5 ms·

I ride one in London (Soho) and it has never been an issue. You just get off and walk it when you are near people.

hocuspocus 8y ago
It's not an issue until it is, especially regarding insurances. I don't know about the UK but here I'd be worried about my personal liability and any potential incapacity leave/benefits.
- Sholmesy 8y ago
  Yeah this is certainly a cultural thing. It hadn't even crossed my mind that I would be held accountable for injuring someone on a scooter. From what I can see, this law hasn't been tested, but given that my scooters max speed is 11mph, I'm not worried about killing someone at the moment.
- TomMarius 8y ago
  Well yeah, if you hurt someone, you have to make it right. This has an easy fix, though: Drive safely. You can get insurance (we in Czechia colloquially call it "insurance against dumbness") if you want to, btw.
  - hocuspocus 8y ago
    You can drive safely and still get in a traffic accident, and while you might not be at fault, you weren't supposed to be on the road on a vehicle that has the legal status of a toy, insured or not.
    - TomMarius 8y ago
      [Speaking about EU] You most probably won't get in any trouble in that case, a moderate fine is the most extreme case, you definitely will not be liable for anything.
      - phicoh 8y ago
        I fail to see how you can come to that conclusion. In the Netherlands, segways are treated like mopeds (and these electrical scooters are quite similar to segways). Which means that you do need moped liability insurance and you cannot use the sidewalk. If you get involved in an accident with either a pedestrian or a bicycle, then because you are using a motorised vehicle, you are assumed to be liable for the damage even if it is not your fault.
        TomMarius 8y ago
        Only if the damage is more than what damage would happen if you were walking and also only if the damage is directly linked with your vehicle. Principle of adequacy. It hugely depends on what kind of segway it is etc.
        phicoh 8y ago
        So, a pedestrian makes an unexpected move where you have priority, the pedestrian falls and needs lengthy recovery. Then by default you are liable for all of the pedestrian's costs, even if it was not your fault. No ifs. Just any damage that results from the accident.
      - dagss 8y ago
        Citation needed.

It's not an issue until it is, especially regarding insurances. I don't know about the UK but here I'd be worried about my personal liability and any potential incapacity leave/benefits.

Sholmesy 8y ago
Yeah this is certainly a cultural thing. It hadn't even crossed my mind that I would be held accountable for injuring someone on a scooter. From what I can see, this law hasn't been tested, but given that my scooters max speed is 11mph, I'm not worried about killing someone at the moment.
TomMarius 8y ago
Well yeah, if you hurt someone, you have to make it right. This has an easy fix, though: Drive safely. You can get insurance (we in Czechia colloquially call it "insurance against dumbness") if you want to, btw.
- hocuspocus 8y ago
  You can drive safely and still get in a traffic accident, and while you might not be at fault, you weren't supposed to be on the road on a vehicle that has the legal status of a toy, insured or not.
  - TomMarius 8y ago
    [Speaking about EU] You most probably won't get in any trouble in that case, a moderate fine is the most extreme case, you definitely will not be liable for anything.
    - phicoh 8y ago
      I fail to see how you can come to that conclusion. In the Netherlands, segways are treated like mopeds (and these electrical scooters are quite similar to segways). Which means that you do need moped liability insurance and you cannot use the sidewalk. If you get involved in an accident with either a pedestrian or a bicycle, then because you are using a motorised vehicle, you are assumed to be liable for the damage even if it is not your fault.
      - TomMarius 8y ago
        Only if the damage is more than what damage would happen if you were walking and also only if the damage is directly linked with your vehicle. Principle of adequacy. It hugely depends on what kind of segway it is etc.
        phicoh 8y ago
        So, a pedestrian makes an unexpected move where you have priority, the pedestrian falls and needs lengthy recovery. Then by default you are liable for all of the pedestrian's costs, even if it was not your fault. No ifs. Just any damage that results from the accident.
    - dagss 8y ago
      Citation needed.