Prague seeks to put brakes on Segway boom

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/17/prague-seeks-to-put-brakes-on-segway-boom

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Officials in Prague want to crack down on what they see as a dangerous proliferation of Segways.

Tours on the two-wheeled vehicles have mushroomed in the Old Town Square in recent years, with dozens of guides weaving speedily around pedestrians as they hunt for customers.

“I came here six years ago and there were no Segways,” one tour guide said while standing on his vehicle. “Now they are everywhere.”

A Segway is a self-balancing electric vehicle that uses gyroscopes to remain upright. Drivers stand on a small platform and control the vehicles by leaning in different directions.

They garnered global headlines in August when a Segway-riding cameraman sent the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, tumbling at the World Athletics Championships in Beijing, China.

Authorities in the Czech capital, meanwhile, fear a serious accident could be imminent, spurring a push to ban Segways from pavements, pedestrianised areas and tourist hotspots.

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“I understand Segways are part of technical advances and laws can’t limit such developments,” city council member Jan Korseska said. “Nevertheless, it seems to me we have to enact a law so Segways aren’t classified as pedestrians anymore. I do not like Segways because they aren’t safe for pedestrians.”

Lack of regulation and Prague’s compact historical centre make the city ideal for Segway tours as they can reach most of the popular attractions. The proposed rules would cover streets in the most heavily visited areas.

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While a few scattered Segway bans exist around town, city officials and residents agree further restrictions are needed.

“It happened to me and my children, that we had to jump out of the way of Segways,” said Zuzana Zemanová, who lives in the city centre. “Segways are hefty and unpredictable and because I have two children, I think Segways are dangerous as well because they are often driving on sidewalks.”