The Chainlink

Segways on LFP?

I'd've thought this known, but TCL searches inconclusive.

Feels like a year or two ago the issue that Segways are motorized and the LFP is strictly non-motorized was settled.  Afterwhich I felt dramatic reduction from encountering a segwipede every ride, to only occasional crossings such as at Buckingham.

But I encountered one (a slow-moving tour block of maybe a dozen) yesterday on a long path segment (Monroe?), slowed, and upon venturing my uncertainty to their leader was rebuked.

Anyone know definitively if they're allowed?

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Permalink Reply by Vitaliy on May 27, 2013 at 1:36pm

i think you made the right call. I would be peeved, as a cyclist, bc I wouldnt want to see a segwey on the LFP

Permalink Reply by Andrew Bedno on May 27, 2013 at 2:09pm

Personally I'm a little torn because I support allowing motor assists.  I know several older people who without that option wouldn't be out on bikes at all, and you can't even tell the bike has it.  But allowing fully motorized things even if there's weight / size / speed limits seems a slippery slope leading to stinky gas scooter, and somehow I'd prefer the flintstonesmobiles to that.

So, even being undecided about Segways, I really just want to know what's the current letter of the law.

Permalink Reply by yai danche on May 27, 2013 at 3:24pm

i don't use the path often.  But when I did encounter Segway tours, they would move far right to allow people to pass. Are they totally banned?  I don't mind them too much as tourists bring money into Chicago.  They're only mildly annoying like those weird 4 wheeled multi person bikes, slow enough to easily pass when there's no oncoming traffic.

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on May 28, 2013 at 10:10am

There was a group of them coming from North ave. over the weekend.

One of the rental spots is Navy Pier and they do take short trips along the LFP.

It's tourist season so even the bikes seem to be a hazard sometimes.

Permalink Reply by Nançois on May 28, 2013 at 12:47pm

One thing I was thinking might be helpful is if the city would clearly mark the bike path going over the LSD bridge, just north of Navy Pier. Pedestrians, segways, or really anyone coming from Navy Pier can't necessarily tell that they are joining a bike path. Some spray paint on the sidewalk at the corner of Illinois and lower LSD (just as you turn to go over the bridge) would be welcome. I know this is only marginally related to the original post, but don't know where else to voice my suggestions. :)

Permalink Reply by djm on May 28, 2013 at 1:08pm

IIRC, Segway mounted a comprehensive legal campaign to enact state laws that permitted the use of Segways ("electric personal assistive mobility devices") wherever pedestrians were allowed.  Local municipalities have overridden this in some places.

Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on May 28, 2013 at 1:27pm

I don't think the operation of Segway devices on public rights of way has been made explicitly legal or illegal in Chicago. 

Alderman Brendan Reilly suggested in 2012 that the city ban Segways from the Lakefront Trail. I don't think he formally proposed it as I couldn't find an ordinance in the City Clerk's legislative info center. 

Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on May 28, 2013 at 1:32pm

There are no "bike paths" in Chicago. They are all multi-use paths where anyone on any mode or device can use it (save for those with motorized vehicles, excepting emergency and maintenance workers). 

Nançois 8.5 said:

One thing I was thinking might be helpful is if the city would clearly mark the bike path going over the LSD bridge, just north of Navy Pier. Pedestrians, segways, or really anyone coming from Navy Pier can't necessarily tell that they are joining a bike path. Some spray paint on the sidewalk at the corner of Illinois and lower LSD (just as you turn to go over the bridge) would be welcome. I know this is only marginally related to the original post, but don't know where else to voice my suggestions. :)

Permalink Reply by WillG on May 29, 2013 at 8:26am

So I witnesses a wild herd of Segways on the LFP just South of the river last night on my way home from work around 5:45. When I saw what they were doing I stopped to watch a while.

The leader/instructor was doing his 'this-is-how-you-ride-a-segway' drills on the path. He had all the baby Segways line up with about 3 feet between each other and they were practicing turning by driving back and forth across the bike lane, doing a 180 degree turn, going forward 3 feet to the other side of the path, doing a 180 degree turn going forward three feet to the other side of the path, etc. This struck me at the time as a profoundly bad idea and sure enough, about 45 seconds after that I witnessed a Lakefront Lance (LFL) fly by and exchange some choice words with anyone that would listen. Admittedly, I would have at least thought those same words in my head if I were LFL. I mean, someone could have ended up in the hospital, these Segway people were right at the bottom of that hill coming south off the bridge, you know, right there were the path curve and people coming South can't see what's around the curve.

As I chuckled and started my ride home again I thought about asking the instructor what company he worked for but considering the general mood of the group after the LFL encounter I decided not to.

Permalink Reply by Dovah Cat on May 29, 2013 at 1:58pm

I see this a few times a week - instead of an orderly line of slow-moving Segways, which isn't really a bother, it's a herd of confused, unhappy looking people toddling around on their machines, with stray kids wandering directly into the path. I'd like to know what company hosts these tours, perhaps adding "people ride bikes here, sometimes they go fast, faster things pass on the left" to the How to Segway speech can make a bit of a difference. I'm sure it's frustrating to keep a tour like that in line, but I've seen a lot of near misses that could be avoided... Personally, I don't see the appeal at all - just get a bike! It takes little to no effort and offers the same "view of Chicago". 

Why can't they use the lower paved areas for their tours? The worst area for them is the bridge before Navy Pier. 

Will G - 10mi said:

So I witnesses a wild herd of Segways on the LFP just South of the river last night on my way home from work around 5:45. When I saw what they were doing I stopped to watch a while.

Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on May 30, 2013 at 1:55am

I was mistaken. Alderman Reilly introduced an ordinance (download here). I couldn't find it because Segway is not mentioned in the text (although Lakefront Trail is and I couldn't find it on that keyphrase). 

When I asked via Twitter, I got this response:

"Yes, legislation was drafted and introduced last year. Need to resolve issues w Park District and CDOT on where these belong."

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on May 30, 2013 at 8:42am

They should put up flashing signs.

You have the bridge overpass then the sidewalk narrows with multiple lanes converging towards Grand ave. as well as the one by North ave. with a 6 corners feel to it, road warriors screaming "on your left" people crossing without looking, staring into smart phones,kids busting loose running towrds the beach with shovels in hand, a yogurt stand on one side and more food stands on the other. 

Nançois 8.5 said:

One thing I was thinking might be helpful is if the city would clearly mark the bike path going over the LSD bridge, just north of Navy Pier. Pedestrians, segways, or really anyone coming from Navy Pier can't necessarily tell that they are joining a bike path. Some spray paint on the sidewalk at the corner of Illinois and lower LSD (just as you turn to go over the bridge) would be welcome. I know this is only marginally related to the original post, but don't know where else to voice my suggestions. :)

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