joao_pimentel

I was referring myself to virtual speed not to kinetic speed!
Virtual speed

Machka 

<<shrug>> That wasn't what my post responding to Roody was about. We're not talking about the content of your posts, just the fact that you were the one who diverted/derailled the conversation.

cooker

We have "Car" right in the name of this forum, so any discussion comparing some alternative transportation to cars, is completely on topic, and in fact goes right to the key issue of living car free.

If someone is thinking of taking the Segway instead of the cash, they need a reason to take it. One reason might be if they thought it was a practical transportation solution for their personal situation. If they have a second car that they only used for very short trips like picking up pizza, as I-Like-To-Bike had, then for some people, a "free" Segway might be a more cost-effective replacement, and could make them a little closer to living car-free.

(Mind you, I don't know how easy it is to carry pizza on a Segway).

I-Like-To-Bike

Really? How would a person carry a large pizza home on a Segway? In a backpack?
The limited capability of a Segway to handle street obstacles or steps, lack of even a primitive lighting system, and almost no capability to transport anything larger than a bread box/lunch pail or heavier than ten pounds, in reality restricts their use for car free people to those who live next to a MUP or locations and destinations with all sidewalks and intersections free of any raised curbs or steps, and who only travel in daylight good weather conditions.

The lack of locking/security features necessitates parking indoors at night, but that's OK since the owner's manual recommends keeping it plugged in every night. The owner may feel hesitant to park it anywhere outside where security of the Segway is iffy.

wolfchild

A Segway would be completely impractical for doing grocery shopping. You'll have to get your groceries delivered by somebody else. On a bike I can at least have panniers and racks for transporting stuff. Segways are only good for one thing: joy riding and playing around in some amusement park or vacation resort.

Roody

So basically we all agree. That might be a first.

I do feel bad for Dean Kamen. The Segway is an awesome invention, but it didn't transform the world the way he hoped it would.

Smallwheels

Segways have optional panniers and a handlebar rack compartment. I do grocery shopping for myself using a backpack and a heavy cloth bag with handles. I hang the cloth bag over my shoulders like a backpack or hang it on my handlebars depending on the contents of the bag. I could do that with a Segway.

I-Like-To-Bike

From the owner's manual:
"The total weight of any handlebar payload plus any other attachments hanging from the handlebar must not exceed 10 lbs (4.5 kg).
WARNING
Exceeding the handlebar cargo limit interferes with the Segway PT's balancing ability and could cause the Segway PT to accelerate forward, risking injury and/or damage to the Segway PT. "

Note "PT" stands for Personal Transporter.

Smallwheels

Segways are designed to replace cars for commuting purposes only. It seems very simple and straight forward to me. Instead of using a two to four ton motor vehicle in a crowded city to get around one could use a small electric low footprint vehicle for going to work every day. Shopping trips with a Segway could be done if not many items were being bought. A Segway takes up less space than a bicycle and would easily fit in a closet.

My earlier point about most people not wanting to ride bicycles to work is true. Such people could still be car light if they used a Segway instead of a bicycle. Let them keep their big cars for other tasks but let them use a Segway to get to work in the city without them having to do any pedaling or walking.

Parking fees in big cities really add up. Someone who owns a car that they drive into a city for work would find owning a Segway more appealing than $3000, if they looked at it from the perspective of eliminating parking fees over time. The people on this forum are accustomed to pedaling everywhere. We know cycling can replace cars. We are willing to do it because we like bicycles a lot. The majority of people don't want to pedal or use public transportation. Replacing cars with Segways for their work commutes is something that would be logical to car drivers.

Smallwheels

I understand that. Rarely do I ever carry something that heavy from the grocery store. If I did it would be put in the backpack. The light stuff could go on the handlebars of a Segway. Simple.

I-Like-To-Bike

The super hyped idea [Steve Jobs said it would be bigger than the PC. Venture capitalist John Doerr (who backed Netscape and Amazon) said it would be bigger than the Internet] that the Segway AKA "It", Ginger" and whatever else would reshape society was and remains ludicrous.
Inventions that were going to change the world ? but didn?t - The Segway - CSMonitor.com

Simple is correct about the suggestion that Segways are practical to meet daily transportation needs except for a tiny, tiny slice of the population anywhere. And even a tinier slice who can't find (and choose) more practical and less expensive means to accomplish same.

cooker

Still, I'd like to try one for an hour or two, to get a sense for myself of what it is like. It looks kind of awkward, as if you have to stand in an unnatural position, so maybe it would be tiring to ride it for more than a few minutes. Certainly it wouldn't do for an overnight trip.

If it had caught on (or ever does) perhaps it would be redesigned to add carrying trays or baskets, or maybe even an optional one wheel trailer like a BOB would have been designed, plus some kind of leaning bench, or even a bicycle seat similar to a unicycle.

Roody

I never tried one either. I know several people who have, and they enjoyed it. I think it would be a lot of fun, just not very practical for my circumstances.

Amazon.com: Segway Trailer Hitch: Automotive

cooker

Actually, here is sort of what I had i mind: Not for Clowns: Electric Unicycle is Self-Balancing Scooter | Gadgets, Science & Technology

Solid_Spoke

I'd take the $3,000 and put it towards a Moots Vahmoots.

loky1179

I remember the hype as well. I still don't know if they were blowing smoke to promote their friend's latest invention, or if they truly believed their own BS.

Personally, I was expecting something on the order of a hoverboard. A two wheeled motorized skateboard for 6K did not impress me - or anyone else, apparently.

Joemn

In my city Minneapolis near one of my favorite lakes to bike around, there's a segway rental place. I'm fine with segways, but they can really tick me off when people ride segways on the BIKE path going 8 mph riding 3 abreast. I would take the cash, and if I wasn't fully physically able to power my bike with my legs, I'd get a hybrid electric/leg power bike..

Kodiak351

Things I can do with $3000
1. Buy a small undeveloped property to build a house on (yes, they do exist)
2. Build a cabin to live on, if property is already purchased
3. Invest in a complement of tools and equipment, and start a bicycle-based handyman service
4. Build a fleet of workcycles, and start a bicycle-based local hauling service.
5. Help my daughter towards her goal of making it to the International Space Station
6. Etc, etc, etc.

Things I can do with a Segway
1. Ride slowly to work (7 miles away) cursing myself, as the bicycles pass by.
2. Invent Extreme Segway Sports (Future viral YouTube videos)

Machka 

Now this might be a good use for a Segway!

cooker

That's what bells (or zounds air horns) are for.

BadBoy10

I concur! Cargo bike! YESSS!

BadBoy10

I agree. Billionnaires hang out with billionnaires. For the most part in their world everyone eats by feeding each other. The Segway: never reinvented modern transportation I think ...because of the standing and it frankly seems awkward. Yes I rode one...the balance...I am clumsy and did not feel secure. Felt like skateboarding. It was weird. The fun factor was average. Like riding a roller coaster or a unicycle...if it is your thing yippee if not meh.

The balance was for turns the guy that let me use the Seg talked about leaning and tilting. I also did not like the sidewalk bumps....I am tall and twice felt like I was going to fall off...I wasn't. I am clumsy.

I dont begrudge with an interest in Sewgway. They. See a rebirth. I will try again but I would not buy a Segway.

I do not understand the pricing. New. Segways in South Florida are over 4k. Why?
https://miami.craigslist.org/search/bia?query=segway

contango 

I've seen the airport police using them at Philadelphia and for getting around the airport they seem useful. Certainly quicker than walking everywhere, and less cumbersome than the buggies used for transporting less mobile passengers.

Much as I dislike stereotyping, the only other people I've ever seen using Segways were fat Americans, who presumably use a Segway in preference to walking in case they accidentally burned off a calorie or two.

Roody

Apparently the Brits are also experiencing an obesity epidemic. It's even affecting their sperm.

Obesity in the United Kingdom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Machka 

What does that have to do with Segways?