Reversing its course from a vote in April, the Peachtree City Council has approved the use of Segways on the city’s golf cart path system.

The two-wheeled vehicles are driven by one person standing on a platform with no room for any passengers. To be path-worthy, Segways must be registered the same as a golf cart, and it’s likely the city’s ID decal will be displayed on the bottom front of the device.

Council also adopted age restrictions for the Segway, requiring either a valid driver’s license or permit; otherwise the driver must be at least 18 years old. Also, only one person be allowed on each device, an attempt to prevent what could become dangerous tomfoolery.

The Segway has no accelerator or steering wheel. Instead, the rider navigates forward and backward by leaning in either direction. The device’s computers process that information and vary the speed based on how far forward or backward the rider is leaning.

On older models the Segway turned using a rocker switch located on the handlebars. The newer models feature a “leaning” handlebar that slides to the left and the right, gauging the size of the movement to determine how sharply to turn, according to company literature.

The April vote to keep Segways off the paths was based in part by police findings after they evaluated the vehicles on the cart paths. Among the noted problems were difficulty in navigating uneven paths and the lack of protection in case of a collision with a golf cart.

Segway has had a dealership in the city for some months, and one citizen criticized council for the flip-flop on its decision. Nancy Larson said she walks on the cart paths, and thinks the Segway is not a good addition to the mix of golf carts, bicycles, walkers and other pedestrians on the paths.

Larson said the city’s rule that golf cart drivers use an audible signal when approaching pedestrians from behind is seldom if ever used.

“I think the Segway will be a dangerous addition to our paths,” said Lynda Wojcik.

A Segway representative said the devices can go no more than 12.5 mph even downhill, a feature even golf carts don’t have.

Councilwoman Cyndi Plunkett was the lone dissenting vote against the measure, which passed 4-1.

At a previous meeting, Councilman Mike Harman said he had test-driven a Segway at the local dealership and he didn’t see any problem with it.