As
rumored, Segway is launching two new versions of their still-looks-nerdy-as-ever two wheel Human Transporter. The biggest update is the new "LeanSteer" system that does away the clunky grip-based control for turning, and now allows for leaning into turns in much the same way as leaning forward and back controls speed. Segway is also packing in a new wireless "InfoKey" controller (the
Bluetooth HT-V1A unit we recently saw get by the FCC) that operates as a monitor for battery level, seed and distance, and also acts as extra security for your Segway. When mounted on your Segway, the InfoKey acts as a normal "dashboard" display. Finally, along with extensive redesign of the entire unit, Segway has added those "Saphion" lithium-ion batteries -- first featured in the
XT and i180 -- which manage 24 miles on regular terrain with the i2, and go for 12 miles offroad with the x2, but both devices still "speed" along at the traditional 12.5 mph. You can nab the i2 now for $5,000, or wait around for the x2 which will be out in September. Segway will also be releasing other versions of their second-generation scooter, such as a new golf-centric model, with all six total version due by the end of the year.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Read - Segway i2
Read - Segway x2
posted Aug 14th 2006 9:32AM
As a subsitute high school teacher, I currently use a bike in conjunction with public transit to reach various destinations in San Jose. It takes me no more than 45 minutes to arrive within a ten mile city radius. By not owning a car I save thousands of dollars annually and help reduce vehicle emissions. I believe that a combination of the Segway and public transit system would prove a killer application to most transit needs for the business class and others. While a bike works fine for me, I find it incompatible with wearing a suit that will get grease stains and so on. The bottom line: the Segway in conjunction with public transit would allow commuters to do away with their 6,000 lbs autos in order to transport themselves from point a to b. I wish lawmakers would realize this potential.
for those of you in favor of segways i'm with you. i think they would be fun to ride, very practical, convenient and (of course) be way less expensive to operate, i mean think about it people if you burn 2gal of gas to go get something to eat at the restaurant you just spent 8dlrs in gas alone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. less emissions is always a good thing. saying there for fat or disabled people is so unbelievably stupid, i can't believe someone is that closed minded. if a living breathing human being needs to get from point a to point b a segway should be figured into the equation should i walk, bike, motorcycle, drive my car, or segway there. there fun, convenient, take up waaaayyy less space than a car and are green/enviromentally friendly. duh sounds like a great thing to me. i think everyone should talk to your local politicians about the advantages of these things and have them made legal on sidewalks. i certainly have nothing against walking but some times, or in certain situations these can be extremely useful. does your 8/9/ yr old need a cell phone NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! do they have them some yes and some no. but you get my point. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i'm with the person who said theres a paradigm shift coming in reference to these things... i agree...i believe eventually most everyone will have one. THEY DONT USE GAS end of story !!!!!!!
The Segway Human Transporter is just that, a transportation device. Now just because it looks nerdy is only showing how narrow minded people are. The very first and early bicycles looked weird and nerdy to a lot of people back then, now there are millions of them in various shapes and styles. Most of the arguments that I have read against the Segway are weak and lack any appreciation for modern engineering coupled with quality of workmanship and ingenuity. As far as costs are concerned, yes it is a bit pricey but then look at why. The degree of technology that go into these wonderful machines are all for the sake of safety. And so what if there are lazy people out there who would rather use a Segway than walk at least they are not polluting the air while being lazy. And then there are those individuals (like me) who in their line of work can benefit greatly from the use of a Segway. As a Peace Officer I can quietly patrol great distances while conserving my energy, and with the added height I can see a bit more than the average cop walking a beat. And as far as looking nerdy, so what, I'm confident enough to where it doesn't bother me one bit. I'm getting around in a clean, green and efficient manner.
Would love to try one out. It would not solve enough of my transpo need in a Montreal climate and infrastructure (I live in the burbs) to make it worthwhile. Plus, where would the kids sit? I think, however, there would be a place for it for those living and traveling within a close and closed proximity. I dream of a Downtown Montreal with no Cars & trucks. Just bikes, segways and the like.
Segways are as close as I am likely to get to the jetpacks and rocket cars I was expecting since I was a kid.
Another dream would be that folks could express their opinions in relation to themselves rather than the opinions of others. It would make reading these forums much less of a waste of time. Which might leave more time for work. Which might allow me to purchase a Segway just for fun. Ahh Dreams.
Sweet!!!!! Forget about changing the world. I just wanna get one of these. It looks awesome!!
Wow. Soon we won't be needing our legs.
seed and distance? Is that watermellon seeds or cantalope......?
I think you meant speed
I, for one, welcome our Human Transporter overlords.
Quote
Sweet!!!!! Forget about changing the world. I just wanna get one of these. It looks awesome!!
Quote
yeah but you look like an absolutely tw@t on ones of these.
(pardon my french :)
Only Gob is allowed to ride one
Wow, they cost more than my Yugo.
hrm these are one of those great ideas which never really took off... the only place ive ever seen these actually being used with purpose was in spain; where the police patrol the streets on them in order to save their energy for chasing the baddies!
Chicago PD, sometimes, too.
Let me tell you, it's damn hard to make a segway look intimidating.
I went to Rice University and several students had these to get around campus. I wish I were back in college just to have an excuse to buy one of these :-)
Hey everybody! There's an even better mode of transportation out right now! It must be new or something, but I heard it was called WALKING! This "walking" thing can really change the world!
""seed and distance? Is that watermellon seeds or cantalope......?"'by Jonathan Keim
Proof reader is on vacation. :)
Segway "Press release" site is down. I am surprise they didn't anticipate the added traffic
Unfortunately these things are neither road legal, nor sidewalk legal here in the UK so we can't really use them..
Also, being electric and al you need to plug them in, fine. However we don't have mains plugs sitting around on the street so you need to bring these things in your house for a charge which is where it all falls down. How am I supposed to carry this 200 pound thing up my stairs? Nevermind that it would get mud all over my carpet.
So in essence it's geeky, illegal to use, impractical and expensive... Looks like they have a winner on their hands.
I remember all the hype when they first came out, how it was going to change the way we lived. Still waiting.
the surface by microsoft is going to change the world! and thats a fact.
Those who consistently and sarcastically tout the virtues of walking need to stop being so small minded. The Segway has the potential to be a good commuting solution for many people. Example: I live about 6 miles from work. That's way to far to walk, and probably for alot of people, to far to bike. Biking isn't an option for me because I have to wear a suit and tie everyday and have no place to store a bike since I live on the 3rd floor of a condo. The Segway could be a great solution for me for half the year (assuming weather conditions) if it was cheaper. Half a year of using a Segway versus wasting gas in a car is still a lot.
Not only that, but what about grocery shopping? or small errands around town? Another solution the Segway can solve. So before you start complaining, start thinking. Unless of course you can live up to the high horse you're preaching on. But let's be honest, I don't think you complainers have ever walked or biked to the grocery store. Just because the Segway isn't a solution for you doesn't mean that it isn't a solution for someone else. So stop your pathetic preaching.
Wanax, if you think carrying a 12 pound bike up 2 stairs is not convenient, what would you do with your segway? There's no way you would carry that thing up.
And if you've got storage/parking space downstairs for a Segway then you have space for a bike.
Btw, if you plan on getting to the office at 12mph max (Segway top speed) than you wouldn't be breaking any sweat on a bike (unless you live in a bumpy place like SF).
Looks like you could use a Scooter; they are much cheaper, go faster, have greater range and cost less to buy. You can even take a passenger on the back for those 125cc and up.
Running cost are insignificant.
A Segway is 100lbs. For me, that's not much. I actually do lift and exercise. Plus its a condo, storage space downstairs equals the size of a closet, no where near enough for a bike or scooter. Once again, biking isn't an option. I do live in a hilly area where there are alot of crazy commuters on the road (Wash DC area). Biking or using a scooter on these roads is just asking to for a premature death. With a Segway, I can ride on the sidewalks. So please, don't preach to me what my solution is just because you don't like the Segway.
I'm not saying its the greatest thing since slice bread, but I'm atleast willing to accept that for SOME PEOPLE, maybe even me, it can be a solution to their traveling needs.
All these new products won't remove the biggest obstacle Segway currently have: Price
It's all well and good when we're talking about the potential solutions to the everyday commuting problems but it has to be affordable in the first place! And with virtually no competition Segway doesn't have enough incentive to lower prices, which is still at $4000-$5000.
Actually Wanax, I have to wear a suit to work and I still walk everywhere. I walk five miles to work and back everyday. I walk to the grocery store, book store, computer store, pub and anywhere else I need to go.
I live in Dublin, Ireland, where it is expensive to own and operate a car and public transportation is woefully inadequate. In the event that I have something large or heavy to transport, I call a cab.
I cannot for the life of me figure out how a Segway would be prefereable to walking. Spend $400 on some GoreTEX and a decent ruck sack and have $4600 left for a gadget that makes sense.
"Not only that, but what about grocery shopping? or small errands around town? Another solution the Segway can solve. So before you start complaining, start thinking. Unless of course you can live up to the high horse you're preaching on. But let's be honest, I don't think you complainers have ever walked or biked to the grocery store."
You're obviously not a New Yorker. We walk EVERYWHERE. I used to walk to the grocery store practically every day of the week before I moved to the suburbs (now I drive, once on weekends - and the Segway couldn't handle that load). Segways are illegal on sidewalks here, and we hate them because they annoy people who are using the sidewalks for their intended purpose... you know, it's called a sideWALK, not a sidesegway.
"I live about 6 miles from work. That's way to far to walk, and probably for alot of people, to far to bike."
I don't get it. You live 6 miles from work, but there are apparently no roads, no public transportation and you otherwise have to walk to the grocery store? Do you live out in the woods, and is your job and your grocery store also in the middle of that same forest?
There are four socially acceptable modes of transportation. 1. walking, 2. driving, 3. biking and 4. public transport. Between them, you've got everything covered, whether you're a greenie or not, and no matter how far you've got to go. Moreover, the entire transportation system is built with those methods of transportation in mind and nothing else. The Segway doesn't fit in - doesn't work on busy sidewalks or roads - and it never will.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled snarky comments on how geeky these new models look.
Well said, Jeff.
Jeff,
My mother uses a Segway in NYC, and she gets nothing but smiles. The Segway, even though it's in legal limbo: NOT ILLEGAL and NOT LEGAL, is PERFECT for NYC, and any relatively modern urban city.
When I visit I bring mine along and we glide together because she doesn't want to be stuck in traffic, or negotiate between cars on a bicycle.
It is a wonderful mode of transport. Police accept it, and so do pedestrians.
She has been gliding there for over two years. So Jeff, before you mouth off about how hated the Segway is in NYC, maybe you should do your research. Just because you live there, doesn't mean you know about the Segway and it's integration in to urban infrastructure.
It's still new, so people are scared and confused.
-S
Jeff,
"There are four socially acceptable modes of transportation. 1. walking, 2. driving, 3. biking and 4. public transport."
When e-mail was first introduced, people made narrow minded comments like you thinking only ways of communication are by mail, phone, and fax.
Be humbled and you will see how little you are in the big picture.
That's the haughtiest thing i've ever heard said in defense of a segway. ...which is saying a lot, considering the volatility of this comments section.
You know, I have yet to see someone on a Segway (I think I've only seen three) where I don't think "Wow, what an asshat". I think GOB Bluth is the perfect epitome of the Segway user. "Come On!"
Well said, S.
Once again, just because the Segway isn't a viable solution for you doesn't mean that it can't be a viable solution for someone else.
Socially Acceptable? Like that should MATTER to me? Cripes, if I did everything just to be LIKED, Jeff...
Wanker ;)
TK
Jeff, S, you both put good points down. But I think Jeff pulls ahead. The Segway never had much effect on how people lived. As some people were saying how it could be used for anything and would replace the automobile. It didn't.
The Segway just isn't practical enough for everyday use, although its a very good invention and seems very efficient. Sorry, it wouldn't sell for most people.
I want one to get to and from the garage.
This thing is clearly made for fat people or those who think they're handicapped, but are really not.
How obscenely fat do most Americans need to get before companies realize we don't need more conveniences? Airlines *OUGHT* to charge people for two seats when their rear can't fit into one. Subways ought to double the fare if a person takes up an entire seat when sitting on the bus or train.
I, for one, am thankful at the prohibitive price of the Segway. If the Segway HT was under $300, I can promise you the average weight of Americans will soon be over 300 (pounds).
Please do not compare this thing to e-mail. This thing does not revolutionize transportation at all.
"you know, it's called a sideWALK, not a sidesegway."
No, not well said, Jeff. Not well said at all (that's the dumbest comment I've read on here all day - fortunately for you the day is only half over).
Why is it that you cannot see this as being usefull for ANYone ANYwhere? I'm glad to see that the Segway detractors are mentioning where they live, because I can clearly see that they are not coming from the same place (mentally and physically) that Wanax is. NYC is a very different place than WDC. One of your arguments is that Segways are illegal on NYC sidewalks, so that's a reason why they're poor methods of transportation for EVERYONE? You need to think through you're arguments more carefully. Wanax wasn't saying that YOU PERSONALLY are suited to owning a Segway. He clearly stated that for "some" people, it's a great method of transportation.
Addressing Wanax's specific scenario: have any of you spent a summer in Washington DC? Aside from this past week of freekishly nice weather, this place is all about humidity. I don't know how it is in Dublin, sulb, or what you have going in NYC, but I've never once seen a biker in my area wearing a suit.
Lastly, some points:
-The amazing Segway weightloss! These comments started out with the Segway weighing 200lbs, then Wanax said it was 100lbs. Actually, the old model was 85lbs, the new one is 83, and the p series is 70. Not as light as a bike, but also not 200lbs.
-Segways are legal on all surfaces in DC, MD, and VA.
-My father just got a Segway. He had brain surgery last winter and now has almost no balance. He can't walk. He can ride his Segway and can now go back to work and travel to meetings (we'll be shipping the Segway).
-I LOVE walking. I walk 5 to 7 miles EVERY SINGLE DAY. Do you?
-Segways are VERY easy to take inside. with the power assist mode you can easily run it up a short set of stairs.
-Someone in the UK mentioned that there are no power outlets out in public, so you'll have to take this inside everywhere. Why? The battery lasts 16 to 24 hours of constant use.
I will give you one thing: sorry, Wanax, but I'm not sure how useful a Segway would be for grocery shopping. Maybe if you were only picking up a bag's-worth of food, sure. You could put it in a backpack. Other than that I don't see it.
LOL. "I LOVE walking. I walk 5 to 7 miles EVERY SINGLE DAY. Do you?"
Sure... You love walking and yet you use a morbidly fat person's walker thing?
"LOL. "I LOVE walking. I walk 5 to 7 miles EVERY SINGLE DAY. Do you?"
Sure... You love walking and yet you use a morbidly fat person's walker thing?"
What are you talking about? Do you even look back over the word vomit you hurl at the internet?
Its virtually useless here in California where suburban living is sprawled out; "nobody walks in LA" is very true, although I understand the show biz folks tend to use them on the lots, and in sci-fi flicks.
On the other hand, if it was fast, and you could take it in a half-pipe, it might stand a chance.
Lets take a trip back in time. I can almost hear someone saying the following: "Why would I pay that much money for an automobile when I already have horses."
My guess is no-one who has posted has actually used a Segway (I haven't) and see it as too expensive. Would it be worth it for $1000? It's too new to be geared toward the average person, but in 5-10 years it could be affordable for everyone, and if there are legal places to use it (like there are bike lanes in many areas) I could see it being quite usefull.
I see it as a paradigm shift. Too many people are unable to see the benefit of it now, but someday people could all want one. Many older people still don't see the benefit of the internet because they lived without it for so long. Almost nobody had a cell phone when they first came out. Too expensive, too big and bulky. "Why does anyone need a cell phone when they already have a phone at home or can use a pay phone?" Well that seems silly today now that esssentially everyone has a cell phone.
I'm not saying that the Segway is on par with the internet or cell phones in terms of a paradigm shift, but I think too many people have a knee jerk reaction to the Segway and say "It's useless and too expensive. Why not just walk?" I'd like to see what we'll be saying in 5-10 years. My guess is the landscape of debate on this subject will be entirely different and many of the comments in this post might seem quite silly in retrospect.
A motorcycle is still just a much better buy. $5000 will buy a pretty damned nice used bike. People regularly sell them so new they aren't even through the break-in period yet; in the past five years I've bought three bikes with under 1000 miles on them, and the most expensive was $6000. Better carrying capacity, better speed, longer range, excellent mileage, and just generally better overall mobility.
Sure you can use a Segway in places you can't use a motorcycle, but those aren't the places where transportation needs to be revolutionized -- generally speaking the only difference is that a Segway can be used where you could also walk. And people are rarely walking so far that they'll think to themselves, "I'd lay out 50 Franklins just so I didn't have to walk from the parking lot."
There are probably rare exceptions where it makes a little more sense, particularly in high-density places like NYC where significantly fewer people own vehicles in the first place, but at $5K with no real need being addressed, they aren't going to revolutionize anything.
Why does everyone keep saying that this thing will either A) Make you fat, or B) Be used by fat people. The Maximum weight for a Segway is 250 lbs. So if your are obese, sorry no ride. And if you just shilled out $5000 for a Segway, that weight limit makes for a good incentive to keep your @$$ in shape, if only to protect your investment.
To tack on to what Dignan said:
The actual majority of Segway purchasers are people who are handicapped (not who "think they are"), or who have limited mobility. They're people who would normally be in a wheelchair, and who consider the additional expense worthwhile in order to have the dignity of being looked at in the eye when they're spoken to.
Little known fact:
You can make eye contact with folks in wheel chairs, too.
Let's blame the world's problems, well, America's anyway, on close-minded, prejudging, oil-dependant people rather than those that like to tool around on an expensive toy (or mode of clean transportation depending on who you ask).
Aren't there more inportant things we can choose to complain about? Like wars or hunger. If all the anger, hostility, and negativity I read about with regard to Segways was channeled into something positive, who knows what could get accomplished. Seems trivial people spend their days crafting clever emails with regard to their dislike of an invention that no one forced them to acknowledge, and especially not buy or use. If you don't like them, don't use them... but what does defacing really accomplish?
Childish really... time to grow up world and take care of some bigger issues before we attempt to shoot down Segways.
(This from a man that has only ridden one of these things once... I'm a teacher and could never afford a Segway but I don't fault those who can. Ah, there's an issue to channel your energies towards, public education in America!)
Rod wrote:
"This thing is clearly made for fat people or those who think they're handicapped, but are really not."
Prepare to eat your words.
What about injured veterans of the Iraq war? Are they handicapped but think they're not?
What about people with Muliple Sclerosis who want to enjoy a national park, or watch their children run a marathon?
There are lots of people who have the physical ability to stand, but not walk. Should they give up and sit for the rest of their lives?
I may never need a segway, but I'm sure glad that if I do, these people will be fighting for my rights:
http://www.draft.org/draft3/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx
I'd just like to bring everyone's attention to the other usees of Segways. They're not just for fat people. A few other people who benefit from Segways are:
- Elderly people (not too old obviously, but at the point were walking for any length of time is arduous)
- Pregnant Women
- People with small children
- People with mobility impairments (like knee injuries, things that limit walking, but not standing as much)
- People with prosthetic limbs. It can be much more convenient for them to stand than to hobble.
There are so many uses of Segways in each of those cases. So don't just insult it as something stupid for fat people. Walking is a difficult task for many people. Also, as they are battery powered, they're more environmentally friendly than some alternative transport methods (like driving, public transport). I personally don't, but many people do care about that sort of thing. Its a good thing from that perspective.
Karl
Question: Do any medical plans recognize a Segway? They are expensive and most plans will cover either a wheelchair/walker/scooter. Just wondering.
Where does it say the Segway is only rated for 250lb? As a 320lb man, my Segway gets me everywhere I need to go. In addition to Karl's list, a few other people who could benefit from Segways are:
- Soccer Moms. When not riding around in your minivan or H2, you can proudly display your "My child is an honor student" and the tacky soccer ball sticker.
- Fat Kids. Why walk when you can ask mom & dad for a Segway to get you to and from the bus.
- Dead Lawyers. There's still money to be made by suing your fellow man, why let death get you down? Prop a dead lawyer up in Segway and roll him in to the courtroom.
...but seriously, I love my Segway. I don't have to pant nearly so hard as I chase after the ice cream truck in my Segway.
I went to Rice. I can understand why people would want a Segway. It was at least a mile and a half walk, in 100-degree weather with 95% humidity, in September, just to get to your car so you could go grab dinner. Though we did make fun of the football players who rode scooters *everywhere.* Wonder why they kept losing.
I am cheap and lazy, and I love it: I don't have to / want to pedal 3 miles each way to and from work, and I don't have to pay for gas.
I am willing to live with the ridicule. I love my Segway.
-C and L
It seems that there is one thing that people are missing... time.
Sure walking is a great option: clean, convenient, cheap. And I walk around my college campus for everything (I dislike the bus). However, it may take 15-20 minutes to walk from one end of campus to the other ... and this is a brisk walk.
The Segway however can do much better than walking speed, which could cut my travel times down to 5-10 minutes. Of course, I could use a bicycle, but if you've ever seen a Segway in action, it is clear that the Segway is much more manueverable than a bike. It is about as manueverable as walking, while a bike could be more of a hazard on the sidewalk. Several times I have been nearly run over by a biker.
But yes... saving 5-10 minutes may not seem like much.. until you look at where you are. If you have a 40 minute class, a 1-2 hour break, then another 40 minute class, and it takes 15-20 min to walk to the first, it makes no sense to walk back to the room for the break... and then back for the 2nd class. You end up using most of the break for walking.
If I could make that travel in 5-10 minutes, I still have a substantial amount of time left, which gives me more options ... other than sitting around the lab trying to do work remotely before the 2nd class.
So I guess my main argument is time. Walking and driving is great, but the Segway may get you there faster.
I like the changes to the Segway. Lean steering is definitely more intuitive. I often thought that leaning instead of turning the handle would be way better. The keyless start is a good step too with improved security. I can't wait to try one!
I don't think I've ever seen the comments light on fire like this before...
I've seen them in Anchorage on the sidewalks in the tourist shopping areas, and also in the Mall used by security personnel.
RacetrackOwner wrote:
"A motorcycle is still just a much better buy."
But it's not necessarily a viable option. You need a special license in most states to operate a motorcycle. No license necessary for a Segway.
if you want to spend 5 g's to look like an idiot, go for it.
I commute about 16 miles to work, one way. I enjoy it.
My wife and I travel a lot and we get to see much more than most because of our Segways. We just did about 40 miles of the Lake Tahoe shoreline. We enjoyed it.
The funniest comment I receive probably comes from people like those knocking the Segway here. As they drive by in their SUVs they yell that I'm lazy and should get off and walk. Whos the lazy one, I think they should get out of their SUVs and walk.
Most of you with negative comments have no clue what you are talking about. "Segways weigh 200 pounds." Try less than 100. "You can't get them up stairs." They have a power assist mode that powers it up stairs. "If a Segway will fit in a storage closet, a bike will." A Segway has a footprint not much larger than most people. Even standing a bike up on one wheel won't get it as small as a Segway.
So keep up your comments. They're actually funny.
I'll just keep enjoying the ride on my Segway.
Segway: Dorky at Any Speed
The hype-erbole that preceded the Segway's launch turned me off on it for good. Change the world, my arse! For some applications it seems like a good idea, but this is far from being the next penicillin or telephone.
A tour company uses them here in DC for sightseeing tours around the National Mall. Seems gimmicky and an iffy business model (expensive capital costs and who knows what maintenance is like) but for $70 a head there are people willing to go übertourist
yeoua makes an arguement I've been meaning to point out, time. For the guy in Ireland, its great that walking 4 miles to work everyday works out for you, but that's about an hour of walking each way. It takes the average person 15-20min to walk one mile. Not many people are willing to do that just because of the limitations on time alone.
It's kind of funny, I've seen a few people on Segway's around town. Not one of them was overweight and many of them were elderly. It's amusing how some of you just assume one thing and aren't willing to accept that there does exist a need for these things.
Reminds me of the little brats who who stick their fingers in the ear and goes into a tantrum when someone trys to tell you something you don't want to hear.
The only time I see Segways is at Millenium Park (Chicago). The cops thathave to "patrol" the park use them to get around. The funny thing is that they have to wear helmets while riding them.
You actually spend more than the cost of a Segway just on your cell phone. If you pay $100/month for your phone, that's $1200 each year and after four years, you've bought a Segway. Now count how many years you'll actually be paying to own that a cell phone (25-30-40?).
For people complaining about getting Segways up stairs.... they do "walk" themselves up.
Before this gets too out of hand...
http://static.flickr.com/18/23771542_9712fdd1a5_m.jpg
Our police just bought 2 of them. For their use I think they're great. For my transportation? Not yet. I have a short interstate commute and the non interstate route is down a pretty big hill and up the other side (they're going to put a foot bridge over the river, which will help a lot). Groceries? Maybe a few things in a backpack.
I alternate between a car and a bike. On some work days - I have offices that are 1.5 hours away - I drive. On "casual days" I bike in since the ride is a b*tch. We have no showers at work so I will stop at the Y nearby and get cleaned up so I don't smell too bad.
I'd give an arm of my city was more pedestrian friendly. They're putting in bike lanes but only single width that barely handle a bike and are more of a place for road debris than bikes. :P
A guy walks 5 miles to work and back and sees no use for a Segway?
I'm burning my candle at both ends and sure don't have time or interest in walking that same 10 miles everyday.
Most would agree and either take a car, bike, bus or Segway.
That's great you walk everywhere and your walking commute would be even more pleasant if the others left the car at home and took their Segway. Agreed?
How many of you have actually RIDDEN on a Segway? I don't own one, but I have had the pleasure of riding one and it is a hell of a lot of fun. And pretty damn comfortable, too.
I live one mile from a BART (mass transit) and bus stop here in San Francisco, which'll get me to work in the morning. I can jog/run with my backpack (with laptop inside) in about 8 minutes (and get sweaty). I can walk (in about 20 minutes). I could bike -- but there's no decent bike lane. Or I could (legality aside) take a very maneuverable Segway on the sidewalk and get there, no sweat, in about 5 minutes.
Why don't I do this? It's not worth $5K to me. I'll just drive my old crapper of a car to the BART station instead most of the time. But if the Segway were, say, $1K or so? Maybe even $2K? I'd jump on it, so to speak.
Once again, Segway answers the question which nobody asked. It might be a cool technology, but the shortcomings and PRICE kill outweigh the benefits. We're living in a world where TATA is trying to build the $2200 car, and Vespas (or even used cars) can be had at similar price points to a Segway.
The product, with all its limitations, just doesn't sit correctly on the price-performance matrix. The product needs to compete on some basis with walking, cycling, electric bikes, public transport, and scooters. To make sense, it would need be at $1000 +/- $300, which is presumably not feasible given the company's economics. Cool product for a few niche segments, but doomed as a commercial success.
The ONLY reason I can see for people hating on a Segway or someone that owns a Segway is the same reason a fat guy in a Pinto would hate on an Abercrombie model in a Ferrari. When someone doesn't like a product, they simply don't buy it. When someone realizes that what they have isn't as good as something someone else has, they simply ingore the other person's thing. When someone is jealous (or just stupid), they start to explain why they are somehow a better person for having it the hard way (i.e. walking everywhere).
The Segway is an excellent machine. It is quiet, efficient, and environmentally friendly. It is not practical for everyone, but even then people (who can afford it) might just want one for the same reason we buy an Xbox 360 or a $500 cell phone. You don't NEED it, but it's fun.
For some people it might be very practical. For example, a guy (we'll call him Phil) who walks 5 miles to work in a suit would be perfectly suited to ride a segway instead. Sure some ignorant people would think "Hey, that guy's an @$$" just because he's riding in a really cool and futuristic looking $5000 gadget. On the other hand, if he goes to work after walking 5 miles and sweating and smelling horrible, I'm sure another group of more intelligent people who's opinions actually matter will think, "Man Phil's a real @$$, he shows up to work every day sweating and smelling like a horse."
So if you need a Segway and it's not going to stretch you financially, go ahead and buy it. No matter what you do: whether you drive the speed limit or are extremely good looking, some group of dogmatic idiots will think you're an @$$ just because.
Androx - FUNNY and accurate. I work with a motorcycle rider who said Segways should be outlawed because they're "too big." The following week, I rode my neighbor's Segway. It was NOT big. It was in fact smaller than my Xootr kick scooter which extrudes length-wise. The Segway by contrast is one with your body. It is the most non-intrusive alternative transpo I have ever ridden. I do have a $1,200 Brompton bike, and while it folds beautifully, arriving at work a sweaty mess is not appealing. I am therefore considering an electric bike, but it sucks because those bikes are too large to carry indoors, and bikes plus parts get stolen easily outdoors. The Segway has a locking mechanism that's unique. Unfortunately, NY is considering making Segways illegal, which is stupid. If anything, they should regulate th places and times that they can be ridden. How is a Segway more dangerous than rollerblades, a scooter or bike? It's not.
Androx - FUNNY and accurate. I work with a motorcycle rider who said Segways should be outlawed because they're "too big." The following week, I rode my neighbor's Segway. It was NOT big. It was in fact smaller than my Xootr kick scooter which extrudes length-wise. The Segway by contrast is one with your body. It is the most non-intrusive alternative transpo I have ever ridden. I do have a $1,200 Brompton bike, and while it folds beautifully, arriving at work a sweaty mess is not appealing. I am therefore considering an electric bike, but it sucks because those bikes are too large to carry indoors, and bikes plus parts get stolen easily outdoors. The Segway has a locking mechanism that's unique. Unfortunately, NY is considering making Segways illegal, which is stupid. If anything, they should regulate th places and times that they can be ridden. How is a Segway more dangerous than rollerblades, a scooter or bike? It's not.
Bravo Androx!
To the rest of you who haven’t seen a Segway in real use as an alternative to a car / motorcycle / scooter / bike, please your comments are just crazy making! I live in downtown Austin, I love to walk, but I don’t like to walk in 100 degree weather for 20+ minutes each direction. I own two bikes, I get sweaty on my bikes, I road race on them and treat them as an exhilarating form of exercise - but I have an office job and I like to dress up - bikes aren’t a great substitute for just getting around. My motorcycle is fun, but I see it as a hassle as I have to “gear up” for it and still have to deal with parking problems. I love my Segway, I can zip around town, stay connected to people on the streets, engage with other pedestrians, and turn a 1-2 hour walking trip into a 30 minute Segway trip - and no parking. You people love to mock the idea of Segways but have no comment about the vast majority of obese Americans who drive their SUV the 1/2 mile to the supermarket. Segway riders look “dorky”? Are we still in middle school? I wonder if the first bike riders were mocked?! Of course they were, it’s human nature (as you are unfortunately proving).
The ONLY reason I can see for people hating on a Segway or someone that owns a Segway is the same reason a fat guy in a Pinto would hate on an Abercrombie model in a Ferrari.
Androx,
That is the worst analogy I have ever seen/heard/read in my life.
By the way, if you idea of aristocracy is an Abercrombie model, you must live in a very special society secluded from the real world.
I use my Segway to get to work and back (about 6 miles each way) in West London and to get from the office to town for meetings.
I admit that I am a sucker for gadgets and that I probably look a bit stupid....but then again I looked a bit stupid using my mobile phone in the early 90s.
My journeys are a lot more fun by Segway than being stuck in traffic, or having some cabbie give me one of his rants. The world looks brighter from a Segway than a windscreen too: it's amazing how quickly you get to know the locals when you tread the same pavement every day.
I get the occassional abuse, nearly always from builders in white vans.
I, for one will still need my legs...to get off my couch and grab a cold one from the fridge.
That is the worst analogy I have ever seen/heard/read in my life.
By the way, if you idea of aristocracy is an Abercrombie model, you must live in a very special society secluded from the real world.
Dear Rod,
You've made my point once again. If I had timed my response differently, some idiot would have been complaining that my use of a Ferrari wasn't good enough. Maybe I should have used a Rolls Royce or even better, a million dollar Bugatti Veyron, all just to make a segway point.
I have major issues with the Segways and with the Segway company in general... They pre-emptivly lobbied politicans to have these devices put into motor vehicle code in a different category than other two wheeled electric scooters. A device such as an electric goped is just as useful for every day commuters and most disabled persons who are still capable of balance (most are)... An electric goped is clean, quiet, efficient, safe, nimble and stops on a dime. In addition an electric goped is smaller, lighter and easier to carry, lift and store. I have used a GOPED esr 750 for about 1.5 years. Personally I suffer from major back spasms after walking more than .25 miles due to a lung redaction performed when I was 25 years old. I live 1 mile from my local train station and from my place of work. My neighborhood however does not have very good handicap sidewalks and so a segway is impracticle, additionally my local train station does not have handicap ramps for boarding purposes so being able to lift and store on the train anything which I use for my assistance device becomes very important. At 60 lbs I can easily fold, lift and store my Goped ESR 750 EX on any form of public transportation (Train, Bus, etc) which is not true of a Segway...
The only plus of a segway is dealing with Motor Vehicle Code, the segway is totally legal with a specific exemption in my state as a personal electric mobility assistance device (even though there is nothing on their website or marketing materials about being designed for persons with mobility disabilities) which allows a segway to be operated with impunity on roadways and sidewalks alike... but as I stated above, I can't lift one to get it on a train, it is too cumbersome to travel on the road (unsafe in my opinion) and won't handle my neighborhood sidewalks very well if at all... So basically it's a 5000 dollar legal useless to my specific needs device, where my Goped is quasi legal (even with ADA protections and rights), costs under a grand, is light enough to carry in hand, lift into trains / buses, also charges with normal PC cord and in general is more adaptable to terrain.
Why is the segway specifically legal while my electric GoPed is illegal?? Simply put, marketing and lobbying.
The segway is a neat device and I am sure has it's places in this country and others but not for me and not in my locale, sadly it's the only legally safe electronic mobility assistance device other than a wheel chair that is allowable.
Personally I am very irritated and angered by this.
-Mike
BTW: I live in Malvern, Pennsylvania just for the readers benefit.
I would really appreciate hearing from anyone on a couple of points.
1) How have people faired during inclement weather (snow, rain, -20 temperatures, etc) Do you think you would need the new x2 version to navigate canadian winters.
2) How is the storage space for todays larger laptops 17" +
3) What happens if your commute is about 28 km one way .. .would you take the chance that it would recharge during the workday
4) What happens if you go out for lunch and take it for a run before it fully charges. Does the battery have memory issues (obviously not familiar with the technology)
5) Can or would you use it with a child on board with you. Not sure how functional it might be if two were on board. I think it could be fun with the kids Im just not sure how safe or manageable it would be with two on board.
6) How well does the power assist work for helping get up stairs and over bumps.
I like the idea although price seems prohibitive. I would want to get year round use out of it even in the bad weather situations and I would want to be able to pick up one of my kids and take them somewhere with me. If you could do that I might even buy two, one for my wife and one for me (two kids).
Constructive feedback would be appreciated. :)
Cheers,