That unusual two-wheeled vehicle called the Segway will likely be as commonplace as the bicycle if plans to bring them in wholesale pan out ? and if TCD approves their use on the roads.

A ten-day trial as a Segway commuter is all it took to convince this writer that TCD's stamp of approval would make a lot of sense.

The vehicle is about as safe as anything else on the roads ? you still have to watch where you're going to avoid tripping on an uneven surface, or bumping into objects and people, and the faster you're going, the more likely you'll end up on your rear when you do hit that bump.

It's the ideal vehicle for commuting to and from work ? provided your job is no more than about five miles away.

I found that the Segway could just about get me to Flatts and back from Hamilton on a full charge. But that's almost an hour of riding standing up, which puts a bit of a strain on your lower back.

Having said that the Segway is hard to fault ? it's environmentally friendly, convenient and saves a heap of time and money.

And with a top speed of just over 12 mph, they're not so fast as to be a major threat to others on the roads should accidents occur.

It took just about 15 minutes to learn how to operate one with a level of comfort. I was, at first, a little worried with the warning (from no less than Road Safety Council chief Joe Froncioni) that the vehicle was not 'idiot proof'.

But I was soon gliding effortlessly along the streets of Hamilton certain about one of two things ? that I was either not an idiot or just lucky.

One of the many cool things about it is its intuitive handling ? lean forward and it goes forward, lean back and the thing goes into reverse. (Not that you need to go backwards ? the Segway turns on a dime ? that is, it has a turning radius of zero.)

Stand still, and centred, and the Segway comes to a stop. Effectively, the Segway becomes an extension of your body and its many sensors and gyroscopes mimic the body's balancing mechanism, adjusting the machine according to your centre of gravity.

The awkwardness of transporting yourself in this manner quickly fades as the novelty wears off. And that's when its real value as a transporter shines through.

Equally at home on the sidewalks and the roads, the Segway can actually get you places (across Hamilton at lunchtime) faster than a motorbike or a car. Red light? Hop onto the sidewalk and keep moving. One way street going the wrong way? Ditto.

And you don't waste time looking for parking space.

The Segway can enter most public buildings with ease ? in fact, I rode my loaner Segway straight to my desk and into elevators on a daily basis.

As an electric powered vehicle the Segway, naturally, saves a lot of money on gas. And the fact that it can be charged from any standard wall outlet at any time ? that is without having to wait for the battery to be completely drained ? is an added convenience.

All in all, the Segway is an ideal supplement to regular forms of transportation. I'd buy one.