segwayowner
11-23-2005, 04:16 PM
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=53008
quote:
Segway OK, after all
By John Leptich, Tribune
November 12, 2005
Fountain Hills and its town attorney have some explaining to do.
The Town Council needs to let residents know that a ban on motorized scooters passed last week doesn’t include the Segway Human Transporter, a two-wheeled, one-rider electric vehicle.
During its Nov. 3 meeting, the council OK’d the ban by a 5-1 margin at the advice of the town’s Public Safety Commission. The lone dissenter, Vice Mayor Jay Schlum, was concerned about including Segways in the ban.
Town Attorney Andrew McGuire blames himself for a misunderstanding of the ordinance, which takes effect Dec. 2. Schlum and Councilman John Kavanagh asked McGuire at the meeting if Segways were included in the ban. McGuire said yes, but admits he didn’t answer the question correctly or thoroughly.
"I answered the questions (about Segways) poorly," McGuire said. "The situation has been misconstrued by a number of people because of my answer.
"We don’t want to stop people from riding Segways. I absolutely don’t believe our ordinance includes Segways and never did."
McGuire said he doesn’t believe the council will need to hold a hearing or put the item on its agenda for Thursday’s meeting or executive session.
Kavanagh said the council may discuss Segways again, though he didn’t know when.
He believes the town should clarify the ordinance so that any concerned disability rights advocacy groups who come forward are "aware of the confusion."
"As long as the situation is clarified about what’s approved and what’s not approved, we’ll be OK," he said.
Mayor Wally Nichols said he also got the impression Segways were part of the ban. "I was relying on counsel," he said. "We’ll clarify it. The ordinance has time to take effect. We’ll be clear as soon as possible."
Phoenix, El Mirage, Avondale and Chandler also have bans on motorized scooters, which are like motorized skateboards with handlebars.
Scottsdale, where the City Council is poised to vote on a possible scooter ban on Tuesday, won’t repeat Fountain Hills’ mistake. Reed Kempton, a Scottsdale transportation planner, said state law gives "personalized mobility vehicles" the same rights as pedestrians and that they will make it clear Segways aren’t part of the city’s proposed ban.
Alan Christensen, owner of Fountain Hills-based Christensen Computer Company, has driven his Segway to and from work — about 2 1/2 miles each way — for nearly three years.
"I use it primarily as my commuting device," said Christensen, 53. "I put virtually no miles on my car and have saved a lot on gas. The battery (on the Segway) runs down, you plug it in to charge it."
Jerry Kerr, president and founder of Disability Rights Advocates for Technology, a nationwide group based in St. Louis, wrote Nichols and the other councilmen, saying the ban violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Kerr said said several people sent him a story from Tuesday’s Tribune about the Fountain Hills council action. He was glad to hear Segways weren’t targeted after all.
"No question, Fountain Hills can’t do that," Kerr said of the perceived ban. "It was folly to believe otherwise."
Many disabled people who can still stand use Segways as an alternative to a wheelchair, said Kerr, a quadriplegic who sometimes uses a Segway.
Contact John Leptich by email, or phone 480) 970-2333
DES: Segway owner....
it has a nice ring to it
Dont take a ride, take a G L I D E. . .
quote:
Segway OK, after all
By John Leptich, Tribune
November 12, 2005
Fountain Hills and its town attorney have some explaining to do.
The Town Council needs to let residents know that a ban on motorized scooters passed last week doesn’t include the Segway Human Transporter, a two-wheeled, one-rider electric vehicle.
During its Nov. 3 meeting, the council OK’d the ban by a 5-1 margin at the advice of the town’s Public Safety Commission. The lone dissenter, Vice Mayor Jay Schlum, was concerned about including Segways in the ban.
Town Attorney Andrew McGuire blames himself for a misunderstanding of the ordinance, which takes effect Dec. 2. Schlum and Councilman John Kavanagh asked McGuire at the meeting if Segways were included in the ban. McGuire said yes, but admits he didn’t answer the question correctly or thoroughly.
"I answered the questions (about Segways) poorly," McGuire said. "The situation has been misconstrued by a number of people because of my answer.
"We don’t want to stop people from riding Segways. I absolutely don’t believe our ordinance includes Segways and never did."
McGuire said he doesn’t believe the council will need to hold a hearing or put the item on its agenda for Thursday’s meeting or executive session.
Kavanagh said the council may discuss Segways again, though he didn’t know when.
He believes the town should clarify the ordinance so that any concerned disability rights advocacy groups who come forward are "aware of the confusion."
"As long as the situation is clarified about what’s approved and what’s not approved, we’ll be OK," he said.
Mayor Wally Nichols said he also got the impression Segways were part of the ban. "I was relying on counsel," he said. "We’ll clarify it. The ordinance has time to take effect. We’ll be clear as soon as possible."
Phoenix, El Mirage, Avondale and Chandler also have bans on motorized scooters, which are like motorized skateboards with handlebars.
Scottsdale, where the City Council is poised to vote on a possible scooter ban on Tuesday, won’t repeat Fountain Hills’ mistake. Reed Kempton, a Scottsdale transportation planner, said state law gives "personalized mobility vehicles" the same rights as pedestrians and that they will make it clear Segways aren’t part of the city’s proposed ban.
Alan Christensen, owner of Fountain Hills-based Christensen Computer Company, has driven his Segway to and from work — about 2 1/2 miles each way — for nearly three years.
"I use it primarily as my commuting device," said Christensen, 53. "I put virtually no miles on my car and have saved a lot on gas. The battery (on the Segway) runs down, you plug it in to charge it."
Jerry Kerr, president and founder of Disability Rights Advocates for Technology, a nationwide group based in St. Louis, wrote Nichols and the other councilmen, saying the ban violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Kerr said said several people sent him a story from Tuesday’s Tribune about the Fountain Hills council action. He was glad to hear Segways weren’t targeted after all.
"No question, Fountain Hills can’t do that," Kerr said of the perceived ban. "It was folly to believe otherwise."
Many disabled people who can still stand use Segways as an alternative to a wheelchair, said Kerr, a quadriplegic who sometimes uses a Segway.
Contact John Leptich by email, or phone 480) 970-2333
DES: Segway owner....
it has a nice ring to it
Dont take a ride, take a G L I D E. . .