Saying no to Segways

J. Craig Anderson

Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2005 | 7:58 a.m.

When it comes to cruising up and down the Las Vegas Strip, public safety officials are hoping the Clark County Commission will say "no way" to the Segway.

The county's Public Works Department has submitted a proposed ordinance, scheduled for a vote today, that would prohibit use of the two-wheeled Segway Human Transporter on the Strip's heavily congested sidewalks.

The battery-powered scooters may be fine for beachside boardwalks where there is room to share with pedestrians, bicyclists and in-line skaters, Public Works spokesman Bobby Shelton said, but they don't belong on the crowded curbs of Las Vegas Boulevard.

"If you don't have the ordinance, then you can't stop people from using them," he said.

In 2003 the Legislature granted Segway users the same rights as pedestrians, hoping more residents would use them as an alternative to gasoline-fueled vehicles. Those rights include being able to legally ride the scooters on sidewalks.

This year the Legislature took up the issue again in a bill requested by Clark County to address concerns about use of the devices along the Strip.

Gov. Kenny Guinn signed the bill into law May 19, authorizing county commissions and city councils to impose restrictions, opening the door for today's expected vote.

Sen. Maggie Carlton, D-Las Vegas, had opposed the bill, saying she was a Segway owner and didn't want the county to regulate those who own the devices. Still, it passed 19-1 in the Senate and 40-0 in the Assembly.

There haven't been any reported incidents involving Segways, but Shelton said they move too fast and require practice to avoid hitting pedestrians in tight spaces.

According to the manufacturer, Segways can go between 8 and 12 1/2 mph, depending on the rider's skill and the terrain. The company says 8 mph is the maximum speed for riding on a sidewalk.

Segway scooters would still be allowed on sidewalks everywhere else in the state, unless another local government body imposes its own restrictions.

Entrepreneur Larry Lambeth, who opened a business in 2004 renting Segways at Fashion Show mall, had said he hoped to one day provide the same service to people on the Strip.

But Lambeth's business, Fun Transport, has since shut down, Shelton said.

J. Craig Anderson can be reached at 259-2320 or craig@lasvegassun.com.