Segway proposal rolls to a stop

J. Craig Anderson

Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2005 | 7:58 a.m.

The Clark County Commission on Tuesday pulled from its agenda a proposed ordinance that would ban the use of Segways on the Las Vegas Strip.

The decision to remove the item came after a local dealer, Segway of Las Vegas, complained that the ordinance would hurt the Strip business, which sells, rents and conducts tours with the electric devices that carry a standing driver. Segway of Las Vegas is at 3049 Las Vegas Blvd. South, across from the Stardust.

John Toth, traffic management division director for Clark County Public Works, said his office notified Segway store manager Bryan Schaup of the proposed ban two weeks ago because state law requires affected businesses to be informed.

Based on Schaup's objections, Toth said his office will conduct additional research to determine if the devices are safe for use on the Strip's crowded sidewalks. He also will look at how other major cities have dealt with them.

Schaup said he invited county officials to his dealership last week to show them that Segways are safe and easy to use. Although the devices are capable of speeds greater than 10 mph, the ones Schaup rents are modified so they can't exceed 4 mph, he said.

"It's almost impossible to hurt a pedestrian with one," he said.

Schaup also said he won't rent to customers unless they have prior Segway experience or agree to take a one-hour class.

The dealership charges $100 per day to rent a Segway. Schaup said he rents an average of five each week.

Toth said his concerns include the weight of Segways -- 85 pounds plus the driver's weight -- and the potential number of them on sidewalks if their popularity increases.

"What happens if somebody has a fleet of 100 of these things?" he said.

Still, Toth said, he will gather more information before going back to the commission, which could take several weeks.

"It's possible that what we proposed and what actually gets introduced could be two different things," Toth said.

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