New York City – Self-described Segway “outlaw” Jonathan Gleich is delighted Mayor Bloomberg favors letting the geeky-looking contraptions ride on city streets.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
He just wishes city cops and traffic judges felt the same way, because he is repeatedly socked with tickets and fines for commuting to work on his standup Segway two-wheeler.
“I’ve gotten six tickets so far, five of them from the same Manhattan cop,” said Gleich, 50, of Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, who is information technology director for a midtown clothing manufacturer.
He says he has had two Segways in about four years and has put more miles on them than on his Honda Element SUV.
Wearing a bicycle helmet, Gleich rides alongside parked cars, not out in the street with moving traffic.
His normal route takes him along Coney Island Ave., Prospect Park, Flatbush Ave., across the Brooklyn Bridge via bike lane, Church St. and Sixth Ave. to midtown.
Gleich said the same 10th Precinct cop has nailed him five times a few blocks from his office.
He has also been pulled over numerous times by other officers who scratch their heads and let him go when they can’t figure out what to charge him with.
Gleich said he has fought each of his tickets in traffic court and provided administrative judges with safety information on Segways: top speed – 12.5 mph; propelled by “green” rechargeable batteries; 47 states, including New York, have passed laws legalizing them.
He always loses, resulting in fines of $90 to $120 for operating an unregistered vehicle.
“I plead common sense,” he cracked. “The judges praise me for being so well-prepared and say, ‘I’m sorry, common sense isn’t recognized in New York City.'”
The real outlaws, he contends, are the bicycle riders, who heckle him, trying to force him out of bike lanes.
“I obey traffic laws, stop at lights, don’t ride on sidewalks,” he lamented. “Bicyclists see pedestrians as speed bumps to run over.”
I’m scratching my head here; If they’re legal in New York state, then what is he doing wrong???
It is illegal to drive a motorized vehicle, including Segways, on the bridge paths and in bike lanes. So, Mr. Gliech is incorrect when he claims that he “obey[s] traffic laws”.
On a Cop, there is no Kasha, why he gives a ticket.
But if he can prove NY passed a law that it’s OK, why would he loose in court?
Something is missing in this story.
Slow going motor-bikes, slower the X speed and with a wight of les than X, also need not be registered just like regular bikes.
New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law requires all motor vehicles, incl. such as “green” and slow Segways, to be registered and insured. Jonathan Gleich’s Honda Element SUV and Segway fall under same laws.
It seems that its legal but it needs to be registered which its not. The DMV seems like can not handle this toy to register which makes no sense if its legal.. This is gov’t buracurcy!!
Motor-assisted Bicycles, Motorized Scooters, Mini-bikes cannot be registered in NYS.
These devices are not allowed on any street, highway, parking lot, sidewalk or other area that allows public motor vehicle traffic. You are subject to arrest if you operate one of these motorized vehicles and do not have a registration, driver license, inspection, insurance or correct equipment.
I would think, something going 12 mph on a sidewalk would be a hazard and a nuisance for pedestrians, and on the street a hazard for drivers.
#5 claims anything less than 1 horse power is OK as a regular bike.
#7 claims any motor on a bike, is against the law.
So who is saying the truth?
A Segway costs more than $5,000 and looks odd (makes everyone look at you funny)
You can get a motor assisted bike (looks normal like a regular bike (almost) starting at about $350.00 and even the best one for around $2,500.
Here again is another jew who just does not get it.. If you get a ticket once, then stop doing it. Stop disobeying Laws! Is it any wonder there is an abundance of anti – semitism?
# 5 is mistaken; # 7 is correct. # 7 checked with the NYS Dept of Motor Vehicles and with the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law. See http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/DMVfaqs.htm#motor
page and click “Motorized Scooters, Mini Bikes, Dirt Bikes, Go-Karts, Motor Assisted Bicycles” on the left side menu.
You guys are all wrong. Governor Paterson signed a bill into law in July that makes it legal to ride Segways in the state. The relevant exception in the law is they’re not legal in NYS cities with over 1 million people, although such cities are allowed to write their own laws about Segways.