If you wanted to admire the sights of central Budapest by Segway, you might have to come up with an alternative – or at least change your route. In about two weeks’ time, these two-wheeled vehicles will disappear from the main pedestrian zones of District V, following a decision made by local city officials. This new regulation was prompted by public complaints about the increasing number of sightseeing vehicles on car-free streets, their fast speed and the way they are operated by certain inexperienced drivers. According to the District Council, the areas affected are designated pedestrian streets and zones where vehicles cannot enter or have limited access.
In addition to Segways, other electric-powered attractions, including bikes, scooters, hoverboards and skateboards, are also prohibited from the same streets and zones. Those who use any conveyance outlined in this regulation are required to push or pick up and carry the vehicle by hand when they reach prohibited areas. Failure to do so will incur a spot fine of 50,000 forints, a penalty that can increase to a maximum of 150,000 forints. Relevant tour companies are requested to inform their customers accordingly.
The recent boom in visitors to Budapest has brought an ever-growing range of alternative ways to tour the city’s streets. Last summer, stag-party essential beer bikes were driven out of District VI and VII, Budapest’s party vortex. These slow-moving pedal-powered bars with their loud music and intoxicated passengers were then banned from District V. According to city officials, due to their size, beer bikes, rickshaws and other three- and four-wheeled passenger vehicles are not suitable for pedestrian areas and from mid-June they won’t be allowed to enter these city sections either.
We contacted a major local Segway tour company to find out more about the effect of this new regulation, but they preferred not to comment.
