MP risks arrest for Segway use

MP Lembit Opik braved arrest on Tuesday as he teetered along on a Segway at a cool 12 mph outside the Houses of Parliament.

The member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire was willing to be hauled away by police in his protest against the ban on the two-wheeled transporters on U.K. roads saying: "It's either Segways or Strangeways."

A member of Parliament is testing the ban on Segways on U.K. roads.

(Credit: Segway )

Opik, who can regularly be seen weaving along the country lanes on his Segway Personal Transporter around his home in Newtown, Wales, believes the machines will be legal on U.K. roads by Christmas.

He argues the one-person gyroscopic vehicles could transform city centers--replacing pollution-spewing cars with the electric vehicles--saying their top speed of 12 mph is 4 miles per hour faster than the average car in London's city center.

Opik believes the fact his action went unpunished will inspire other Segway owners nationwide to defy the ban and take to the streets without fear of arrest.

About 500,000 Segways have been sold worldwide and they are used by about 600 police forces. Around 2,000 are thought to be in the U.K. where they cost about 4,300 British pounds ($7,550).

Opik said: "The Segway Personal Transporter...is a revolutionary leap forward for travel, which virtually does away with short-haul journeys in the car.

"I use my Segway for many journeys, for example to travel the 7 miles from Newtown to the nearby village of Abermule.

"The only barrier is the Department for Transport's vagueness about whether they are legal or not.

"I was prepared to be arrested, but if they do not arrest a group of MPs in high-visibility jackets then how can they arrest anyone."

Opik pledged to raise the issue with transport minister Jim Fitzpatrick and to put forward a parliamentary question asking for them to be given the same classification as a bicycle on the road.

He said: "Let the Segway reduce congestion and pollution on Britain's roads."

The Department for Transport says it would be "difficult" for scooters such as Segways to meet the standards required to be classified as road vehicles.

Nick Heath of Silicon.com reported from London.

[inachu]

I remember when the news of the Segway first came out and they spoke of the price comming down but since its birth I have only seen the price go up and up. The original article stated the [rice could come down to near 2 or 3 thousand dollars but its still in the $6,000 range.

Sad.

[ikramerica--2008]

It was also supposed to revolutionize the way we move about. But due to the price, it hasn't. A moped or small motorcycle is far cheaper (2-3 times cheaper), as is a bicycle (10-20 fold), and you get around faster and easier on most of those. Segways really make the most sense for beat cops, traffic cops, meter maids, park/amusement park security, warehouse and factory transportation, etc.

[paulej]

I suspect the price has not dropped, because volume is still not high enough. Volume is not rising because of price and because of problems with laws. I would bet that if you read the letter of the law in many states in the US, these things qualify as "motor vehicles" and would be subject to all of the same rules as cars. But, I bet you can't legally "drive" one. I don't know-- just guessing. I've also heard concerns expressed that these things occupy too much space on the sidewalk. So, the roads are not acceptable and the sidewalks are not acceptable. So, who needs one? I suspect people would feel much better about them if sidewalks were widened and fewer cars were around. But, that's unlikely to happen. I think they've got a good product, but some real challenges in getting them into the hands of the masses.

[The_Decider]

Anyone who buys a Segway should be arrested on charges of idiocy.

For too many people the brains/money ratio is far too low.

[michaelrhcnet]

Why do you say that? Sure, it's expensive, but it is certainly is innovative. If they could cut the price significantly, I think a lot of people would use it in conjunction with public transportation (if course, that assumes you live somewhere where public transport isn't jammed.) for commuting. Certainly people who would never ride a bike would ride a Segway.

[Rants&Raves]

"The_Decider": Seems like a common response to all threads you get involved with: you offensively label situations and people with whom you disagree, and never offer any constructive arguments for why you happen to hold the contrarian view (my guess is randomness). Did this ever work at bringing people around to your point of view ? Does that general attitude work for you in real life ?

[rem1010]

These transport devices could serve a very nice niche in the system.
However, they lack some nice features that would make them more practical like:

1) a cup holder for long commutes
2) a built in radio/cd player
3) a sidecar to put the kids/grand mother in --- could put one on each side and make it a family vehicle
4) License plate holder
5) Head Lights and Turn Signals
6) GPS
7) All weather tires and mud flaps
8) Backup Alarm
9) Wind Shield and side/back mirrors
10) Horn
11) BreathAlyzer for potential drunk drivers

Perhaps if one or more of these features is added, the the Government could then register the vehicles and get revenue for the licensing and traffic fines that they would obviously generate.

Again, this comment is designed for humor --- sick maybe --- but it is a dull day!

[willdryden]

I would rather sit down on a $2,000. electric bike that has lockable compartments and runs 20 MPH than stand up on a $6,000 Segway that does 12 MPH.