RobbW
12-10-2002, 08:02 PM
Hi all -
Just thought those of you that plan to use the Los Angeles Metrolink system with your Segways may find this interesting. Using the Metrolink system to get to and from my hometown of Valencia to Downtown LA is critical for my being able to take advantage of the Segway.
I decided to do a little research and also call MTA to find out the status of bringing on Segway HTs. Not being familiar with the device, the customer support clerk asked me two things:
1) Is the Segway gas powered?
2) Is the Segway over 75 pounds?
When I said 83 to the the MTA support person, she put me on hold a moment to speak with her supervisor, and then came back and said that it should be fine, as long as you stay on the lower level although she wasn't sure whether you could keep it with you or if it had to be tied up where the bike racks are. To be continued I guess...
So far as researching MTA's attitude toward the Segway, I know that the Segway has been discussed in recent MTA meetings. In fact, the MTA Technical Advisory Committee had this to say at their July 10, 2002 meeting (to be found at http://www.mta.net/trans_planning/CPD/committees/TAC.htm)
"Segway Bill (SB 1918) (Michael Turner, Government Affairs)
This bill would categorize Segway devices as an electric personal assistive mobility device and place it in the same State statute as the electrical wheelchair so it can operate on sidewalks. The League’s
concerns were that individual cities should be allowed to regulate and prohibit its use in certain areas. An amendment was put into the Bill on June 4 th that satisfied the League’s concerns. MTA’s position is the same as the League’s position. The League removed their opposition based on the amendment. Recently, the Bill was amended to reduce the speed limit from 20 mph to 12 mph. The Bill will go to Assembly Appropriations in the first or second week of August. Ms. Kernaghan
asked if anyone has discussed how these devices will be secured on buses. Mr. Turner responded that this topic has not come up. Mr. DeChellis suggested that allowing them on sidewalks would conflict with pedestrians. Mr. Turner responded that the language the League requested would allow municipalities to prohibit them in certain areas, especially those with a high density of pedestrian traffic. So a city could pass an ordinance against using them on the sidewalk. Mr.
Okazaki asked if people could buy insurance for these devices and if there was a helmet law. Mr. Turner responded that it is not being treated like a bicycle and that the discussion had not yet reached this level. Mr. Finnegan suggested there were a lot of implications that have not yet been discussed. With the Amendment, it will fall on the shoulders of the cities and counties to regulate it, absent any future action by the State. Mr. Bozigian added that it was a new technology and if it becomes popular, then cities and counties will deal with it in terms of how they regulate it."
Oh well, I would hope that logic will prevail and MTA won't do anything to restrict Segways throughout their system. In fact, it would seem to be counter-intuitive do something that would restrict commuting possibilities, However, am I the only one nervous about the fact that it seems like only those OPPOSED to the Segway HT seem to be speaking up and making a nuisance of themselves?
RobbW (from lovely, scenic, almost-Tahiti-but-not-quite Santa Clarita CA) :)
Just thought those of you that plan to use the Los Angeles Metrolink system with your Segways may find this interesting. Using the Metrolink system to get to and from my hometown of Valencia to Downtown LA is critical for my being able to take advantage of the Segway.
I decided to do a little research and also call MTA to find out the status of bringing on Segway HTs. Not being familiar with the device, the customer support clerk asked me two things:
1) Is the Segway gas powered?
2) Is the Segway over 75 pounds?
When I said 83 to the the MTA support person, she put me on hold a moment to speak with her supervisor, and then came back and said that it should be fine, as long as you stay on the lower level although she wasn't sure whether you could keep it with you or if it had to be tied up where the bike racks are. To be continued I guess...
So far as researching MTA's attitude toward the Segway, I know that the Segway has been discussed in recent MTA meetings. In fact, the MTA Technical Advisory Committee had this to say at their July 10, 2002 meeting (to be found at http://www.mta.net/trans_planning/CPD/committees/TAC.htm)
"Segway Bill (SB 1918) (Michael Turner, Government Affairs)
This bill would categorize Segway devices as an electric personal assistive mobility device and place it in the same State statute as the electrical wheelchair so it can operate on sidewalks. The League’s
concerns were that individual cities should be allowed to regulate and prohibit its use in certain areas. An amendment was put into the Bill on June 4 th that satisfied the League’s concerns. MTA’s position is the same as the League’s position. The League removed their opposition based on the amendment. Recently, the Bill was amended to reduce the speed limit from 20 mph to 12 mph. The Bill will go to Assembly Appropriations in the first or second week of August. Ms. Kernaghan
asked if anyone has discussed how these devices will be secured on buses. Mr. Turner responded that this topic has not come up. Mr. DeChellis suggested that allowing them on sidewalks would conflict with pedestrians. Mr. Turner responded that the language the League requested would allow municipalities to prohibit them in certain areas, especially those with a high density of pedestrian traffic. So a city could pass an ordinance against using them on the sidewalk. Mr.
Okazaki asked if people could buy insurance for these devices and if there was a helmet law. Mr. Turner responded that it is not being treated like a bicycle and that the discussion had not yet reached this level. Mr. Finnegan suggested there were a lot of implications that have not yet been discussed. With the Amendment, it will fall on the shoulders of the cities and counties to regulate it, absent any future action by the State. Mr. Bozigian added that it was a new technology and if it becomes popular, then cities and counties will deal with it in terms of how they regulate it."
Oh well, I would hope that logic will prevail and MTA won't do anything to restrict Segways throughout their system. In fact, it would seem to be counter-intuitive do something that would restrict commuting possibilities, However, am I the only one nervous about the fact that it seems like only those OPPOSED to the Segway HT seem to be speaking up and making a nuisance of themselves?
RobbW (from lovely, scenic, almost-Tahiti-but-not-quite Santa Clarita CA) :)