Photo from Lorianne DiSabato via Flickr

Boston’s City Council voted unanimously last week to ban Segways from its sidewalks. With exceptions made for persons with disabilities, the electric two-wheelers used by tour guides and participants will have to be driven in the streets.

In response to the new ordinance, the parent company of tour operator Boston Gliders filed a lawsuit against the City in a federal court. They believe an ordinance that forces Segway users to ride in the street presents a public safety hazard and that it will cause jobs to be lost.

The debate over whether the Segway PT is a vehicle or not has been going on for years. Although it is legally defined as an “Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Device” regulated under the Consumer Product Safety Commission (and not the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), no matter what you call it, it has wheels, a motor, and is capable of speeds up to 12.5 MPH. And while there are no documented instances of Segway riders injuring pedestrians, it hurts to get hit by one.

Plenty of people have been injured while operating Segways. And in 2010, Jim Heselden, owner of Segway, Inc. died after plunging off a cliff while riding a Segway.

Boston isn’t the first city to ban Segways from its sidewalks. San Francisco adopted an ordinance to keep Segways off sidewalks in 2002 and Disney World started barring Segway riders in 2004 (though an ongoing lawsuit, settled earlier this year may eventually change that. In 2008, New York Governor David Paterson signed a bill into law that allows Segways on sidewalks everywhere in the state except in New York City. In 2009, Segways were banned from operating on sidewalks anywhere in Colorado. They’ve also been banned in Hong Kong and in the United Kingdom.