What are the rules for using Segways?
1. Should the Segways that go along West Bay Road use the road or the pavement? I have seen pedestrians forced into the road when they are on the pavement, but also deliberately hold up traffic when they are on the road.
2. I have been seeing Segway tours being conducted on the sand on Seven Mile Beach, on the sand typically between, I think Royal Palms up to around Beach Suites. Groups of 10 people or so a couple of times a day on the sand leaving tracks along the beach and wiggling around sunbathers. Is this legal? I didn’t realise motorised vehicles were allowed on public beaches.
Auntie’s answer: For better or worse, I am a pretty stubborn individual and I pride myself on never giving up. However, it is with a heavy heart that I must tell the two people who sent in the above Segway questions, that I have been unable to get the precise answers I had hoped for you.
Segway on a beach in the Caribbean (obviously not Cayman)
I would like you to know that it hasn’t been for lack of trying. I received the first question 8 September 2016 (yes, a year ago) and the second one 10 August 2017. Since getting the first query I have contacted two different ministries and three separate departments for the answers. I have followed up with these various entities more than 25 times over the course of the year, ever hopeful I could track down the person who could help.
But, alas, with the last response I received, I have to admit defeat. I have been told “there is no legislation currently in place to govern the use of Segways”, though the relevant ministry and department will be looking into this issue as it has “been drawn to (their) attention.” Of course, that doesn’t address the specific questions that were asked.
From time to time, I may attempt some further follow-ups, but I did not want the two people who sent in the questions to think they had been ignored.
Category: Ask Auntie, Traffic Questions
Are bicycles and fat tire bikes allowed on the beach? What if the cruise liners unloaded a “guided tour” of 400 of those onto the beach every landing, how would we respond?
The Cayman Islands Traffic Law 2011 is feeble, antiquated, poorly-defined, and subjective – in many cases, so-called “offences” lack a clear, prescribed “punishable” penalties. We need to update the Traffic Law – in particular Ticket Offences and Penalties if we want to reign in the roadway and vehicular anarchy that persists (and not necessarily in respect of Segways).
Traffic Law 2011:
Ticket offences
§93. (1) A person who does any of the following commits an offence and is
punishable under section 138 –
(l) brings or drives a vehicle, other than an invalid carriage, on to a beach or other place intended for the exclusive use of pedestrians unless specially authorized by the Commissioner;
(s) fails to give way to a pedestrian making use of a pedestrian crossing;
94. (1) When an offence appears to have been committed contrary to section…93 or such other sections as may be prescribed by the Governor in Cabinet by regulations, a constable or a person authorized by the Commissioner may serve on the alleged offender a traffic ticket in the form determined by the Commissioner.
Always some negativity. Sounds like a bunch of spoil brats to me. What you all upset you didn’t think of it first. Those tours are guided by well trained Tour Guides and the guest are being taught how to handle an ride them before leaving the office. There is always complaining about Caymanians don’t want to wait to and here we have a Caymanian owned an operated business, that has all Caymanians working there. Giving what most is not an that is a Cayman Kind experience. Telling them about our culture an our history. Sharing the different attractions and Tours available. Wish you all will try sharing some with them too. Cayman Kind you all. Kmt.
I have no objection at all to anyone trying to earn an honest living and in this case provide employment to others. I am however concerned about the segway tours but only from a safety perspective. I was recently driving along the West Bay Road and saw a tour (by the Comfort Suites) and a tourist just lost control completely, flipped and landed in the road in front of oncoming traffic, very lucky the driver braked sharply and missed them. It was definitely a heart in mouth moment. Maybe it’s possible to familiarise users a bit more before they head out?
Woah.. sounds scary. I hope the business is insured.
CNS, did you make any enquiries about the liabilty insurance requirements?
Many standard travel insurance policies exclude the use of Seqways, particularly off-road.
What’s so curious about this is we have a Traffic Law that specifically bans things like Mini Mokes, beach buggies, golf carts (which were the transport of choice where I worked in the Bahamas) and motorcycle sidecars but no legislation on Segways despite the fact there’s been a fatal accident involving one. When you contrast this with the way CIG fought tooth and nail to prevent the import of electric cars you do have to wonder who might be pulling the strings here. Who owns Cayman Seqway Tours?
Segways are so not a problem. Too much whining.
But Caymanians don’t want to work, they are lazy, and useless! That’s what most expats and some Caymanian say all the time. Here we have a Caymanian owned business not making millions but just a living and they being fought down. Leaving tracks on the beach is really a concern? Why not collect the trash in water out at rum point or on the beaches left by tourists, residents and Caymanians alike? I’ve come to the conclusion that no one likes to see a Caymanian trying to make an honest living. They would rather be able to criticize and condemn them. How sad……
All you whiners…. Wah wah wah
I came to read the comments to see what you whiners would say about it. LOL
Like the other posters said, ‘1st world problems’.
Give it a break
Not to offiend the business owner, but most of the tourists (and at least one of the tour guides) could use the exercise of walking around! From what I’ve seen, they typically just go from Seven Mile Shops to Camana Bay and Royal Palms anyway… Why the need for a motorised tour?
Because the motorized tour is more funner! Get with the times!
Why don’t you ride your bicycle to work instead of your car when exercise is for good you? Because the car is more funner! Get with the times!
I am a young Caymanian and I’m starting a tour operation on 7 Mile Beach. I have a fleet of ride-on lawn mowers (25 total) and will be giving tourists tours up and down the beach daily from Royal Palms to West Bay dock. I figure if we let the blades rotate on the mowers it will cover up most of the tracks we will be leaving in the sand. I anticipate no objections from government with my operation either,
Auntie please check section 2 of the 2011 Traffic Law for the definition of a motor car and a motorcycle. I believe segways are less than four wheels and mechanically propelled thus it is a motor cycle. I believe bringing a vehicle onto a foot path is also an offence not to mention not being licensed, and should be inspected and have insurance. Around 2005 a lady had the first segways in Cayman drove into a pot hole fell of and hit her head and died.
Just want to make sure you did check with the police and DvDL. What was their response? Maybe you should ask them if a segway qualifies as a motor cycle and if no why not?
It can’t be side walks are for pedestrian , not for bicycle off road bikes or Segwa, there are number outs trafiic offices are in breach that deny the pedestrian free passage on a side walk
The Segways on the sidewalk of SMB Road are an accident waiting to happen. Each time I see them they seem to be teetering a few inches from the road, just waiting to be hit by a vehicle. Please, authorities, put an end to this stupidity.
Here we go….. people fighting down a young Caymanian that started their own business.
When that business is forcing pedestrians off of the sidewalk and onto a busy street regularly something needs to change, sorry.
It is a nuisance. Especially in Camana Bay. I wish they would stay away from there. DART should stop them.
It’s OUR island – not yours or his. Try us and you will see papa.
Our island, yes. But we have say we it comes to our property. If Dart says no, it’s no, to whomever. Likewise if it were my property, you’d need my permission regardless of if it were our island.
Not that simple, particularly if you want to operate licensed premises.
It really is that simple. There used to be nonsense spread around about having to let everyone access licensed establishments but it is just not true.
But it is.
Stop this foolish suggestion about fighting down a young Caymanian starting a business: it is just not so. It is about road safety involving tourists and locals. Give up making silly suggestions and make some sensible comments in future.
Road safety? Tourists are more of hazard to them selves. Have you drove through town when the ships are in and all the tourist walking out in front of cars? You all sound like a bunch of spoiled children. You ARE fighting down a young Caymanian. How many tourists die in the water snorkeling? Are you going to suggest that tour boats stop offering snorkeling trips? There is something called a waiver… you know, when you sign your life away and remove all liability from the tour company? Same Red Sail Sports and all the others in the industry. STOP FIGHTING DOWN CAYMANIANS!
Everything that Caymanians do to make an honest living is frowned and complained upon! This is ridiculous! Most if not all of the riders are mostly tourists for goodness sake! Jet skis and tour boats go around people too…just share the space safely and keep it moving!!!
It has nothing to do with being Caymanian or not. No one cares who owns the business – we’re talking about a bunch of idiots riding these things on the sidewalk where they don’t belong.
Idiots?? Was that comment even necessary…. It just shows you, your hate is strong. Here you have a local business trying to make ends meet like everyone else and you here bringing judgement. It’s really sad…because you are Ignorant and people like you need prayers. May God bless your heart………You say it has nothing to do with being Caymanian and that’s not true… It has everything to do with being Caymanian… If the business was foreign owned… I’m pretty sure you would support it. It’s evident that there is much stereotype on Caymanian owned businesses and it needs to stop! I’ve seen these tours in operation and it’s a very safe tour as there are always two guides riding with the tourists..I’ve personally ridden Segway’s in the past and they are very easy to ride… In sum, I don’t think we should bring judgment on this company without first bringing the facts. Do your research… with anything for that matter before you bring judgment… Blessed..~Knowledge is Power~
I have no idea who owns the business and I don’t care. It’s completely irrelevant to this discussion. On the flip side, if it was foreign owned, I’m sure you would be on here raging about it. Anyway, Segways – like bikes – should not be on the sidewalk here or anywhere in the world. They’re a nuisance.
CNS, is you look back through the road accident stats you’ll find that when these things first started appearing here about 11-12 years ago one was involved in fatal incident. If memory serves me right it was a single vehicle accident and the rider suffered head injuries.
In the UK (this is a BoT after all) it is illegal to use Seqways (and hoverboards) in publics areas or on the roads so they can only be used on private property. Letting tourists loose on them is little short of insane.
Yes the Segway operator was a school lecturer at ucci! RIP
This is fake news
8:40 You sound like a Troll.
The fatal incident is a matter of record and the use of Segways is banned in the England and Wales. This is copied straight off the CPS website –
Personal transporters, such as the Segway Personal Transporter are powered by electricity and transport a passenger standing on a platform propelled on two or more wheels. They are capable of speeds up to 12 mph. Under current legislation, the Department for Transport considers Segway Personal Transporters as motor vehicles, subject to road traffic laws.
The Department for Transports view is that the Segway Personal Transporter is a motor vehicle. The Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 (VERA) states that every mechanically propelled vehicle used or kept on a public road should be registered and licensed. As self-balancing scooters are mechanically propelled they require registration and a vehicle registration licence (tax disc). Additionally, the user would need a driving licence and motor insurance. Other legal requirements relate to construction and use, and to lighting.
The DfT considers the Segway Personal Transporter to be a motor vehicle for the purposes of the Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986.
To obtain registration, a vehicle would need to comply with basic safety standards. Most two-wheeled vehicles being registered are made in accordance with the European rules which came into operation on 17 June 1999.This is known as the European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA) and applies to vehicles capable of more than 4mph. A vehicle with a certificate of conformity to ECWVTA is eligible for licensing and registration in the UK.
The DfT is not aware of any self-balancing scooters which have ECWVTA. Indeed the European Commission have indicated to the DfT that:
“No EC whole vehicle type- approval has been sought as the Segways is not primarily intended to travel on the road. If this manufacturer (or manufacturer of a similarly propelled vehicle), should eventually decide to seek EC typeapproval for such a vehicle intended for road travel, [the Commission] consider that it would need to be on the basis of Directive 2002/24/EC on the typeapproval of two or three wheel vehicles.”
The Commission has also advised the DfT that:
“Member States have the right to lay down the requirements which they consider are necessary to ensure the protection of road users (i.e. may fix the conditions for allowing non EC type-approved vehicles on its roads).”
However, in this country we have not introduced separate legislation on this subject. Further there is no separate legislation for non-EC type-approved vehicles.
Two or three wheeled vehicles not approved to ECWVTA could theoretically meet the requirements of the Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval (MSVA) scheme. If so, they would be eligible for licensing and registration. However, despite such requirements being less stringent, according to the Department for Transport it would nevertheless appear to be difficult for self-balancing scooters to be rendered capable of passing the MSVA inspection.
Because self-balancing Personal Transporters do not meet the relevant requirements for use on UK roads, and because there is no separate legislation here for public road use by non-EC type-approved vehicles, they cannot be registered and licensed for use on a public road. As a consequence, any user of such a vehicle on a public road is likely at the very least to be committing the offences of using the vehicle without insurance and using the vehicle without an excise licence. Self balancing scooters do not currently meet the legal requirements and therefore are not legal for road use.
Requirements for driving documents
The Department for Transport and DVLA consider self balancing personal transporters to be motor vehicles within the meaning of Road Traffic Act 1988 and as such drivers will require a driving licence and third party insurance. A driver of a self balancing personal transporter will be in breach of section 87 and section 143 Road Traffic Act 1988.
Because Segways cannot be licensed for use on a road, they do not come within the categories of vehicle covered by a driving licence (the categories of vehicle which a driver is licensed to drive can be found on the reverse of the photo-card driving licence). Therefore, any person using a Segway on a road will be driving otherwise than in accordance with a driving licence. An analogy can be drawn from the case of DPP v Hay where it was held that once the prosecution have proved that the defendant drove the motor vehicle on a road, it is then for the defendant to show that he held a driving licence and that there was in force an appropriate policy of insurance, since these are matters that are peculiarly within his knowledge.
Segway use on Pavements
Self-balancing scooters (such as segways, mini segways, Hoverboards and single wheel electric skateboards) may not be driven on a pavement in England and Wales. Under section 72 of the Highway Act 1835 (extends to England and Wales only) it is an offence to wilfully ride on the footway. Certain vehicles used by disabled drivers are exempted from these requirements but only where they use Class 2 or Class 3 invalid carriages. Self-balancing scooters are not classed as invalid carriages and so cannot be used on pavements.
Is that clear enough for you? Their use on pavements/sidewalks is also banned north of the border under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984.
The only thing is the Seqway’s favour is that in 2007 one of them nearly did the world a huge favour when it threw Piers Morgan off and seriously injured him 🙂
allowing these vehicles on the road is not even debatable. Clearly this is, or should be against the law. No one is against people trying to make a living but please, lets do things that are safe and legal for heaven’s sake. If there is no legislation banning these vehicles, there certainly should be something put in place. Unfortunately, in Cayman its seems that everything is done re-actively instead of pro-actively. Legislators please wake up and put on your thinking caps on this and every situation.
The only thing worse and more dangerous on the roads is the Trolly Roger. How in the hell did these two businesses get licenses to operate?
if I didn’t know better I would have thought that I wrote this comment….so true what you have said
” Anonymous says:
05/09/2017 at 9:08 am”
good on you mate!!
One rule is clear. Everyone who gets on one these things looks utterly ridiculous.
1st world problems….
Did anyone contact the owner of the business to see what permissions were sought? Surely they have insurance predicated on some kind of gov’t permission from some Dept?
It seems the answer is that Segways on the beach are legal. Not every human activity needs to be regulated, although you would hardly know it looking at Cayman.
If you cannot ride a horse on the beach how come you can drive a Segway? And it cant just be down to poop – most cities with carriage tours have nappies on their horses and hopefully the Segway passengers are continent! – but you can have a Segway on the beach what do you do when some bright spark decides to offer quad bikes tours? Suspect the answer is in who owns the tour operation.
If you got political reach like they do your business is fine. It’s a real BULLY game in cayman going on.
Or the answer is that it is illegal, but they dare not confirm that. Drive a jeep down 7 mile beach and I bet you will get arrested for driving “a motorized vehicle” on the beach or something like that.
Have done, and did get!
Until someone knocks someone down or runs someone over Half of these people riding them can’t control them. Surprising there hasn’t been any accidents yet