Segways banned in the Netherlands due to a "lack of brakes"

It looks like those serious about motoring around on their Segway might have to start crossing international boundaries in order to do so legally, as the Netherlands have now joined Japan and Britain in the growing list of countries which have outlawed the oft ridiculed (and potentially dangerous) personal vehicles. Dutch police have officially enjoined Segways "on all public roads, sidewalks, and bike paths," claiming that the lack of an onboard braking system prevents it from being categorized as a "vehicle" by the Royal Traffic Agency, which bars it from receiving a license plate and becoming a street-legal ride. Although a spokesman from the RTA actually commented that the Segway was "a nice vehicle," using the machines on public property is no longer permissible, but it was said that it could take some time before regulations are actually passed down and "enforced." Segway Netherlands director Piet Kruijt was (unsurprisingly) upset by the ruling, and claimed that he was "working on all fronts to get things resolved," and for nothing more than our sincere concern for the Amsterdam Segway Tours (saywha?) employees that are hoping to have work come March, we hope he's successful.

[Via The Raw Feed]

[Max Donk @ Jan 3rd 2007 5:46AM]

That's interesting, considering the Dutch customs and security at Schiphol use Segways to move about themselves.

[DaveA @ Jan 3rd 2007 7:57AM]

So now they will have to trek miles like the rest of us at Schiphol, what a pity.

As usual, a decision here means that it's time for negotiations to start. Another chance for the magic of the "polder model" to find a solution.

[marco heykant @ Jan 5th 2007 10:44AM]

Well, schiphol isn't public, it's actually a private corporation, of which the state holds a majority of stock, therefore it shouldn't be a problem to keep using the segway in schiphol.

[alexxie @ Jan 3rd 2007 6:16AM]

wel there goes mine dream of buying one, when i'm old enough:(

why can ppl on schiphol have them:(

[niels @ Jan 3rd 2007 6:17AM]

Dutch political decisions are meaningless on an international scale. To compensate they make outrageous decisions on a local scale to get noticed internationally.

[embee @ Jan 3rd 2007 6:55AM]

Oh darn. Another government makes anti-Segway legislation. Should I be as upset as I was supposed to be when NYC wouldn't allow Segways (motorized vehicles capable of speeds of 12 mph) on sidewalks.

[Adrian @ Jan 3rd 2007 7:11AM]

I don't read this an as active banning of segways. Rahter, the police realized that segways don't conform to the current law and thus issued a statement.

It's not much different to here (Switzerland): We have a restrictive street-legsilation which basically only allows the common vehicles. Almost everything not being a car, motorcicle or bicycle is banned from public streets.
The city council from Zurich actually wanted to use segways in a campaign but had to stop the idea because they realized that segways are not allowed on public streets. ^^'

[Michiel @ Jan 3rd 2007 7:25AM]

The reason this pops up now, is that last year the laws regarding motor vehicles has been adjusted. Now all motorized vehicles of a certain type (transportation, so not lawnmowers) need to have a licence plate.

Within this stricter law some vehicles had to be categorized, something not neccesary before. The Segways turned out not to fit into any of the motorized vehicle-categories, and now suddenly find themselves illegal outside of private property.

I suppose the Segway company will lobby for adjustments to the category. They will probably be succesful, although it will take some time to get done.

[dave @ Jan 3rd 2007 8:41AM]

Just more regulations, restrictions, and unnecessary legislation that make lawmakers appear to be doing their job when in fact it's just further restricting the freedoms of the people they pretend to represent - in any country.

[its420 @ Jan 3rd 2007 8:40AM]

now i will never be able to fulfill my lifelong dream of riding around amsterdam on a segway while tripping on mushrooms and smoking a fat joint.

[Arno @ Jan 3rd 2007 9:48AM]

Sheesh those dutch just have the weirdest language ever. Like a hybrid between german and swedish. Very OT I know.

[Mike @ Jan 3rd 2007 10:22AM]

Boy, I bet these guys: http://www.glide.cc/ are upset.

[nbmonger @ Jan 3rd 2007 10:55AM]

Segway - DEKA research wrote about brakes on the Segway in one of their early patents.

http://www.patentmonkey.com/PM/PatentID/6223104.aspx

"Fail-Safe Critical Components

In the case where failure of a component ..... a fail-safe functionality. Fail-safe functionality is typically provided for each motor 51, wheel amplifiers 46, 48, and 50, cluster amplifiers 52, and power amplifier controllers 54 and 56, as well as sensors monitoring a force handle (used for external control of the vehicle), brakes, and seat installation in the ground-contacting module."


found on -- http://www.patentmonkey.com

[madhousez @ Jan 3rd 2007 11:02AM]

i bet soon remote control cars will be banned from our streets.

[Chris Champion @ Jan 3rd 2007 11:04AM]

Is it me or is there a simple solution?

Install a hand brake. Sure, no one in their Segway mind would/should use it, but just in case....

I think a simple BMX brake could be modded to the wheels.

[eskimo @ Jan 3rd 2007 11:11AM]

Wait, they go fast enough to need brakes? Pretty soon they'll say the freaking pedestrians'll need onboard braking systems!

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Jan 3rd 2007 2:28PM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segway - it can go up to 20km/h (12.5mp/h for unfaithful). That means braking distance (provided it had brakes) would be 4 meters. 4 meters is far enough - if one passes crossroad.

[tgpalmans @ Jan 3rd 2007 12:38PM]

Funny how news which involves countries almost always invokes the most laughable comments regarding the country at hand. Especially Americans seem to be prone to this sometimes, for one reason or another. But so too non-Americans on many occasions.
Could for the most part be a reason for a good laugh (at the one making such a comment) if it wasn't so sad, mean-spirited and shortsighted.

In response to Niels: we (the Dutch) make our policy descisions based on how we feel it is best for our country, as it should be. We don't give a damn about another country's view on our legislature.

In response to Arno: Funny, we feel the same weirdness to the English language, a hotchpot of Saxon, French, Frisian, Danisch, and God knows wath other languages... :-)

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Jan 3rd 2007 2:28PM]

THAT DAMM (and very expensive) THING DOES NOT HAVE BRAKES???

Color me surprised.

[gbrandwood @ Feb 12th 2007 2:14PM]

No brakes? Check out this video of the "brakes" in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H_PRxWtSVo

[Ken @ Jan 3rd 2007 3:56PM]

Horses don't have brakes and can't be classified as a vehicle, so I assume they are illegal for ues on public roads in the Netherlands as well.

[shkolnick @ Jan 3rd 2007 7:48PM]

Yes, engadget, you are clearly too cool for the Segway, what with your smart phones, HD DVD players, and bluetooth out the wazooo. Aren't you guys just the pinnacle of cool and chic, with every right to bash the Segway at any remote opportunity....

[E71 @ Jan 3rd 2007 8:36PM]

I'm surprised the title didn't read "Segways banned in the Netherlands due to lack of being made of wood".

[James Rich @ Jan 9th 2007 1:36PM]

I took the Glide.cc Amsterdam tour in June 2006, and it was fantastic. It's a shame that the Segway is now the target of the lawyers and people who would save us from ourselves.

[bobber @ Jan 9th 2007 9:51PM]

They have no braking system so they can't be classified as a "vehicle" so they can't be licensed. If the government could license them, they could charge for licensing and registering them and insuring them and therefore the government could make money. If they can't make money off of them, why have them... That's stupid!