Lembit’s Segway protest in capital

Monday 22nd March 2010, 11:38AM GMT.

Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik rides along Horseferry Road, London, with fellow Segway enthusiasts

Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik rides along Horseferry Road, London, with fellow Segway enthusiasts

Mid Wales politician Lembit Opik and a group of supporters of the two-wheeled, self-balancing Segway personal transport device were riding through London today to petition the Government to lift the roads ban on the electric vehicle.

UK and European rules have prevented the now British-owned Segway from being used on pavements or roads.

But the Government is consulting on the issue of electric personal vehicles.

Today’s demonstration in Westminster was supported by Montgomeryshire MP Mr Opik, who has been campaigning for months to get ministers to overturn a ban on Segways and allow them to be used on the roads.

Pages: 1 2


  1. 1
    Matt

    Keep your Segway off our pavements, Opik!

    Report abuse

  2. 2
    jeffb

    If governments could find a way to tax them they would soon permit them.

    Report abuse

  3. 3
    mark

    12mph! Why not walk? Anyone who would want to ride around on one of these looking like a right wally should be allowed to – it’s not like the roads are going to be full of them anyway – remember the Sinclair C5.

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  4. 4
    Rob, Telford

    Oh dear oh dear……

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  5. 5
    English Exile

    Funny how people always quote European Law ”Rules” when it suits their argument.
    The Police and Security Companies use them all the time in Southern Spain along the miles of promenades and in large shopping centres.
    Handy little tools.
    I was in Portugal last week and in Albuferia you can hire these things.
    Strange isn’t it?

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  6. 6
    bish

    Shame with the country in the state its in that this is on his list of priorities. I do hope the people of Montgomery put an end to his self publicising exploits.

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  7. 7
    Nick

    Instead of making stupid comments based on ignorance (Mark) why not consider that for just 10p worth of electricity you can travel 24 miles in a little over two hours. I would like to see you walk that. As a regular Segway user (I ride every day) I fnd that most people that attack the Segway have taken no time to find out about it.Oh, and Matt, take a look at the picture, we were not riding on the pavement!!!!

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  8. 8
    jeff

    are they insured in case of accidents?
    are they allowed in bus lanes?
    at 12mph that’s quicker than most of the traffic in London
    as far as I know electric vehicles are allowed on roads or used to be with milk floats

    ps Lembit how’s this helping the people who put you in power?

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  9. 9
    gareth davies

    its great to see our local mp protesting in london about the Segway alot of use it will do in montgomery but there you go at least he in the spot light again and come may he might be in it again when he loses he seat

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  10. 10
    Gareth Davies

    great to see our local mp on hes Segway around the streets of london in protest cant see what use it is to hes own Consituancy after all those Sedways prity usefull round the towns and villages and country lanes of Montgomershire wont or is it that he is in the spot light again

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  11. 12
    mark

    Nick, For zero pence I can cycle 24 miles in under 2 hours.
    I really dont beleive for one minute that you actually do travel 24 miles on the thing anyway.

    Just my opinion but it does make the driver look a wally.

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  12. 13
    MacPherson

    Licence ‘em, insure ‘em, give ‘em registrations, lights and M.O.T’s and I have no problem with them. But like all current (pun intended) electric vehicles, they are not green because the batteries use rare and toxic metals that have to be disposed of later and they are charged using electicity and where does that come from? Mostly from power stations! And I don’t want them buzzing round my legs in pedestrian only areas.

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  13. 14
    Wow I Want One!!

    Where do I get one and how much?

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  14. 15
    KarenK

    I once cycled 24 miles to buy a battery and I recall having 24 batteries which I recycled. I did all of this within the alotted 2 hours.

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  15. 16
    Andy H

    Have you seen how much they cost???? £4,795.00 It might only cost a few pence to charge but factor in the purchase price and its hardly a cost effective way to travel. Get a push bike. They’re cheaper, they don’t use electricity and get you fit thereby saving the NHS a few quid whilst your at it.

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  16. 17
    Peter F

    I went on a guided tour through Rome on a segway, and it was brilliant. I’d love them to be legalised over here

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