A personal transporter (also powered transporter, personal electric vehicle (PEV), personal mobility device, etc.) is any of a class of compact, mostly recent (21st century), motorised micromobility vehicle for transporting an individual at speeds that do not normally exceed . They include electric skateboards, e-scooters, self-balancing unicycles, Segways, and motorised scooters. Many newer versions use recent advances in vehicle battery and motor-control technologies. They are growing in popularity, and legislators are in the process of determining how these devices should be classified, regulated and accommodated during a period of rapid innovation.
Asia Hong Kong Early 2019 according to secretary Chan, the Government is conducting a "consultation research (顧問研究)".立法會十三題：電動可移動工具. info.gov.hk. 30 January 2019. [2019-04-12]. That does not mean that personal transporter is legal. The Transport Department issued a 2015 statement that under the Road Traffic Ordinance, a personal transporter is classified as motor vehicle, since it is mechanically propelled.Electric Mobility Devices are banned on roads. Road Safety Council. [2019-04-12].
According to police statistics, there were 9 complaints, 1 arrest and 1 accident between 5 July and 19 November 2019.電動滑板車奪命 運輸署：電動可移動工具不獲發牌 因不符安全標準 . Ming Pao. 2019-12-03
Israel In 2006, the Segway PT was approved for use on sidewalks and other pedestrian designated locations, and on roads without sidewalks, with obstructed sidewalks or sidewalks that lack curb cuts. The user must be over 16 years old. No license is required. The maximum allowed speed is , enforced by electronic restriction put in place by the importer.
Japan In a court, Segway PT was classified as a motorcycle, owing to the power output; however, there is no report of registration. Segway Japan, an authorized dealer, sells Segways only to corporations to use in facilities.Will Segway sci-fi ever be everyday fact? | The Japan Times Online 15 November 2009
Saudi Arabia In Mecca they were banned after a video of a pilgrim, using it during hajj on a hoverboard was posted on social media.
Singapore In December 2016 the Land Transport Authority started a 6-month trial where devices were allowed on trains and buses at all times.
Personal transporters are not allowed on public roads. A bill in early 2020 bans all personal transporters on sidewalks / footpaths, and requires shops to give notices regarding this ban. Since sometime in 2019, riding personal transporters in the HDB common areas could result in a fine up to S$5,000. The fine also applies to bicycles and motorized bicycles.Toh Ting Wei. Cyclists and PMD users concerned about new ban in common areas; town councils say rule to remain. Straits Times. 15 September 2019
Europe The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) has been in the process of defining a standard for personal transporters, referred to as 'personal light electric vehicle', including both self-balancing vehicles and standing vehicles with maximum speeds of up to and is expected to complete its work by the end of 2017. In the meantime some countries have allowed personal transporters to be used on public roads with certain conditions.
The European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) has adopted the IEC standards as European Standards:
– EN IEC 63281-2-1:2024 - E-Transporters - Part 2-1: Safety requirements and test methods for personal e-Transporters
– EN IEC 63281-1:2023 - E-Transporters - Part 1: Terminology and classification
which provides relevant terminology and specifies safety requirements and test methods for personal e-transporters (PeTs). These European and International standards are applicable to electrically powered personal e-Transporters (PeTs) which are used in private and public areas, where the speed control and/or the steering control is electric/electronic.
Åland islands A law revision by the Government of Åland concerning "small electrically powered vehicles" means the Segway PT and all other mainly one person electrical vehicles have been classified as bicycles since 14 March 2012.
Austria The type Segway i2 is (width 63 cm) narrower than the width limit and has a low-enough maximum speed to come under laws relating to electric bicycles and therefore has to use cycle lanes and paths, otherwise street lanes. The type Segway x2 reaches with its bigger wheels 84 cm width and is, therefore, an electric vehicle, that needs a license and insurance. Neither type may use sidewalks (lengthwise) or pedestrian zones (unless exemption stated).
Belgium In Belgium the law was recently adjusted allowing electrical motorized devices to the public road. Art 2.15.2. Devices with a max speed of can ride on the cycle path. One can also use these devices on sidewalks at a walking pace. Devices with a higher maximum speed are subject under the existing rules for motorised vehicles. An insurance and protective wear will be required in any cases.
Croatia
Use of a Segway PT is allowed within city limits wherever pedestrians and bicycles are allowed, i.e., sidewalks, bicycle paths, parks, etc. Segways can be rented for city tours in cities of Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik.
Czech Republic Legal status
Until February 2016, legal status of Segway was controversial and unclear. At least since the autumn of 2010, the Ministry of Transport enforced the interpretation that a rider on the Segway is considered as a pedestrian (with possible reference to the legal definition of a pedestrian which mentions "persons on skis, rollerskates or other similar sport equipment" and with an uttered rationale that the device is quite ineligible to fulfil requirements for vehicles). The central Prague district Praha 1 and the city of Prague, supported by some of transport experts including academic Petr Moos, strongly opposed this interpretation. The ministry was preparing a legal change which would mention PT Segway and skateboards explicitly in the definition of a pedestrian (which should cover also unicycles and roller shoes implicitly). The city of Prague proposed to bring PT transporter to the act as a quite new and special category of road traffic vehicles/participants.
The amendment act 48/2016 Sb., in force since 20 February 2016, defines a new strange term "osobní technický prostředek" (= personal technical device/medium) for "personal transporter with selfbalancing device" and "other similar devices". However, the text of the act uses the term "osobní přepravník" ("personal transporter") in that sense instead. The factual regulation is similar to users of skis and rollerskates, i.e. they fall under rules for pedestrians and in addition, they can use cyclist lanes and cyclist paths. Compared to rollerskates, PTs have their speed limited to "speed of walking" at walkways. Municipality can restrict their traffic by municipal decree, but such a restriction needs to be marked by road signs. Since 21 March 2016, a new ordinance of the Ministry of Transport, 84/2016 Sb., which introduced several new road signs, is in force:An amendment proposal for the ordinance no. 294/2015 Sb., ODok, Government of the Czech Republic, 14 January 2016
Kick scooters are explicitly considered as bicycles by law. Personal transporters which are not "self-balancing" are not treated specifically.
Usage
Segways are used by municipal police corps in several cities as Prague, Plzeň, Olomouc, Karlovy Vary, Znojmo and Slaný. Since 2014, ambulance Segway is used by the private rescue service Trans Hospital.
Owners and operators of rental Segway transporters are associated in the "Asociace Segway ČR" which had 9 members in August 2014, all their rental shops are in the centre of Prague. In October 2012, this association prescribed rules for its members which contain a list of prohibited hazardous frequented localities. Some other operators are not associated and don't respect the rules. Metro daily newspaper in a May 2015 article presented an estimate that there are ca 300 Segways in Prague streets.Robert Oppelt: Segwaye jsou horší než hazard a nevěstince, říká starosta Prahy 1, Metro.cz, 14 May 2015 However, since November 2016, Segways are prohibited in the broader centre of Prague.
Local restrictions
Massive usage of Segways, as well as restrictions, are still limited to the area of the broader centre of Prague.
On 15 September 2014 Praha 1 placed to the Kampa park the first Czech road signs which prohibit entrance of Segways. The sign consisted of the message "No entrance for pedestrians" with an additional text sign "JEN ZAŘÍZENÍ SEGWAY" (only Segway devices). These signs were criticized by media and by the Ministry of Transport as confusing and incomprehensible.
Praha 1 prohibited for Segways also the passage of Richter House between Michalská street and Little Square at the Old Town, in 2015 or earlier. Unofficial marking on the floor was used for this prohibition.Zákaz vjezdu vozítek segway upravují v Praze dvě dopravní značky, České noviny, 8. 12. 2015, ČTK, , Pražský deník, 8. 12. 2015
In July 2015, Praha 2 prohibited Segways in the area of Vyšehrad Fortress. A round sign with the text "SEGWAY" inside was used.Na Vyšehrad nesmí vozítka segway. Praha 2 jim to zakázala, iDnes.cz, 28. 7. 2015, ČTK, Metro.cz
Since 15 August 2015, the director general of the National Library prohibited Segway riding in the area of Clementinum in Prague Old Town, however Segways were allowed to be led from the side.Zákaz vjezdu tzv. samobalančních dvoukolek "segway" do areálu Klementina , Ministerstvo kultury ČR, 15. 8. 2014 Similarly, Segways were prohibited in the area of the Tyrš House at Malá Strana, the main building of the Czech organization of Sokol.
On the grounds of new legal definitions and authorization, on 19 July 2016, the Prague Council approved a decree (in force since 3 August 2016) that Segways (strictly speaking all "personal transporters" as defined by law) are forbidden in the whole Prague Conservation Area (Old Town, New Town, Hradčany, Malá Strana, Josefov, Vyšehrad) as well as in a broad center of the city: the whole district of Prague 7 (Holešovice and part of Bubeneč including Stromovka Park), big part of Prague 4 (Nusle, Podolí, Braník, Krč, Michle), Karlín, parts of Žižkov and Vinohrady etc.Nařízení č. 14/2016 Sb. hl. m. Prahy, kterým se vymezují místa, kde je provozování osobního přepravníku na chodníku, stezce pro chodce, stezce pro chodce a cyklisty, na odděleném pruhu pro chodce na stezce pro chodce a cyklisty, na pěších a obytných zónách a na vozovce zakázáno , Council of Prague, 19 July 2016, map Dave Park: Prague Segway Ban Takes Effect from August: And it’s stricter than anticipated: Segways will not only be forbidden to ride on sidewalks, but also roads, throughout many Prague districts , Expats.cz, 18 July 2016 However, the restriction became efficient after the prohibition road signs are installed. According to the marking project by TSK (the Prague road management organization), 610 zone signs were installed at 250 places, at the expense of 4 million CZK. Implementation of the marking should begin past the official comment procedure, in the second half of November 2016.Robert Oppelt: Segway no way. Velký plán metropole se konečně naplní, Metro, 14. 11. 2016, str. 2 However, the official information campaign "Segway No Way" started in August already.Praha nechala vyvěsit plakáty upozorňující na zákaz segwayů, Deník.cz, 8. 8. 2016, ČTK On 24 November 2016, the Magistrate gave its decision about the signage and the first such sign was installed on 25 November 2016, the remaining in the next two weeks.Michaela Bůnová: První značka už zakazuje segway, pokutovat ale strážníci zatím nemohou, iDnes.cz, 25. 11. 2016
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