Any opinions on these Airwheel things http://yorkshireairwheels.co.uk/ I spoke to a guy last week using one of these an he was convinced that they are legal to use. I made no comment but I cannot see how these can be legal.
Airwheels ??
- Thread starter Kuorider
- Start date
I guess these things must be legal... I was watching the (impartial and informative) BBC news the other day; apparently someone was having a baby and they must have been really important to warrant all the fuss. There were two police officers guarding the entrance to the hospital and in full view of the cameras a person wafted by (in front of them) as the news reporter said some words of interest. No one was tackled to the ground or stopped and arrested, in fact no notice was taken at all!
So either plod was not able to comprehend what they were witnessing or these gyro-wheels are commonplace in (and I have to assume) London?
So either plod was not able to comprehend what they were witnessing or these gyro-wheels are commonplace in (and I have to assume) London?
The position isn't clear at present. Any light motorised vehicle must normally be type approved and registered unless it's one of the categories excluded in the EU 168/2013 two and three wheel and quadricycle type approval regulations.
The nearest to an exemption in that regulation is in Article 2, section 2 (i) which states the regulation does not include self balancing vehicles.
However, that exclusion doesn't mean they are legal, it only means that law doesn't apply. The Segway for example has been ruled to be illegal in public places in the UK so the position appears to be that UK legislation is needed to permit such variations from the vehicle norm. Since the Segway does not have legal permission to be used in public, I think it unlikely this has.
P.S. We do not have them on the streets in London.
.
The nearest to an exemption in that regulation is in Article 2, section 2 (i) which states the regulation does not include self balancing vehicles.
However, that exclusion doesn't mean they are legal, it only means that law doesn't apply. The Segway for example has been ruled to be illegal in public places in the UK so the position appears to be that UK legislation is needed to permit such variations from the vehicle norm. Since the Segway does not have legal permission to be used in public, I think it unlikely this has.
P.S. We do not have them on the streets in London.
.
Interesting point re the self balancing vehicle flecc, I think that these will be bought and used by people who will be totally unaware that they may be in trouble if stopped by the Police. The chap who I met obviously had not the slightest notion that any rules existed on this type of transport. I carefully suggested that it may be worth checking just in case, but with whom?.
The DfT is the most likely to be able to answer a question on their legality or otherwise, but I've sometimes found it difficult to get the right answer from them for something they are unfamiliar with.
For example, not long ago this year I asked them two questions about the forthcoming L1e-A light moped class. They replied in due course with perfect answers to two questions I hadn't asked about a different class of vehicle!
.
For example, not long ago this year I asked them two questions about the forthcoming L1e-A light moped class. They replied in due course with perfect answers to two questions I hadn't asked about a different class of vehicle!
.
I see one of them can do 22-28 miles, who has the stamina to do that?
It's in effect standing still for two hours not moving your feet.
It's in effect standing still for two hours not moving your feet.
There certainly are a few in private ownership, but they are not widely used on the streets since the police acted in the early days.
.