Segway won't make detour into Canada

[Casey]

November 23, 2002 - National Post Financial The Segway Scooter is now for sale exclusively at Amazon.com but if you have a Canadian address, you can forget about having one shipped to you.
Last updated: 11/23/2002 2:52:41 AM Full Article (http://www.nationalpost.com/search/site/results.asp?keywords=segway)

[Casey]

quote:Segway won't make detour into Canada

US$4,950 sidewalk cruiser

David Menzies
Financial Post

Saturday, November 23, 2002

The Segway Scooter is now for sale exclusively at Amazon.com but if you have a Canadian address, you can forget about having one shipped to you.

The high-tech, state-of-the-art "human transporter" capable of reaching speeds of up to 20 km/h has received a seemingly endless amount of "oohing" and "aahing" from the international media. At Comdex this week, the high-tech industry's annual convention, people waited 45 minutes to test drive one. Recently, it was issued a "Best of What's New Award" from Popular Science magazine.

Amazon.com is taking US$495 deposits to reserve one of the limited number (first come, first served, limit two) that will be available when deliveries commence in March. Manchester, N.H.-based Segway Co. says it will manufacture about 40,000 Segways next year.

The cost of this ultra-cool sidewalk cruiser (long known elusively only as Ginger) is US$4,950, plus US$150 shipping. But Amazon says it will ship only to U.S. addresses.

It resembles an upright push lawnmower and allows a rider to zip forward and backward; the rider's natural motions guide manoeuverability. According to the company, it "easily navigates most walkable areas," including paved surfaces, dirt roads, grass and inclines.

The device will certainly receive the thumbs up from Kyoto Accord proponents: The Segway is emissions-free as it is powered by rechargeable NiMH battery packs.

But even if you manage to get your hands on one, are such devices legal on Canadian sidewalks?

Bob Nichols, a spokesman with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, says there is no specific legislation pertaining to gizmos such as the Segway. "For us, it's a matter of how can it be incorporated as safely as possible," he says.

Mr. Nichols suspects that individual municipalities will have the opportunity to enact by-laws governing the use of the Segway, similar to the situation that currently exists with inline skates and skateboards.