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It was hailed as the vehicle of the future. A small, lightweight platform on wheels that carries the user along smoothly and silently. electrically powered and emission-free, the Segway Personal Transporter was a commuting alternative to the car that wasn't a bus or train, and didn't involve a sweaty cycle ride. And then the government banned it. In a classic piece of legislative zeal, the Department of Transport responded to its unveiling by publishing its Regulations for Self-balancing Scooters. These basically refer the Highway Act of 1835 and EU vehicle certification rules to ban it from all paths and roads. The only place you can now use a Segway in the UK is on private land - not much use to the average commuter. But all is not lost. A group of MPs spearheaded by Tory transport spokesman Robert Goodwill, is campaigning to get the Segway reclassified so it can travel on cycle lanes - and, where cycle lanes don't exist, on the road. The MPs are backed by a campaign group calling itself Legalise Segways, which champions the personal transporter as a way to reduce congestion, pollution, noise and even road rage - how could you possibly be cross with someone on something that looks like a hi-tech lawnmower? Does Goodwill stand a chance? Critics say the Segway is dangerous, which is why it was banned. However, the only two people known to have fallen off one are George W Bush and Piers Morgan - as Morgan himself wrote, the manufacture's claim that Segways are idiot-proof is still justified. In any case, plenty of other countries seem to use them without having a sudden rise in mass collisions. In the US police use them to patrol parks, and in China they form part of the weaponry of the Olympic anti-terror forces. Segways require at lot less energy to power than a car, and produce no emissions while travelling. But as they can only go 24 miles on a full charge and have a top speed of just 12mph, it's questionable whether you would use your Segway instead of your car - or instead of walking to give yourself an extra five minutes in bed? A bit like electric bikes, how green they are depends what they replace. Then there's the price: £4,399. Perhaps that bike of yours is a better option after all, sweaty or not. · Adharanand Finn is the author of Make a Difference at Work. To order a copy for £8.99 with free UK p&p, go to the bookshop
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