An entrepreneur is urging Government to "go green" and allow people to ride Segways on public roads.

Ben Fairn, who owns a company which runs tours on the vehicles at Dockyard and St. George's, believes traffic in and out of Hamilton could be reduced if people were able to use them to get to and from work.

And he says there would be further environmental benefits because Segway PTs (personal transporters) run for miles on a tiny amount of electricity and can be parked anywhere, including inside buildings.

"I've been trying to get TCD [Transport Control Department] to approve personal use of Segways for several years," Mr. Fairn told The Royal Gazette.

"The committee at TCD, including road safety, seem to think they are a bad idea. They are in fact identical in use to bicycles. I've been driving one around town and never had an incident, nor a complaint."

The two-wheeled, self-balancing Segway travels at speeds of up to 12 mph/19 kph and was approved by TCD for use on the roads in 2005 — but permission only extends to those taking part in guided tours.

Mr. Fairn hopes to bring Segway tours to Hamilton this summer. But in the meantime he is on a crusade to get them approved for personal use, as they are in many US states.

"I wouldn't need to bring a car to town if I could put my Segway on the ferry and use it around town," he said. "They are so environmentally friendly. They are great for people who have mobility issues, such as seniors. They are the width of a standing person. There's no downside."

He last met with transport bosses in the summer, when he took his own Segway and his cycle to TCD to demonstrate the similarities in relation to safety.

But his bid was rejected again on the grounds, he said, that the Segway has no lights and there are no designated parking spaces for it.

"I don't think they are valid reasons," said Mr. Fairn. "A bicycle doesn't have a light until you put one on it. And I can park them inside anywhere; I can lean them against a wall. You could fit four into a cycle bay."

He said the Segway was used safely all over the world, especially in urban areas and often by police and traffic wardens.

"We use them in Dockyard in the height of the season and have no problems. They are not really dangerous at all — or no more dangerous than a pedal bike."

Joseph Froncioni was asked to carry out a trial on a Segway several years ago, when chairman of the Road Safety Council. He told this newspaper yesterday: "I went to work on it for a month or a month and a half and submitted a long recommendation paper to the Government.

"It was a very practical means to travel short to medium distances. It's no safer but no more dangerous than pedestrians or cyclists on the road. You are exposed to the rest of the traffic, as a cyclist or jogger is on the road. It forces cars to pass you."

Dr. Froncioni said the benefits included a decreased carbon footprint for commuters and the lack of space the machines take up for parking. "They can't be stolen as they can't be started unless you have the special key," he added.

But he said most jurisdictions weren't comfortable in letting Segways and pedestrians "interact".

It costs about $7,500 to bring a Segway to Bermuda, according to Mr. Fairn. One is in use at L.F. Wade International Airport and traffic wardens in Hamilton have done trials on the machines.

It was not possible to get a comment from TCD boss Randy Rochester; a spokeswoman said he was on vacation.