I Keep Forgetting to Mention This
There's a guy on the afternoon train that rides a Segway.
That's right, folks. Not only have I ridden a Segway and seen one crashed, I have had a Legitimate Real World Segway Sighting. Ha!
Mar 12 Update: Here's a picture of me riding one. Note that it is all in one piece.
Comments
I clicked on the link you were kind enuff to proved to the Segway site. I read the three 'Personal Stories' entries contained therein. Ok. I get that this is a cool idea, it's friendlier to the environment than my petrol-powered monster of a vehicle, etc., etc., ad nauseum... Here's an example of what I don't get: "The Segway HT is easier to use for trips to the grocery store or the cleaners, in which transporting a load is required". How, exactly, does one "transport a load" while riding a Segway? Does it come with a trailer hitch and utility cart? I can just picture juggling grocery bags and/or dry cleaning while trying to steer this thing. What am I missing here?
Posted by: RichS | March 12, 2003 4:48 AM
Backpack?
Posted by: Me | March 12, 2003 6:40 AM
Great, assuming I go to the grocery store every day in order to keep the size of the load down to one backpack's worth. Unless, of course, you're suggesting a backpack the size of a shopping cart. That might present some balance issues, no?
Posted by: RichS | March 12, 2003 7:13 AM
If you ask me, you aren't missing much. I think you can put saddlebags on it - the USPS was testing them with mail carriers - but I don't think they are designed to carry much more than you would carry walking or on a bike.
Come to think of it, when they came and showed them at our New Tech seminar, they did show a video with a trailer-equipped Segway. But it was for warehouse use, not big-time grocery shopping.
I am reminded of Steve Jobs' quote about Segways - that "they will revolutionize the way cities are designed." Quel? I mean, they're neat but let's get real here.
I guess when you're the head of a big cult you get access to some pretty good drugs.
Posted by: Brad | March 12, 2003 8:42 AM
It may be a novel way to get around, but not
for carrying much. Looks pretty clunky to me.
Was it fun?
Posted by: mom | March 13, 2003 8:13 AM
What does he do with it? Does he carry it
on the train with him or is there a secure
place to store it. They aren't exactly
cheap. There probably aren't any second
hand ones yet.
Posted by: mom | March 13, 2003 8:21 AM
It was fun to ride. Forward and backward movement is controlled by leaning. There is a throttle-like on one of the handles for turning left and right. It's pretty sensitive - it almost seemed like you were thinking "go forward" more than you were actually leaning.
I'm not sure about storage on the train - I've only seen him getting off with it, and at that point he's standing by the door with it.
I would guess that you are right about the used Segway market.
Posted by: Brad | March 13, 2003 8:31 AM