City raises concerns over scooter safety
SECOND STREET — Some consider them toys for the wealthy, others the epitome of America’s laziness, but for Allen Battino, his motorized-scooter — better known as a Segway — is a lifesaver, providing reliable, environmentally friendly transportation in a city held hostage by gridlock.
Instead of being stuck in his car on the 1-10 Freeway every morning, Battino hops on his Segway and zips down the street, winding through neighborhoods near his Westwood home until he reaches his office at a post production house in downtown Santa Monica. The scenic route takes about 10 minutes longer than if he drove, but Battino estimates he saves twice that amount of time not having to look for a parking space. That means more productivity at work, fewer parking tickets and less stress.
“I can ride it right up to the building, in the elevator, and park it right in my office, plug it in and charge it up. It’s that simple,” said Battino, a visual effects supervisor. “The best part is, I don’t have to worry about moving my car every three hours like the rest of the guys here. That keeps me from being distracted and helps me concentrate on work.”
Still, with any new technology comes uncertainty. There is much concern that Segways, with a maximum speed of 12.5 miles per hour, could pose a serious danger to pedestrians, especially if the devices become more mainstream, meaning more irresponsible users rolling down sidewalks, through public parks and in other high traffic areas like the pier and promenade. Several community groups across the country have voiced strong opposition to the Segway, calling for it to be banned on all sidewalks and regulated the same as a bicycle or go-cart.
Some lawmakers, including those in San Francisco, have responded to those concerns, banning Segways from all sidewalks.
However, the majority still allow the self-balancing transporters to be used anywhere a person can travel. People using Segways must obey the same laws that apply to pedestrians, according to the California Vehicle Code.
Currently, Santa Monica City Hall has no laws regulating the use of Segways. That may change as the City Council last week asked the City Attorney’s Office to gather more information on the so-marketed Human Transporters and study what other cities have done. There is no word that a law will be drafted, but council members said they should study the issue nonetheless, in light of concerns about the Segways on the promenade and pier.
“I’m not convinced that we need to regulate this,” said Councilmember Richard Bloom. “But since it has come up, I think it’s best to have staff research the use of Segways, not just on the promenade or the pier, but in the entire city.”
Made available to the public in 2002, Segways look a little like a Roman chariot, sans the horse. A user stands upright on the device platform and is able to control the speed and direction of the device by a slight move of their body. Four gyroscopes and several sensors allow the device to stand upright on its own. They can travel 10 to 15 miles on fully-charged batteries, which are interchangeable and can be recharged in four hours. Should one of the vehicles run out of juice, it can be recharged by simply plugging it into any normal electrical socket.
The Segway was hailed as the next great invention by its makers, while critics complained it was the end of civilization as we know it — symbolizing gluttony, excess and inactivity. Then safety became an issue, with intense lobbying coming from both sides of the debate.
The alleged need for regulation reached the council at the request of activist Jerry Rubin, who sells bumper stickers on the promenade and said he has seen Segway users roll up and down the outdoor pedestrian mall, some coming so close to shoppers that Rubin feared they would be struck and injured.
“I’m all for alternative transportation, but Segways need to be treated just like a bicycle or a person on roller-skates when it comes to the promenade,” Rubin said. “I know people say Segways are safe, but all it takes is for someone to take their eyes off the road for one second and you could have a serious accident. Just likes bikes or roller-skaters or skateboarders, the Segways need to be off limits when it comes to the pier and the promenade.”
Jason Stemmler, co-owner and manager of a private Segway retailer in Santa Monica, said his company already forbids its customers from using the Segways on the pier or promenade. In their rental agreement, and posted on their Web site, Stemmler’s company alerts customers about the self-imposed ban. The penalty for violating it, Stemmler said, is being banned from ever renting again from that location.
“For the past two years we have had an excellent safety record. We haven’t had any of the problems mentioned to the council, and I think, with the issues we’re facing in Santa Monica with parking and traffic, it doesn’t make sense to discourage someone from using a Segway by banning it completely,” Stemmler said. “We are open to perhaps some regulations, such as confining them to dedicated bike lanes, but we ultimately feel they are completely safe to go anywhere a pedestrian does, as long as people are operating them at pedestrian speed.”
Mayor Bob Holbrook, who rolled into a recent city marketing event atop a Segway in a hotel conference room, said he believes some study is necessary. While he believes they are safe and quite maneuverable, Holbrook is concerned about places like the promenade, where irresponsible users may be tempted to “zip through the crowd.”
Battino said, like any motorized device, it really does depend on who’s using it. With the cost for a Segway being so high — the most inexpensive model sells for $4,000 — Battino believes the market will weed out those who are not serious about their Segways and, therefore, wouldn’t follow proper operating guidelines. For other users, however, Battino said he would like to have no prohibitions on Segways.
“It’s the safest thing I’ve ever ridden on,” he said. “I can do a 360-degree turn at slow speed and never move from the same spot. I can go slower than the slowest walker. You have total control.
“I guess it just comes down to maturity and having respect for other people.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 16, 2006. Read the original PDF.