Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 835 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to support innovative transportation by amending the Statewide Traffic Code to define and provide for the operation of electric personal assistive mobility devices (mobility device).

Segway, LLC. (Segway) testified in support of this bill. The Department of Transportation opposed this bill. MTA Media Relations commented on this bill.

Segway manufactures and markets the first mobility device under the name of Segway Human Transporter (Transporter). The Transporter provides an entirely new transportation option for short distance travel. The Transporter has been tested in many cities around the country and legislation has been adopted to permit this new mobility device to operate on sidewalks. Your Committee finds that similar legislation must be passed to ensure the safe operation of the Transporter.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 835 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.