The Sunnyvale Sun

Letters & Opinions

Speak Out

Segways in park
violate city code

It's always interesting to be informed about new and exciting ways to break the law in Sunnyvale, promoted in our neighborhood newspaper ("Segway Rules," Jan.17). Sure, it's fun for the folks who choose to plop down upwards of $2,500 for one of the neater inventions of the late 20th century to load them in their trucks, drive to one of our parks and tear around for a couple hours on a Sunday morning. Unfortunately, it also violates Sunnyvale's municipal code (section 9.62.040), which strictly prohibits operation of vehicles on any part of a public park other than designated roads (bicycles are allowed on paths). It also displaces other potential users of the park from activities more appropriate to the turf and general surroundings.

Sunnyvale's Parks and Recreation and Public Safety personnel may be too busy to enforce this law, but that doesn't mean we should feel free to go out and violate it. The community expects responsible, thoughtful behavior from its residents and visitors. Segway riders aren't exempt from the rules and regulations we've imposed on ourselves, no matter how novel or entertaining the technology they utilize might seem to be. I hope the Aftershocks find a more appropriate location than public parks for their games, and encourage the apparently growing Segway community to do the same.

Fred Wiesinger

Sunnyvale