Is the Airwheel legal as they say?

[BertBert]

Legal for pavements, not roads. Are they right?
http://www.maplin.co.uk/medias/AirWheel-legal-docu...

Bert

[BertBert]

I was wondering what legislation it was that controlled electric devices on pavenments - mobility scooters and the like.
Bert

[BertBert]

Lowtimer said:

It would be fun to ask the bufton who wrote that very carefully worded letter to indemnify any of his customers against prosecution.

The Airwheel is clearly not in the same category as a skateboard or a pair of roller skates, as unlike them it is powered. That makes it classified as a motor vehicle. It is illegal to use except on private land with the permission of the landowner, as it does not meet any of the criteria which would allow it to qualify for use on the highway, e.g. as an electric bike or a disability scooter.

They are not saying it meets the criteria for highway use. Just for pavement use.
Bert

[BertBert]

So presumably they hope to grow sales in places where they are legal to use as the market in the UK must be very small!

[BertBert]

Lowtimer said:

as it's the users, not the vendors, who are liable for prosecution when nicked using them in public places.

However, having made specific statements as to the legality of the device they would be exposed I imagine should someone rely on their statement and get nicked.
Bert

[BertBert]

It's the powered bit that does it

[BertBert]

Mr Will said:

What makes you say that? These types of laws can be very dependant on precisely which words are used.

This basically. You can't use motorised vehicles on the pavements. There was a previous thread discussing the segway as well.

Lowtimer said:

There are no criteria allowing for the use of a motor vehicle on the pavements, except for the disabled buggy / 4mph category, which it does not meet. See the other thread from last year. Legally an Airwheel is in a similar position to that of a Segway.

Edited by Lowtimer on Tuesday 28th April 14:35

[BertBert]

Mr Will said:

Yes, but what exactly does the law banning them say? I suspect you are correct and it bans all "motorised carriages" (or similar) but as the unicycle/bicycle example shows, loopholes are sometimes left when particular types of vehicles were not foreseen when the law was written.

well according to the bbc it's the Highway Act of 1835! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/5271874.stm

[BertBert]

agtlaw said:

If the same considerations apply to Segways then that's a problem, surely?

Clearly it's different in shape and size, but the propulsion and use are largely the same I'd say