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January 09, 2008
GSA: Mobility-impaired can use Segways in federal buildings
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is kicking the tires on a policy that allows mobility-impaired individuals to use Segway Personal Transporters (PTs) in federal buildings that are under the agency’s jurisdiction.
By Josh Cable

In a bulletin published in the Jan. 7 Federal Register, the GSA said that it “recognizes that some persons with mobility impairments are utilizing the Segway [PT] and similar devices as their preferred means of locomotion.”

“To that end, GSA’s Public Buildings Service is issuing this interim policy to permit individuals with a mobility impairment to use these devices in federal buildings under GSA’s jurisdiction, custody or control, including those buildings delegated to other federal agencies by the administrator of General Services,” the agency said.

The agency added that the policy does not apply to privately owned leased buildings. “The use of Segways and other similar devices in leased locations should be negotiated with the building lessor,” the agency said.

Individuals without mobility impairment are not allowed to use Segways in federal buildings under the GSA’s jurisdiction, according to the GSA policy.

The agency said that it “will issue a final policy once the effectiveness of the interim policy has been thoroughly reviewed and assessed.”

To view the Jan. 7 Federal Register, click here.