SACRAMENTO – Assembly Member Mark DeSaulnier’s bill regulating the use of the Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Device (EPAMD) was signed by the Governor.  The most common EPAMD is the Segway.

AB 470 permanently legalizes the use of EPAMDs and refines safety regulations for their operation.  It is up to cities to decide how such vehicles may be utilized.  In Pleasant Hill, located in Northern Contra Costa County, Segways are an integral part of BART’s EasyConnect program, allowing BART riders to complete their morning commute using a Segway, free of charge.  Users help to minimize the number of single-occupancy vehicles on the road, thereby reducing traffic congestion and pollution levels. 

 “Each of us, through our day-to-day actions – where and how we choose to travel and what we choose to purchase – has an impact on our planet’s fragile health and future,” DeSaulnier said.  “The Segway is safe, easy to use, and it is electric rather than gas powered—making it an excellent carbon-reducing alternative for short distance travel.”

The Segway has not been officially labeled a medical device, but benefits those who experience discomfort when walking, especially if their impairment is not severe enough to warrant a wheelchair.  Segway has also experienced an increase in sales to law enforcement, as the vehicle allows an officer to patrol a larger area and to respond more quickly to an emergency than he or she could on foot. Over 29 law enforcement entities in California currently use Segways, including sheriffs departments, airports, universities, and transit agencies.

During his 13 years on Contra Costa County’s Board of Supervisors, DeSaulnier served on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and championed smart alternatives to single-passenger car use.  He currently serves as a member of the Assembly Committee on Transportation.