SEGWAY TRAVEL IN EUROPE

[CVINTON]

Has anyone traveled London, Paris, or Brussels on Segway? Can we get Segs onto Eurostar trains? We are thinking os shipping them over a seeing Europe the Seg-Way.. any experiences or sites would be appreciated.

cv

[florin]

Hi,

As far as I know, the segway is not allowed in London. There are segway tours in both Brussels and Paris, so I assume it's legal to glide there on your own segway too.

I think that it will be best to check with Eurostar about taking segways on their trains.

Since the Segway is not legal in London, I would personally recommend to change your plan into Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam, Then you only need to take the Thalys (http://www.thalys.com/fr/en/).


Kind regards,

Florin
The Gliding Dutchman

http://www.florin-webdesign.nl/segwayinfo/uploads/img43a6abf24c822.jpg (http://www.florin-webdesign.nl/segwayinfo) http://www.florin-webdesign.nl/segwayinfo/uploads/img43a6ac1e75530.jpg (http://yellowarrow.net/gallery.php?tagname=florin) http://www.florin-webdesign.nl/segwayinfo/uploads/img43a6ac0910600.jpg (http://glidingdutchman.spreadshirt.net)

[CVINTON]

Hi Florin,

Thanks for the reply.

Is there any definitive source of information for Seg use in London. I have heard of people using them there, but they may be flouting the law...

Can segs be taken onto Thalys trains and simply parked is a space as if it were a wheelchair? or do they have to be shipped as baggage?

I am assuming they are legal in Paris & Brussels?

Have you ever traveled the trains with one? Are there laws requiring disabled access on trains as there are here is US?

Helmets required? etc..

[Stewbonz]

I've traveled with my Segway.
OK, if you are going to use it it one area but traveling with it can be a pain.

JEFF JARVIS
http://www.thailandsegwaytours.com/

[florin]

Hi,

I have only heard it from other segway fans in the UK, if you want to be completly sure, I would recommend to contact the UK dealer (see for the address: http://www.segway.com/shop/international.html)

I have taken the Segway on the train in the Netherlands, the conductors only start asking questions when from curriosity point-of-view, once a conductor went complaining because it was very crowded in the train. However the Thalys is different then the dutch trains, will probably have is own set of rules, if you want to be completly sure, I would recommend to contact the Thalys organisation.

As far as I know they are legal in Paris, Segway had several months ago a press release about a deal with a public transport organisation in France, I don't know if a helmet or lights are required in France.
For Belgium the Segway is almost legal, they are in the stage of changing the law, in the meantime you are allowed to use the segway, but only with the following rules: Max. speed 6 KM/H (black key only), on the front you need to have a white light and reflector and on the back you need to have a red light and reflector.

The police in the Netherlands allows the Segway, with also special rules: Max. Speed 6 KM/H (black key), insurance, orange reflector stickers, you need to have a drivers license, not with two segways next to each other, no helmet required

Perhaps it would be easier and cheaper to do the trip and leave your segways at home, then just take the segway tours in Paris, brussels, Amsterdam, etc.

Other interresting link for you might be: http://www.iceinternational.nl/, the ICE will take you from Amsterdam into Germany. Then you could make a trip through almost whole europe: London, Paris, Amsterdam, Dusseldorf/Frankfurt


Kind regards,

Florin
The Gliding Dutchman

http://www.florin-webdesign.nl/segwayinfo/uploads/img43a6abf24c822.jpg (http://www.florin-webdesign.nl/segwayinfo) http://www.florin-webdesign.nl/segwayinfo/uploads/img43a6ac1e75530.jpg (http://yellowarrow.net/gallery.php?tagname=florin) http://www.florin-webdesign.nl/segwayinfo/uploads/img43a6ac0910600.jpg (http://glidingdutchman.spreadshirt.net)

[Tadek]

I used Segway in Poland, Russia, Lithuania. Latvia.
Very friendly people and POLICE. No problems. You be polite and they will be twice as much polite to you.

See you in Vilnius Lithuania.

Tadek

www.supersegway.com

[Gaye]

I have used my Segway in London with no problems from the Police. People stare a lot so be prepared for that!
It's a real effort getting it in and out of taxis and I don't take it on buses or tubes.
I think actually legalising (or not) the use of Segways is being discussed in the House of Lords at the moment.
To my mind you simply have to behave in a considerate manner but when is that not the case?!
Would I bring them here on holiday? On balance probably not as it will limit your access to so much (eg museums, galleries, London Eye, Madame Tussauds, most shops) and keeping them secure is just one of the other reasons.
Hope this viewpoint helps
Gaye

Segway - LITERALLY revolutionising my life!

[CVINTON]

Hi gaye!

Thanks for the info.... I understand that we would not be going in museums & such with them, but we would be getting around London. We're not disabled, so we can walk but want to get around easily with them. We are interested in going to Paris on the train, but is it too crowded or is it possible?

[Gaye]

I absolutely love my Segway but I wouldn't use it to look around London. I genuinely think you would enjoy greater freedom without it in this city. If you want to see London I recommend the Big Bus which are big double decker buses you can get on and off whenever you want and they take in all the sights.
They have a live guide on board who gives a commentary. I seem to remember that you pay about £12 for a full 24 hours getting on and off wherever and whenever you want.

Le Metro in Paris is terrific but very crowded esp during business hours.

Have fun whatever you decide.
Gaye
quote:Originally posted by CVINTON

Hi gaye!

Thanks for the info.... I understand that we would not be going in museums & such with them, but we would be getting around London. We're not disabled, so we can walk but want to get around easily with them. We are interested in going to Paris on the train, but is it too crowded or is it possible?


Segway - LITERALLY revolutionising my life!

[CVINTON]

Thanks!

[Gaye]

Let us all know how you get on with or without Segways!
Have fun.
quote:Originally posted by CVINTON

Thanks!


Segway - LITERALLY revolutionising my life!

[jackiewong]

FYI:

I stop by the Police when I was using my Segway in Central London area. It is illegal to ride the Segway on the road and on the sidewalk..... And I don't think there is a way to around this since they consider Segway is a motor vehical. You can only ride it in private property..........

[CVINTON]

So, when you were stopped, did he tell you to get off? tell you to take it home? write you a ticket? or what? Were you visiting there or do you live there?

[jackiewong]

Police were nice. They just told me to get off the Segway and I have to drag it home using the power mode. They only gave me a warning. Basically they had no idea what the Segway is, so they have to bring out the regulation booklet and flip thru the book to find out more info. I live here and what a shame they you can't use it here!.

quote:Originally posted by CVINTON

So, when you were stopped, did he tell you to get off? tell you to take it home? write you a ticket? or what? Were you visiting there or do you live there?

[CVINTON]

Wow! That makes it quite a bad investment then... what do you do with it? use it as a door stop? :-)

[Isidore]

Came on this thread rather late- I have commuted in London every day by Segway for almost three years. During that time I have been stopped once by the Police, on a cyclepath in the Royal Parks. If you ride on the sidewalk you will be stopped. If you treat it as a bicycle, you will be fine. I have even taken a Segway on the Underground many times, though the response you get is unpredicatble. Soem stationmasters treat it as a bicycle and won't allow you on certain lines during rush hour- the bicycle rules- others recognise that it has a much smaller footprint than a bike and just let you on- careful on the escalators! I was involved in the lobbying at the House of Lords and the tide is moving (very slowly) in our favour. Don't know about Eurostar- the carriages are quite cramped in terms of storage space so your Segs would probably go in the luggage compartment. I am going to the Eurostar office today to collect a ticket and will try and ask

[CVINTON]

Hi there.

Just returned from Europe and did not take the Segs, mostly because the weather forcast predicted snow and VERY chilly weather.

I am basically glad we did not take them for those reasons only, but I can also see where they would be amazing in most situations. The Underground would be a challenge due to all the stairs and there are very few disabled acess stations (London & Paris).

There is room on Eurostar if you are in 1st class where we were. Paris is a Segway dream! they would have saved an huge amount of time and walking!

Copenhagen would also be great although I don't know if they are legal or not there.

Now that I know the terrain I would probably take one over if I go to Paris or Copenhagen again.


Seg on!

[Isidore]

Great, Next time I go to Paris I'll take mine!

Isidore

[culs]

Recently, I took my Segway to the Azores and it made the trip a success. Narrow cobblestone streets, paths in botanical gardens, remote lakes and resorts all were doable for me. I had tires that far less than the recommended air pressure, that helped.