informed me, that I could not ride to my seat, that I had to dismount, and walk the device there. If I happen to locate something documented, I will put the link up.

[boggabri]

Good on ya, Robochick. Bloody bus drivers!