jgeezer

Dean Kamen actively sought to get the approval in all of the US states to allow the Segway on sidewalks. As one of the posts said most states have approved the Segway for use on sidewalks. Massachusetts has not and just refused to do so siting the possible bad outcome between a Segway moving at 8-10 mph and pedestrians. Segway responded by saying that they had never had a single report of such an accident. Dean did this because he was well aware that the Segway is not a "vehicle" in the sense a motor scooter, or a motorcycle is. Mass. is similar to the laws posted for NY in that this vehicle would be considered a vehicle if used on the streets and since it is motorized it would have to conform to the rules for motorized vehicles. Scooters, 49cc motorbikes ATV's and the like; I always thought would fall into the same category but I see enough of them, that they are all riding the streets illegally, or they fall into some category I am not aware of.

As far as the use of the Segway 12 mph max speed and only for an hour. You are still exposed to the elements and a 4000 pricetag. You can buy one heck of a bike for go farther and go faster.

closetbiker

I just can't imagine there would be many sales of these things at $4000 for what it can do.

Anyone with that amount of money for something like this would drive and for the rest of us who don't have that money, we would walk, take a bus, or ride a bike

collegeskier

He actually took the technology from a wheel chair that could do two or four wheels and make the person essentially stand up. Revolutionary was a marketing word nothing more.

Chris L

It all depends. If a few fashion "trend-setters" slap a "kewl, man!" tag on it, people will start doing irrational things with their wallets when they get near it.

LittleBigMan

Ah, so!

LittleBigMan

I can't disagree with anything John said. From what I understand, Dean Kamen also invented a motorized wheelchair that, using balancing technology similar to Segway, actually climbs stairs! You can't argue with the need for an invention like that.

Which makes me think: if I could choose between a Segway and a motorized wheelchair of similar capability, which would I prefer? I really might rather sit than stand. Then again, perhaps motoring through a crowd of pedestrians on a Segway might be easier than in a wheelchair because you can see over their heads.

As some have noted, for people whose work requires them to cover a large area, and for whom walking is not practical, Segway seems to fill a need. I just hope that people don't opt to ride one instead of walking, if they are able. Our over-dependence on motor transport is already taking a huge toll on public health.

Segway probably could not be blamed for creating any health problems, however. If it becomes another popular transportational device that destroys the one last opportunity modern people have to get daily exercise, i.e., walking, that would be based on personal choice. In that case, Segway's popularity would not be a cause of the problem, but a symptom.

DnvrFox

.

Okay - there are hand-powered trikes for those with lower leg disabilities. No pedals. Are they "Bikes" also? I see them on the trails around here all the time, and there is a whole bunch of them that annually participate in "Ride the Rockies."

leftnotracks

How can that be interpretted as making Segways illegal? If there's no law, then there's no law to break.

bpohl

I think those things are absolutely the most ******** byproducts of consumer culture that I have ever seen. I see these damn things on teh bike trails around here, and all I can think is, "Nice to see people out getting exercise!" I watched a promo ad for the Segway once, and the announcer actually said, "Don't worry, teh Segway is NOT an alternative to driving. It's an improvement on walking." I thought that said it all.

Feldman

I love the concept and the size of the fine--if we are to have reasonable cities and sane transportation policies, government has to grow the balls needed to treat private motor vehicle owners as second-class citizens.

ChAnMaN

the segway is a extreamly dumb idea. you pay 4000 bucks for something that has all this balancing technology thats totaly useless and heres why. Read a full review on how dumb segway is at this URL

https://maddox.xmission.com/c.cgi?u=s...it_needs_to_be

pierreL

Hello all,
Just read all your thought about the Segway.
I am the guy who was charged in NF for driving the Segway on the road, well within the bicycle law by the way.
I have to say, I thought you would be more willing to share the road with the motor assisted bike that the Segway is, minus the pedals.
Hey this is the 21 Century! I have and still ride my bike, but to go to the office without pespiration and a lot more fun than a car or even a bike, you got to try the Segway and not just for 5 minutes.
Warning it will grow on you, yes it is expensive, like anything new on the market, but as sales number grow, price will come down.
You can't stop progress they say. Look how many single people ride in their car each day, half of them could probably ride a Segway, see how much space and energy we would save! That's progress.

PierreL

closetbiker

Good to hear from you.

Let us know how the case works out.

trekker pete

That's an easy one. A bike is a very useful practical device. The most practical for moving humans over short distances. The segway, OTOH, is a technologically brilliant, completely worthless POS. Anyone with a room temperature IQ and a touch of common sense realizes this. Maybe that is why brilliant geeks like it's inventor and Gates think it is the bomb.

Take away government purchases, and this thing is even a bigger flop.

If my town ever wasted money on one, I woukl be really pissed.

As for his fine, I say this dope has already paid a fine.....It's purchase price.

trekker pete

No doubt it is fun. But, with a 12 mph top speed, it has no business on the road. Skateboards are fun as well and they are limited in where they can be used. As for having them swarm malls, airports and sidewalks, I have one problem with it. What happens when something fails in it's guidance system and it steamrolls a 4 year old. If it steamrolls my four year old (if I had one) some segway pilot is getting an arse kickin'. Then I am going to sue the pants off the moron that invented it.

The segway is what it is. A complex expensive toy. Wanna ride one around your living room or backyard or empty parking lot? Fine. Just keep it away from traffic or busy pedestrian areas.

gascostalot

Hand Pedals.......

JoesInBoston

I got to the end of the first page before realizing that this thread is over 4 years old!

StephenH

I've only seen private citizens using them one time. Met them on a MUP near my house. One where "motorized vehicles" are prohibited. I'd be hard put to explain why those would be legal and every other kind of scooter, minibike, mini-motorcycle, battery kid car, go-cart, etc., would not be.

I saw some Dallas police on a cheap knockoff of one- had front wheel, didn't balance, but you still get to stand up and drive, for whatever benefit that gives you.

I-Like-To-Bike

And the Segway is that much closer to being at the end of its road.

closetbiker

I wonder how pierreL's case worked out.

cudak888 

We'll probably never find out. That's the devil of these posts - nobody ever posts the ending to it...

-Kurt

I-Like-To-Bike

I wonder if he or anyone else is still using a Segway after 4 years of ownership. I would guess than 99% of such Segways were senton the road to oblivion by the original owners.

trekker pete

Yeah, I'm the one guilty for digging it up. I did a search on the word segway just to see what this place's opinion of it was. Seems like it is predominantly the same as mine, that it is an interesting expensive toy.

hstdist

ONTARIO REGULATION 488/06 -A Segway is deemed not to be a motor vehicle under the Act.
plus all the do' and do nots

[URL="https://https://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/regs/english/elaws_regs_060488_e.htm"]

genec

So if I can't ride my bike any faster than 12 MPH, should I leave the road?

My wife does about 10MPH.