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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2006-05-10, Page 3News Council considers permission for local Segway rider Susan Hundertmark immeimmi While Arthur Burns didn't get the official go-ahead to ride his Segway on Huron East sidewalks, council game him reason to hope he may soon have special permission to use the two -wheeled electric vehicle as a mobility device. Burns attended council last Tuesday with his Segway and Grey Coun. Mark Beaven got a chance to try it out before the meeting. After the ride, Beaven spoke in favour of giving Burns permission, limiting the use of Segways to peo- ple with medical reasons. "Even with my uncoordinated ability, it's very comfortable and easy to maneuver. It's safe - I can attest to that," said Beaven, adding he was impressed by the number of safety features on the device. Mayor Joe 'Seili agreed, adding that Beaven was able to "stop on a dime" after only a few minutes of operating the vehicle. Segway salesperson Brent Erb, of London, also attended council and told councillors that London has created a bylaw for disabled peo- ple to use Segways on the sidewalks and bike paths. "London is the only place I know of with a bylaw in place. It was created for a 14 -year- old girl with a disability so she could go with her family when they rode their bikes. She has no legs," said Erb. Burns has a slight visual impairment that reduces his visual field to less than provincial requirements for a driver's licence. Tuckersmith Coun. Larry McGrath said he sees the Segway as the same as an electronic wheelchair. "This is just put a the man's mode of transportation - handicapped sticker on it," he said. "If Ma and Pa want to buy a Segway and stand up to go downtown instead of sitting down, it's pretty much the same thing," said McGrath. Beaven expressed con- cern that "blanket allowance" of anyone using a Segway could create safety concerns. "I want some control of .} the people operating it," he said. Burns told council he intends to give pedes- trians the right of way when using his Segway. "It's for transportation, it's not a toy," he said. When council learned the Segway costs at least $6,000 each, Deputy -Mayor Bernie MacLellan expressed confidence that "the skateboard crowd isn't going to go out and buy them." But, Brussels Coun. David Blaney said someone else. might buy them for young peo- ple who would .use them recreationally. Clerk -Administrator Jack McLachlan told council he wants to research London's- bylaw further. "We can't promise anything, tut it's as good as any other mobility device," Said Seili: `It's for transportation. It's no Arth a toy,'-- hur Burns Tourism kiosks will be set up in Seaforth, Brussels Tourism kiosks will be located at Archie's UPI in Seaforth and the former FINA ,sta- tion in Brussels begin- ning during Victoria Day weekend, says eco- nomic development officer Ralph Laviolette. The Seaforth Chamber of Commerce has hired a local con- tracting firm to build a 12 by 16 -foot mobile building to be located at the northeast corner of Archie's on Highway 8. Laviolette says that while Lions Park was used last year, the Chamber decided to try the gas station this year because "that's perennially where peo- ple stop for informa- tion." "The Lions Park kiosk wasn't as obvious as we'd like it to be," he says. Eventually, he says, the Chamber would like to find a perma- nent location for a tourism kiosk, possibly in a location that com- bines tourist informa- tion with another pur- pose, such as an art gallery space. Both kiosks in Seaforth and Brussels will be staffed. While Laviolette's assistant Linda Finkbeiner is going to staff the kiosk in Seaforth, a summer student has yet to be hired to staff the kiosk in Brussels. Both employees will also be spending the summer updating com- munity information to be displayed on the Huron East website. "An amazing amount of traffic goes through Brussels on the way to the lake," . says Laviolette, adding that the kiosk in Brussels should catch the traffic coming from the Kitchener -Waterloo and Guelph areas. He says Brussels gets two-thirds of the number of travellers Seaforth sees on Highway 8. Both kiosks will con- tain brochures from throughout, Huron East and Huron County. Along with the paid staff, Laviolette is look- ing for volunteers who will also spend some time working at the tourism kiosks and is offering training. 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