'Streetwise' Segway To Track Accessibility Of Sidewalks

The "streetwise" Segway is the centerpiece of a pilot project to collect data on Bellevue’s sidewalks, an ongoing effort to make all 336 miles of city sidewalks accessible and comply with requirements of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

1 minute read

July 18, 2007, 9:00 AM PDT

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera


The City of Bellevue, WA is using a one-of-a-kind Segway Human Transporter as part of a pilot project to collect data on Bellevue's sidewalks.

The work is part of an ongoing effort to make all 336 miles of city sidewalks accessible for people with disabilities and comply with requirements of the federal American with Disabilities Act.

Bellevue will use a customized, high-tech Segway electric scooter for free under an agreement with the Office of Pavement Technology, part of the Federal Highway Administration, which developed the device at a cost of approximately $120,000.

Data collected by the Segway will be used in a "transition plan" that evaluates Bellevue's sidewalks and ramps for problems that could prevent a wheelchair from being used. Such transition plans are required by the ADA, but to date few cities have complied due to the high cost and complexity of conducting a survey.

If successful, the pilot project could save Bellevue hundreds of thousands of dollars it would otherwise pay for an evaluation. Cities nationwide also could benefit by having a relatively low-cost method for surveying sidewalks, helping them to complete their transition plans.

Thanks to Franz Loewenherz

Friday, July 13, 2007 in The Seattle Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view image of strip mall in suburban Duncanville, Texas.

Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall

A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.

4 hours ago - Parking Reform Network

Blue tarps covering tents set up by unhoused people along chain link fence on concrete sidewalk.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work

Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

6 hours ago - Next City

Aerial tram moving along cable in hilly area in Medellin, Colombia.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle

Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.

July 6 - InTransition Magazine