CA City Council Considers Purchase of Segway HTs.(San Mateo considers purchase of Human Transporters)(Brief Article)

The city council in San Mateo, CA recently held a meeting to discuss the public use of Segway, LLC's electric-powered Human Transporters (HTs), ultimately electing not to regulate use of the two-wheeled scooters. Additionally, the council noted it is now pursuing federal and state support to purchase a number of the devices for a variety of city uses.
Although city officials noted that San Mateo once considered banning the HTs, which can travel approximately 17 miles per charge at speeds of up to 12 miles per hour, the council said it now plans to monitor public use of the device and reconsider the implementation of city regulations if and when justified.
"It's academic, because no one owns [HTs] in San Mateo," said city councilwoman Sue Lempert. "As it becomes more plentiful...it could fulfill city objectives such as getting people out of their cars, downtown and on public transit."
Officials said the Segway, which is currently defined by state law as an "electric personal assistive mobility device" and treated as a pedestrian vehicle, is now regulated on a jurisdictional basis in California