Orlando to offer Segway-riding city "ambassadors"
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted August 11th 2007 11:52AM
posted August 11th 2007 11:52AM
posted August 11th 2007 11:52AM
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"Loews and Kessler Hotel-trained workers will help tourists and locals alike by offering event information, directions, and general assistance."
Yes, but will they let me ride their Segway?
that's crazy, I walk past that building everyday on my way to work. I wonder if i work late one night will they let me drive one to my car. Hmmmm
They actually do this in Atlanta too. Every now and then a segway gang can be seen riding around the downtown area, complete with (im sure) government-mandated safety helmets.
Lunatrik is correct. They have been doing this in Atlanta for years. The Atlanta "Downtown Ambassadors" ride Segways around Downtown and give tourist and convention goers information and directions so I'm not sure why it is news that Orlando is doing it too.
Do tourist come to downtown Orlando? I do not recall seeing them on Orange Ave on Friday/Saturday nights. Idrive yeah but not Downtown
Coming from someone in the area... no. :\ Ever since Church Street Exchange was closed, it's been a steady *drop* in tourists. Which is probably the way Disney/Universal like it.
BTW here is a link to the Atlanta DTA force;
http://www.atlantadowntown.com/Ambassador.asp
I can't wait 'till I have enough money to build my own...
http://www.netcraft.com.au/geoffrey/meta/
I need to learn C so I can contribute to the code... I always feel so powerless without that ability...
These guys will be the first people to loose jobs to robots.
Nashville, Tennessee has had Downtown Ambassadors for two(2) years.
"Police will teach the ambassadors to watch for trouble and call for help on their two-way radios. Firefighters will teach them to render first aid and use the emergency defibrillators they'll carry on their Segways."
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Call me backward, but couldn't this be done on far cheaper scooters (leg and/or electric powered) with a similar small compartment for whatever?
"If this frees up police officers to do law enforcement instead of giving someone directions, then I think that's great," Commissioner Patty Sheehan said. "It's expensive . . . but I think it's going to pay for itself in terms of safety and overall value and assisting people."
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That is, bring more people to the city to pay more property taxes that funds them. Evasive language really annoys.
"The city will buy six Segways, futuristic upright scooters, for a total of $35,501. Most of the rest of the money will cover the salaries of about 16 new employees."
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Expensive. Maintenance too, when the batteries die and need replacement after a few hundred charges.
"At least 14 other cities, including Tampa, Jacksonville and Denver, operate ambassador programs. Some use bicycles or electric vehicles; at least one -- Atlanta -- uses Segways."
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Segway doesn't seem ideal, particularly when initial cost and running costs are added on top of that.
"They'll also help the 50,000 to 60,000 people who work downtown; late-night workers worried about walking to their cars will be able to ask an ambassador for an escort, for instance."
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Like others have mentioned, does this mean a ride on the Segway? If not, I can imagine many wanting one. Otherwise the escort on his segway while you walk would come across pretty hollow.
"But the ambassadors are meant to be the most visible part of the program. They'll patrol from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on busy days, and be most visible during lunch and rush hours -- when visitors are most likely to need help finding sushi."
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We can only hope the batteries don't go flat :)
The uninformed like to tear down the Segway. The Lithium Ion batteries will take several thousand charges verus the several hundred as some have commented.
As for cheaper alternatives, you get what you pay for. The Segway is more agile, and safer that any bicycle or scooter made. With its smaller footprint, it parks in a smaller area. It's range is 16 to 24 miles dependent on size of rider and speed it is pushed to. The electric costs of 10 cents a recharge verus the cost of replacement batteries is very reasonable. Maintenance costs are small compared to other vehicles.
Ignorance is bliss, and I see comments by some very blissful people.
Yep. I own one of the oldest Segs in North America (September 2002) and it's been great. Also own a p133 I bought in 2004, and both of them charge and run pretty much the day they did when I got them. The HT-hating on this site is getting pretty old... smells like fanboy-wannabees who claim Seg users look dorky as they sit on their couches playing Xbox. Soundtrack for this post: William Shatner's "Has-Been," particularly the chorus:
"Riding on their armchairs
They dream of wealth and fame
Fear is their companion
Nintendo is their game
Never done jack and two thumbs Don
And sidekick don't say dick
We'll laugh at others failures
Though they have not done sh*t."
Rocktopper @ Aug 12th 2007 12:47AM
The Lithium Ion batteries will take several thousand charges verus the several hundred as some have commented.
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Where does it state this? And how many thousand is several thousand? So far all I've found on their website is this battery information:
http://www.segway.com/support/faq/frequently-asked-questions.html#8
Would appreciate you pointing me to the several thousand figure.
http://search.segway.com/support/docs/battery_care_booklet.pdf
OK, according to this booklet describing battery care for their older NiMH batteries, the expected charge and discharge cycles are 300 to 500 before needing replacement.
Still no word on their Lithiums that I could find.
Rocktopper @ Aug 12th 2007 12:47AM
As for cheaper alternatives, you get what you pay for. The Segway is more agile, and safer that any bicycle or scooter made.
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This is very much open to debate, IMO.
You show me a bicycle that can turn 360 on a dime, and I'll eat this yummy, tasty stapler sitting on my desk.
You show me a bicycle that can turn 180 degrees on a dime, and I'll eat this yummy, tasty Swingline sitting on my desk.
waLLy @ Aug 13th 2007 5:15PM
You show me a bicycle that can turn 360 on a dime, and I'll eat this yummy, tasty stapler sitting on my desk.
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That is one of its strengths, yes. Is a scooter or bike much less agile? I don't think so.
How is it safer (which was another point brought up above)?
How is it more flexible in any other way, than any bicycle or scooter ever made? Flexibility is actually locking it up outside without it attracting curious looks. Swerving through traffic. Using legpower when electric fails or just expires on your route. Jumping over bumps on your route. Flexibility is being able to do most repairs yourself at very low cost.
And Safety?
http://www.segway.com/support/recalls/recall_002.html
Sure, bikes have been recalled too, but we have many vendors offering these, and they are, by and large, infinitely less complex and time-tested devices where a visual inspection is normally all that's needed to give you a very good idea of the satefy of the unit. Not layers and layers of electronics between you and the road (or footpath/ sidewalk as the case may be).
That's without going into laws banning the use of the Segways on sidewalks and so forth..
oklahoma city, OK has had city ambassadors for a while now (not sure how long but their there)
I love Segways. They are sooooo cool. I always get positive responses when I glide around town. I'm so happy with my purchase. And I really love the fact that they're green energy too. Everyone should be driving a hybrid for longer trips, and have a Segway for short commutes!
green energy as opposed to what? At best they put the problem somewhere else (disposing of batteries, electricity production).