Segway Laws

Segway LLC has introduced electriconically propelled two-wheeled devices designed to transport one person with a maximum speed of less than 20 mph. In most states, Segways must follow the rules pertaining to pedestrians while on roads and sidewalks, such as traveling on the left side of the road, facing traffic.

Some states have minimum age requirements for operators or mandate helmet use for certain ages. One state (New Jersey) requires helmet use for all ages. No states require the operator of an to be licensed. Segways are exempted from registration requirements.

To date, Segways have been classified as neither a motor vehicle nor a consumer product. The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a preliminary opinion letter stating that they should be considered "consumer products" and therefore not be regulated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This designation may change if Segways or other similar electronic personal mobility devices become more common.

42 States and the District of Columbia have enacted legislation allowing use of Segways.
6 States (CO, CT, MA, NY, ND and WY) have no legislation permitting the use of Segways.
2 States (AR and KY) have no statewide prohibitions against Segways, but local regulations may exist.

State	Permitted on Sidewalks/ Bicycle Paths	Permitted on Roads	Helmets Required	Minimum Age	Pedestrian Laws Apply
Alabama	Sidewalks and bicycle paths	Yes, but municipalities may restrict on roads w/ speeds more than 25 mph
Alaska	Sidewalks and bicycle paths	Yes	No
Arizona	Sidewalks	Yes, if no sidewalks avail.	No	16	Yes
Arkansas	No statewide prohibitions--local regulations may exist.
California	Sidewalks and bicycle paths, except where regulated by local jurisdiction	Yes	No		Yes
Colorado	Has not yet enacted legislation affirmatively permitting Segway use on public ways.
Connecticut	Has not yet enacted legislation affirmatively permitting Segway use on public ways.		No
Delaware	Sidewalks and bicycle paths	Yes on highways w/ speed limits up to 30 mph	<18
D.C.	Sidewalks		No	16
Florida	Sidewalks and bicycle paths	Yes on streets w/ speed limits up to 25 mph	<16
Georgia	Sidewalks	Yes on streets w/ speed limits up to 35 mph and separate bike lanes	<16	16 to use on highways	Yes
Hawaii	Sidewalks and bicycle paths			16
Idaho	Sidewalks		No		Yes
Illinois	Sidewalks	Yes	No		Yes
Indiana	Bicycle paths	Yes	No
Iowa	Sidewalks and bicycle paths	No	No	16
Kansas	Sidewalks	Yes	No		Yes
Kentucky	No statewide prohibitions--local regulations may exist.
Louisiana	Sidewalks and bicycle paths	Yes on highways w/ speeds up to 35 mph
Maine	Sidewalks and bicycle paths	Yes, on streets w/ speed limits up to 35 mph if no sidewalk or bicycle path avail.	No
Maryland	Sidewalks and bicycle paths	Yes on streets w/ speed limits up to 30 mph if no sidewalk avail.	<16
Massachusetts	Has not yet enacted legislation affirmatively permitting Segway use on public ways.
Michigan	Sidewalks and bicycle paths	Yes on streets w/ speed limits up to 35 mph	No
Minnesota	Sidewalks and bicycle paths	Yes on streets w/ speed limits up to 35 mph if no sidewalk avail.	No		Yes
Mississippi	Sidewalks and bicycle paths	Yes on any streets where bicycles are permitted	No
Missouri	Sidewalks and bicycle paths	Yes on streets and highways w/ speed limits up to 45 mph	No	16	Yes
Montana	Sidewalks and bicycle paths	Yes on roadways w/ speed limits up to 35 mph
Nebraska	Sidewalks and bicycle paths	Yes except on freeways and the interstate highway system	No
Nevada	Sidewalks and bicycle paths		No		Yes
New Hampshire	Sidewalks	Yes	No		Yes
New Jersey	Sidewalks and bicycle paths	Yes	Yes	16
New Mexico	Sidewalks and bicycle paths	Yes	<18		Yes
New York	Has not yet enacted legislation affirmatively permitting Segway use on public ways.
North Carolina	Sidewalks and bicycle paths	Yes on streets w/ speed limits up to 25 mph	No		Yes
North Dakota	Has not yet enacted legislation affirmatively permitting Segway use on public ways.
Ohio	Sidewalks unless marked for exclusive use of pedestrians and bicycle paths	Yes on streets w/ speed limits up to 55 mph	<18	14
Oklahoma	Sidewalks, bicycle paths and walking trails	Yes on roadways w/ speed limits up to 25 mph	No
Oregon	Sidewalks and bicycle lanes and paths	Yes on streets w/ speed limits up to 35 mph	<16	16	Yes
Pennsylvania	Sidewalks	Yes but not on a freeway	<12
Rhode Island	Sidewalks and bicycle paths	Yes unless highway prohibits bicycles	No	16	Yes
South Carolina	Sidewalks and bicycle paths	Yes if no sidewalk avail.	No		Yes
South Dakota	Sidewalks		No		Yes
Tennessee	Sidewalks and bicycle paths	Yes	No
Texas	Sidewalks and bicycle paths	Yes on streets up to 30 mph and if no sidewalks available
Utah	Sidewalks and bicycle paths; pedestrians have right of way	Yes on streets w/ speed limits up to 35 mph and less than 4 lanes	<18	16
Vermont	Sidewalks and bicycle paths	No	No	16	Yes
Virginia	Sidewalks	Yes on streets w/ speed limits up to 25 mph and if no sidewalk avail.	<15 if by local ordinance	14	Yes
Washington	Sidewalks, trails and bicycle paths as determined by local governments	No	No		Yes
West Virginia	Sidewalks	Yes	No		Yes
Wisconsin	Sidewalks	Yes, however localities may prohibit them on certain streets or on streets with speed limits over 25 mph	No		No
Wyoming	Has not yet enacted legislation affirmatively permitting Segway use on public ways.
Totals	Laws Allowing Segways: 42 States + D.C. No Laws Allowing Segways: 6 States (CO, CT, MA, NY, ND, WY) No Statewide Prohibitions: 2 States (AR, KY)	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies

Sources: Segway LLC and State Highway Safety Offices. Most recently reviewed July, 2008.

State Info & Laws

Segway Laws

State

Permitted on Sidewalks/ Bicycle Paths

Permitted on Roads

Helmets Required

Minimum Age

Pedestrian Laws Apply

Permitted on Sidewalks/
Bicycle Paths

Permitted on
Roads

Helmets
Required

Minimum
Age

Pedestrian
Laws Apply