Should I Stay Or Should I Segway?

[Max Power]

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2002-11-18-segway-amazon_x.htm

I swear, the first time I saw one of these, it was featured in a sitcom and I thought it was a joke.

Does anyone realy think we'll be seeing people "scooting" around on these things - - or, will it just be the moped of this generation?

At five grand a pop, who can afford it?

[hmrsf]

Can you say the fat will get fatter.:shakehd:


People need to walk around. I would hate that thing. Most of the things I do in town I walk.......except get gas.:p

[Craig S.]

The rich, with their excess of disposable income, will get them for the sake of owning them. The rest of us will have to watch them and laugh.

And hmrsf's point about the Segway contributing even more to fat Americans is dead on - like we need another excuse not to get off our fat behinds.

[Duque]

I cannot help but think of that Seinfeld episode with George on the motorized wheelchair racing away from all the old folks.

I remember, like, three years ago, when this project "It" was supposed to revolutionize human transportation. Fat chance.

[Gosfgiants]

I have seen scooters of various type become more prevalent over the past few years. The Segway is just the Cadillac of scooters. The big issue in urban areas is whether scooters should be on sidewalks or in the streets. If it reduces the number of cars I am for it. I say put them in the street. If I can ride my bicycle through San Francisco traffic, you can drive your motorized scooter.

[WiredTiger]

If I have to see the clip of our local newscaster riding one of them another time.......


Assuming the price goes down like all technologies where would they fit in? In Detroit it wouldn't work. Too many highways and not enough sidewalks. I could see it working in places like College Campuses or a city like portland which already has a bunch of bicycles. But I am unsure of why it is better than a bicycle.

[Craig S.]

Originally posted by WiredTiger
. I could see it working in places like College Campuses or a city like portland which already has a bunch of bicycles. But I am unsure of why it is better than a bicycle.

The campus is where I thought it could be useful, but I also wondered what the difference would be between that and a bike. And wouldn't you spend your whole class worried about the $5000 scooter you've got parked outside, as compared to a $200 bike?

Can you fold it up and bring it to class, or is that something to work on for the next model?

[WiredTiger]

I don't think it's going to be able to fold up. You'd have to have a $500 Kryptonite lock just to protect the stupid thing.

[OaktownTribeFan]

There are probably only a few valuable uses for it, like:

1) Mailmen would find it very handy for hilly routes.
2) Bike messengers could become SegwayMessengers.

But it's going to have get over a lot of initial resistance because of the dangers to pedestrians.

I don't foresee most average people ever buying one of them.

[pathogan]

...they will be as ubiquitous as bicycles,the cost,prohibitive at the moment,will be reduced dramatically[anyone remember what a word processor cost in 1982? 4 grand for a word processor!}...its certainly better than a car for the enviornment

[hmrsf]

I can't see it replacing my feet.:D

I walk fast and can hop over cracks in the side walk. I tend not to hurt small children or animals. Nope, I 'll keep the the $$$$$ in my purse and stick with my feet.;)

The big thing in this summer was those motorized scooters. They were loud!! I was so glad when that fad passed. I get the roller blades, the skate boards, the skooters.........add motors and you loose me. Seems silly and pointless....insert smiley with sticking out tounge!!!

[gyb13]

Originally posted by hmrsf
The big thing in this summer was those motorized scooters. They were loud!! I was so glad when that fad passed. I get the roller blades, the skate boards, the skooters.........add motors and you loose me. Seems silly and pointless....insert smiley with sticking out tounge!!! at your request: :p

Motorized scooters were huge in Brasil when i was growing up. My first time on the damn thing, I was speeding down a ramp, hit a rock, and fell to the side - the scooter thingy fell on me and the motor sliced a piece off my bone on my left ankle. still have a lovely scar to this day.....that was 13 yrs ago.

[hmrsf]

Are you talking mopeds or those razor scootors with motors? Those loud things are ..........well loud! I thought they were new? Guess not............I think someone got hurt in the neighborhood or the kids outgrew them or the fad passed. Whatever! I am so glad they are gone!!!!

[gyb13]

they were essentially a razor with a motor in the back