Hawaii lawmakers
take ride on Segway

---

By B.J. Reyes
Associated Press

Lawmakers who have spent much of the 2002 session debating speed and the traffic camera enforcement program did a little speeding of their own around the Capitol rotunda and grounds yesterday, taking turns aboard the Segway high-tech scooter.

"It's amazing," Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono said shortly after stepping off the two-wheeled transporter.

Senate transportation chairman Cal Kawamoto was equally impressed after taking the Segway for a spin.

"Very good! I can see multi-uses for this thing," he said.

Segway officials have held demonstrations in state capitals across the nation as they try to convince public officials of the transport's benefits.

The Segway Human Transporter -- code-named "IT" and "Ginger" prior to its unveiling in December -- is a two-wheeled mobile device that looks like a cross between a hand lawnmower and a "Razor" scooter.

The battery-operated transport can travel up to 12 mph and uses gyroscopes to detect shifts in a rider's weight to move in that direction.

Legislation working its way through both houses would amend the state traffic code to define Segways under the state traffic code and allow them on sidewalks and bike paths.

Those opposed to the legislation include the Honolulu Police Department and the state Department of Transportation. Both want more time to study the Segway and other new mobile devices, such as motorized Razor scooters, before allowing them on public areas.

Among those who test drove the Segway yesterday was John Lovstedt, a highway safety manager for the state Transportation Department.

"There's bound to be some applications for them," he said. "They're easy to use. It's got, I think, a great deal of capability.

"The department wants to look not only at this but at all of these unusual type vehicles that are coming out now. The objective is to find a way of classifying them."

Matt Dailida, a spokesman for Manchester, N.H.-based Segway LLC, said so far 11 states have passed laws regulating the transports. Initial buyers of the Segway include the U.S. Postal Service and the city of Atlanta.

---

Legislature Directory

Legislature Bills & Hawaii Revised Statutes

Testimony by email: testimony@capitol.hawaii.gov
Include in the email the committee name; bill number;
date, time and place of the hearing; and number of copies
(as listed on the hearing notice.) For more information,
see http://www.hawaii.gov/lrb/par
or call 587-0478.