Plan B Forum

I have wanted to try travel on a Segway for some time now, and my wife bought me a gift certificate for a 4-hour tour of Pittsburgh for Father's Day.

The tour itself was only marginally interesting to me since I've seen all of it before (if only from a car), but the Segway was a very enjoyable way to get around. The experience is very much like a bicycle, but (a) it's done on the sidewalk rather than the street, and (b) there is no physical exertion involved.

I was told that the designers limited the maximum speed to 12mph so that it has the same classification as a motorized wheelchair (rather than a "motor vehicle", and that's why there is no license required and it is sidewalk-legal. Regardless, it is a pretty cool vehicle. After ten minutes or so of familiarization, riding it becomes completely intuitive; you just think of going in a direction, and that's where you go. Standing still takes some getting used to because the machine is constantly balancing and you can't completely stand still, but other than that, it is a perfect, low-speed way to get around without effort. There is no brake, but the control stalk works like a joystick; you push it forward to go forward, and by pull it back to stop or go in reverse. Lean the stalk from side to side and you turn - you can spin in one spot if you want to.

The only downsides I could see were that (1) my feet got a little sore after a couple hours of riding, and having no suspension whatsoever, (2) bumps in the pavement can be fairly jarring. Other riders on the tour had the same reaction.

I was trying to think of some reason why I might want to own one of them and I couldn't think of any justification. Maybe if one lived in an urban environment and regularly wanted to go places that are a little too distant to walk.

I'm not sure how they could be secured. When we were using them and needed to get off for some time, we just rode them up to a wall or other solid object, and they would just stay there, while fully powered up. Maybe there is a kickstand and a key or something. I don't know. Although they are a bit heavy, they could be stolen fairly easily by someone with a pickup truck.

I would like to try one of those gadgets one day.

They do lake tours in Canberra on them, though I cannot see the appeal myself.

http://www.segglideride.com.au/

It's as easy as falling off a cliff



(and lest we forget.....3:19PM BST 27 Sep 2010 Daily Telecrap)

The millionaire owner of the Segway upright scooter company has died in a freak accident after riding one of the machines off a cliff into a river

Jimi Heselden, 62, plunged into the River Wharfe at a beauty spot close to his home on an estate in Boston Spa, near Wetherby, West Yorkshire. It is thought he lost control of one of the all-terrain versions of the machine as he travelled along a rutted bridleway close to his estate near Boston Spa, West Yorks, on Sunday morning.

There is no such thing as "idiot proof," given the number of people who are so profoundly idiotic.

I'd probably crash the thing standing still

I would like to try one someday, but as far as gettign around, I think I would rather walk. Standing for hours seems more strenuous than walking.

I think speed is a factor. On a Segway you are traveling about the same speed as casually riding a bicycle. If you are just out for a walk then speed is irrelevant, but if you want to get to some destination and back in a certain period of time (without driving - maybe parking is a problem at your destination), then a Segway may make sense.

As I think I said above, there are not many circumstances where I think it could be justified, but if the circumstances are just right, then it would be perfect. Think about the large retirement communities in Florida (e.g., The Villages) where a lot of people get around in a golf cart. A Segway would be a nice "Plan B." It is less obtrusive, goes just as fast, and is one-passenger.

I heard a mention recently of "Segway Polo." Now THAT would be a cool game!