What does French law say about riding an electric unicyle?
WHAT are the rules on using one of the new ‘gyroroue’ electric unicycles to get around? Can you use them everywhere? HJ
A GYROROUE or roue électrique, also called an electric unicycle in English, is the latest relatively inexpensive way to get around in town. Costing €700-€4,000, they use an internal gyroscope and height detection sensors to propel you along.
You stand on platforms on either side of the wheel and lean to one side or the other to change direction and lean forward to speed up (up to around 22kph). Users say at first it takes a little getting used to but you quickly pick up the knack and it is realistic to do journeys of up to 10-20km.
A gyroroue is also cheaper than the alternative of a Segway-style machine (called a gyropode in French), and takes up less space – they are also portable enough
to carry up stairs or take on public transport.
Professionals in the sector say gyroroues are allowed on the pavements as well as in pedestrianised zones, similar to the little push scooters that some people use. Essentially you can use it wherever a pedestrian could go. They are not permitted to go faster than 24kph – though on pavements in theory 6kpm is the maximum – and are not meant to be used on the roads.
One popular maker, Solowheel, states they are not recommended for children under 15 or people weighing more than 100kg. There have been suggestions of a law being passed specifically including them and other so-called engins de déplacement personnel, but it has not been put into action as yet. At European level countries which have passed laws on them often allow them to be used in a similar way to a bicycle.
