by Neil W. McCabe

The chairman of the General Court’s Joint Committee on Public Safety Aug. 31 blasted the Segway scooter company and its hijacking of a bill before the legislature meant to regulate scooters.

“My office has received hundreds of calls from cities and towns all over the state demanding that these vehicles be taken off the sidewalks and strictly regulated on our streets,” said State Rep. Timothy J. Toomey Jr., D-Somerville, whose committee has jurisdiction over the bill.

“There is no excuse for this. The industry is blocking a very important bill for the entire state,” he said. “It is an arrogant and irresponsible political maneuver.”

The proposed legislation, House Bill 1544, would strictly regulate the use of motorized scooters and mini-motorcycles on the streets of the Commonwealth, Toomey said.

The bill specifically targets two-wheeled scooters that are equipped with a small gasoline engine or an electric motor, sometimes known as go-peds, he said.

Frequently, minors use these go-peds on sidewalks and public streets, he said. “They are driving everywhere – over sidewalks, into parks and bike paths. Worst of all, they are driving on our streets, weaving in between cars and are barely visible to traffic.”

The legislation first appeared in Toomey’s committee two years ago, and he has been advocating for the bill ever since, he said.

“We’ve nearly completed the work and now, at the eleventh hour, the industry has hijacked our bill. It’s disgraceful,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the makers of the Segway scooter think that this bill will adversely affect the sale of their product and have subsequently tried to stop our progress,” he said.

“I am unwilling to sacrifice an important public safety bill, so that a company can market its product better,” he said.

Toomey said research by his committee’s staff shows that popularity of motorized scooters and mini-motorcycles are increasing, and a concurrent drop in the cost of these vehicles has only fueled their appeal to young people.

Toomey said, “Kids think they are riding a real motorcycle, when in reality these machines are a hazard to themselves and to others. You can’t see the riders and they aren’t wearing any protective gear – it’s a recipe for disaster. We’re lucky no one has been killed on one of these things, but it’s only a matter of time.”

The scooter law would mandate that any person operating a motorized scooter must follow the same laws that pertain to mopeds, Toomey said.

Operators must be at least 16 years of age and possess a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit. They will also be prohibited from roadways that bicycles are prohibited and require that they cannot travel faster than 20 mph, he said.

Individuals operating these vehicles would be required to wear a helmet at all times and would be banned from recreational or bike paths, he said.

“This is a solid piece of legislation. To delay it further prevents a real need from being met,” Toomey said.

“The industry has made an arrogant and irresponsible political maneuver by trying to hold this bill up. I’m hoping they have a change of heart real soon,” he said.

Segway Scooters, a recent innovation, have not been widely sold in Massachusetts and the company hopes to market the product as a vehicle that one can use on sidewalks, he said.

“These Segways travel at 15 miles per hour. Fifteen miles and hour! Do you want that on your sidewalk? I certainly don’t, and the overwhelming majority of Massachusetts residents don’t either,” Toomey said.

“These Segways are a limited production item and are created for a high-income consumer. Its foolish to be holding up a bill that is creating a safer traveling environment, just so one company can improve its profit margin,” he said.