Court tells Disneyland to consider Segway use by disabled people

A police officer uses a Segway. / VOLKER HARTMANN/AFP/Getty Images

(AP) SAN FRANCISCO - A California appeals court says Disneyland must consider use of Segways by disabled people.

Tina Baughman uses a two-wheeled Segway to get around because of a form of muscular dystrophy.

Disneyland refused to allow her to use the Segway at the theme park, which allows disabled visitors to use wheelchairs and scooters, so she filed a lawsuit under the Americans With Disabilities Act.

The lower court ruled in favor of Disneyland.

But the Los Angeles Times reports the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday overturned the ruling, telling Disneyland that technology advances didn't end with the powered wheelchair.

The San Francisco appeals court says Disney must show, based on actual risks, why Segways would be unsafe.

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[BlogZilla]

I don't understand why they'd have a problem with the Segway. It is similar to wheelchair, but it's not a wheelchair, it's a motorized pedestal.

[yarnplay]

I hope you are kidding when you say this. The Segway needs the driver to maintain balance so it can be controlled by their body angle and weight. Run over something like a curb, and it tips over, lean too far in any direction and it tips over, get distracted or bend over much either way, the machine tips over. Since you're standing the entire time there is a much higher level of muscle fatigue, even if the rider doesn't feel it. A wheel chair rider is sitting, even motorized wheel chair will is basically upright, has handles so you can grab it and does not weigh as much as a Segway. It's great that this person has access to a Segway; it's irresponsible for this person to want to use it in a crowd where there children and infants.

[WHAT-IS-HE-SMOKING]

I feel sorry that she has muscular dystrophy but, what happens when the next person wants to ride their horse and try to use the Americans With Disabilities Act?

[mollydtt]

I think Segways can be dangerous in crowds. Has that judge seen how crowded Disneyland can be? With small children everywhere?
Anyone injured by a person on a segway at Disneyland will sue the pants off of Disney.
Plus, Disney bends over backwards to make the park easy to maneuver for scooters and wheelchairs. I fail to see the need for a Segway.

[yarnplay]

As someone who has ridden a Segway, I can say that they are not safe for crowded walkways, rides or food courts. Especally since they battery can power down and shutoff the machine, causing it to tip, throw the rider and possibley striking someone on its way down. The man who bought the Segway company died when giving way to an oncoming bicycle and he lost control. He was an experiences rider, the machine just didn't respond as he expected.

These machines are fun and relatively safe, but if your reflexes are impaired, you are dealing with small children runnning randomly about, with strollers with all kinds of bags and packages hanging off them as obstacles, and a device that cannot stand on its own, you are asking for trouble. Disney is right, if the machine cannot maintain vertical on its own and the rider has impaired reflexes, accidents and injuries will occur. The act requires reasonable accommodation, not a free for all approach to crowd management with one person riding a motorized pogo stick.