Segways Roll Over Chicago 286
lpangelrob2 writes "It looks like someone in Chicago finally found a use for Dean Kamen's Segways. The Chicago Sun Times is reporting that a three hour tour of Chicago's lakefront will be guided by Segways traveling on Chicago's sidewalks at 5mph. The cost of the tour is $65, and an instructional class and helmet is provided -- just in case."
From the just in case link... (Score:5, Funny)
This is confusing on many levels. First, how did a person on a Segway out run the police? Second, how many people do you see on a Segway? Third, why did some one buy a Segway?
Disclaimer: These questions do not require a response as I understand that people on foot can escape police but any witty reponse (see funny) would be appreciated. Thanks-
Re:From the just in case link... (Score:4, Interesting)
Seriously though. Segways may not sound fast, but when you see them in real life, you realize just how fast they really are. They can maintain the speed of a brisk run and quickly maneuver around obstacles. Someone on foot would have trouble keeping up and would run out of breath long before the Segway ran out of a charge.
Taking out a Segway Jedi style (Score:2, Funny)
Re:From the just in case link... (Score:4, Insightful)
there was no implication that there was a chase at all, the guy just probably simply left after the incident.
******
The child was walking outside her father's Potrero Hill store on Tuesday when a Segway ran her down. Witnesses say it was traveling about 10 miles per hour.
Joel Bleskacek, father: "I was quite angry and I confronted him. I asked him why he was driving so fast during the crowded lunch hour on the sidewalk. He claimed my daughter jumped in front of him."
******
That implies that the father hadn't even SEEN the incident. the girl was _3_ years old. Now, I might be stupid but what the hell was the parent thinking letting her toddle around like that in the first place? into a what the father even himself claims that was a crowded lunch hour sidewalk. Imagine the girl wandering into the car crowded street from that sidewalk.. 3 year olds don't know much about the world.
****
Sophie Maxwell, S.F. supervisor: "This just reiterates our concerns and our fears that this is exactly what can happen."
****
yeah, well, 3 year olds can get hurt in situations just involving joggers if they're allowed to just jump around the place(or skaters or bicyclists or just about _anything_).
Re:From the just in case link... (Score:3, Insightful)
Uh, no it doesn't. For one thing, the girl might actually have "jumped" in front of the guy no
Re:From the just in case link... (Score:3, Insightful)
Plus: a car? No one should have to watch for that on a sidewalk. A parent can easily keep a 3 year old off the street without holding hands or carrying. But somehow I doubt you would know that.
Anyone should have the reasonable expectation that anything moving on the sidewalk is capable of avoiding injurious collisions with a human of whatever size. For example, someone engrossed in a map should not be walking at a brisk pace.
Segways and bicycles operated at me
Chicago Police on Segways (Score:3, Informative)
Re:From the just in case link... (Score:3, Informative)
Chicago Police have a LOT of options for transportation:
1. Cars (of course)
2. 3 wheeled one seater
3. 4 Wheel ATV with cargo frame
4. Horses
5. Segways
The trick is that Segways are really the only one you can safely take through a crowd. All of the others require a few feet of clearance so that you don't hurt anyone. Imagine how it would look if the police lost the suspect AND injured or killed a pedestrian!
Re:From the just in case link... (Score:2)
1. Cars (of course)
2. 3 wheeled one seater
3. 4 Wheel ATV with cargo frame
4. Horses
5. Segways
6. radio waves
(ok it's not a transportation option per se, but it's a "vehicle" for catching criminals nonetheless)
seriously, another (common) way to catch a suspect is to keep em in sight long enough to bring other cops into the picture, pursuing from a convergent angle. anyone can get away from *one* cop. but you can't outrun (nor out-drive, nor out-segway [-ugh, verbing]) "the cops". there are enough beat cops
Re:From the just in case link... (Score:3, Insightful)
I think that there are a lot of New Orleans police that would argue that a horse is just as effective at moving through crowds.
Re:From the just in case link... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:From the just in case link... (Score:3, Funny)
Lag
Re:From the just in case link... (Score:2)
Sounds like a great business model that would suit a large number of tourist locations. With a few thousand bucks invested, you could live in a vacation paradise assuming that paradise has large sidewalks, and not a lot of n'ere-do-wells who hope to fund their luxurious life by knocking down tourists and taking their Segway.
I can't see a reason to buy one...but it would be a fun thing to try. Which, I guess means people buying the things to rent 'em.
Another 'Just In Case' Reason (Score:2, Funny)
Re:From the just in case link... (Score:2)
There was an episode of Reno 911 where they went to arrest some old guy at his home. They didn't think he was much of a threat.
The guy asked if he could change clothes before they carted him off to jail. He went to another room while the cops admired his house.
A few seconds later, the old man drives right out his front door on a segway... and just keeps going down the street. The cops tried to chase him down on foot, but he was long gone.
It was a p
Re:From the just in case link... (Score:2)
Even at older-than-dirt, that man could probably whip the ass of just about anyone.
Re:From the just in case link... (Score:2)
I mean, a decent person, even if the girl did jump out in front of him, would have gotten off the Segway and been like "OH NO I'M SORRY!" and made sure she was ok, and apologize to the dad.
Re:From the just in case link... (Score:2)
Sounds like he did stop, but after getting yelled at by the father, probably got back on his segway and left. The article is biased against the segway rider (who really should not have been on the sidewalk), and it would be interesting to hear from witnesses what the father's reaction was. It could be the guy fl
Re:From the just in case link... (Score:2)
Re:From the just in case link... (Score:2)
Not sure where you are from, but being from a rather larg city (Atlanta) response time from the police for anything short of shots fired or a SERIOUS car accident (ie: fatality) is at least 20 minutes. 20minutes at 10Mph==3.3+mi, which is a big enough radius and long enough time to allow the segway rider to easily evade police, even if they were to start searching immedia
SF and kids (Score:2)
Of course, SF is -- for various reasons like expense and convenience -- relatively empty of children, so the lack of experience at least is predictable. I suppose there are a lot of equivalents to this guy around.
Three Hour Tour (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Three Hour Tour (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Three Hour Tour (Score:4, Insightful)
I'll take Mary Ann over Ginger any day...
Re:Three Hour Tour (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Three Hour Tour (Score:5, Funny)
just in case... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:just in case... (Score:2)
Re:just in case... (Score:3, Insightful)
But I bet you've never done anything clumsy.
Re:just in case... (Score:2)
Re:just in case... (Score:2)
The city that should have these is (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:The city that should have these is (Score:2, Informative)
Kind of not news at all anymore. *shrug*
Missing screen? (Score:4, Funny)
Been there, done that - Sarasota Florida (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Been there, done that - Sarasota Florida (Score:2)
Makes some sense (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Makes some sense (Score:4, Insightful)
If the ten-passenger van breaks down, there are ten 'seats' out of commission until it gets fixed. The capacity of your business goes down by ten people.
If one of the segways breaks down, the other nine still work. Thus, you're only missing, and chances are you'll have a few spares around anyway. Your capacity only goes down by one.
Re:Makes some sense (Score:3, Insightful)
Segway, on the other hand, is a tricky thing. Its batteries can run out at any time, and they wear down gradually (your fuel tank doesn't.) Your tourists have to have good body coordination to ride anything (bike, Segway, monocycle - anything), but they
Re:Makes some sense (Score:4, Interesting)
Bikes could work, but only for cyclists. I run regularly but definitely don't have the butt callouses to sit on a bike seat for 3 hours.
Walking would be nice, but you couldn't go as far in 3 hours, and besides nobody would pay you $60 to let them walk for 3 hours.
Besides being a great attention-getter, I have to admit the Segway actually makes some sense here!
Re:Makes some sense (Score:2)
a) scads of people walking on the bike trail
b) tourists pedalling those weird car-bikes from navy pier
c) tourists on segways which will take up an entire lane (and riders who are probably novices)
Re:Makes some sense (Score:2)
Re:Makes some sense (Score:2)
The Segways will not be as wide, but I expect that the clueless tourists using them will not ride single file, but rather wander all over, risking
Re:Makes some sense (Score:3, Informative)
As to cost, however, I think you are off. Segways are about $4,000 each, so the total cost is $40,000. That's a third more than a new Ford ten-passengar van (brand new E350 XLT with 15-passenger seating- $29,685 according to For's website). I'd have to imagine the liability insurance and upkeep for ten Segway rentals is higher than a single van.
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Makes some sense (Score:4, Informative)
What?
Segway Human Transporter (HT) I Series [amazon.com]
Price: $4,495.00
X 10: $44,950.00
2004 Chevrolet Express 2500 15 Passenger Van [chevrolet.com]
MSRP: $26,175.00
According to This site [wingnut.com], an estimated cost per mile for the segway is 18 cents per mile, with battery purchases included. Multiply that by 10 people, and you have a cost of $1.80 per mile.
According to Edmunds.com [edmunds.com], the cost per mile on the Chevrolet van is $0.66 per mile.
I wont argue with the fact that segways have better access, but it's just not true that they are cheaper in any way, whatsoever.
Re:Makes some sense (Score:2)
Re:Makes some sense (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Makes some sense (Score:2)
Re:Makes some sense (Score:3, Interesting)
consider the cost of a ten passenger van versus the cost of ten bicycles. you get the same features, and can take an awesome trip around the world with the money you save. plus the passengers lose weight.
Need a new term (Score:2)
Re:Need a new term (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Need a new term (Score:2)
Re:Need a new term (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Need a new term (Score:2, Funny)
An english translation please?
Re:Need a new term (Score:2)
An english translation please?"
Seems perfectly correct to me. A Segway is certainly "less car" than, say, a Mini Cooper
Looks like it's a Gimmick (Score:3, Interesting)
They've been doing this in Paris for over a year. (Score:3, Interesting)
Here in Seattle I've also seen the people who collect the change out of parking meters using Segways to move up and down the sidewalks.
I guess Kamen is managing to sell these things, but not as many as was originally hoped.
Minneapolis (Score:4, Interesting)
Travel back in time on a Magical History Tour(TM)! Ride a Segway as you enjoy the history of the Minneapolis Riverfront area from 10,000 BC to present without breaking a sweat. Let the Segway do the work as you cover several miles accompanied by a professional guide
Of course, this one costs $70
Great, just great (Score:2)
France already has this (Score:2)
Phillip.
Ive been doing this for 6 months. (Score:5, Informative)
We have been renting the Segway HT for 6 months now in the La Jolla / San Diego area... We also provide training and a helmet to all riders and to date have not had a single incident.
It is interesting though the reaction we get from the disabled community. While the majority of people who encounter the units see them as a marvel, the Disabled community is split in their view of the units.
Those with minor to severe mobility issues LOVE the units. They see them as a viable alternative to a wheelchair and a way to increase their mobility.
However, those who are confined to a chair, and those who are blind and deaf are strongly opposed to the units being on the sidewalks.
They are afraid that they will be hit by the units and see them as a danger, even though NOONE, in this area at least, has been hit by the units.
To further increase their safety, we also limit the units to 6 miles per hour.
Re:Ive been doing this for 6 months. (Score:2)
Re:Ive been doing this for 6 months. (Score:3, Informative)
Insurance wise, we must do everything in our power to keep the rider safe. That includes training, and a helmet. But you are required to wear a helmet when you rent a bike as well.
Re:Ive been doing this for 6 months. (Score:2)
wheelchair alternative (Score:2)
Next thing you know Portland, OR will (Score:5, Interesting)
Better use? (Score:2, Funny)
Who's providing helmets for the pedestrians? (Score:3)
Re:Who's providing helmets for the pedestrians? (Score:2)
Right.
Re:Who's providing helmets for the pedestrians? (Score:2)
Segway Experience (Score:2)
They have got to let more people try this thing one way or another. Otherwise it'll just become urban legendware.
Re:Segway Experience (Score:3, Interesting)
Most tell us that the trick is to relax and let the unit do the work for you. They also tell us that it is so responsive that it almost obeys your thoughts rather than your actions.
Question is... (Score:2)
Three-year-old Ruby Bleskacek sustained cuts, bruises and a nasty bump on her head.
Will they be provideing helmets and pads for all the peds that arn't rideing the Segways?
Re:Question is... (Score:2)
Bikers are about the only thing that come close but you would have to be rideing one monster of a bike for it to reach 83 lbs! Not to mention the size of the person who could propel the thing. So that's not even a valid compairison.
You ain't Seen Nothin' Yet . . . (Score:2)
Segway tours of Epcot (Score:2, Informative)
How about (Score:3, Interesting)
or better yet, ride a bicycle, McDonalds, motorized scooters, maybe motorized shoes next, let's get some exercise people. I know some people need assistance, but I'm tired of seeng 5 year olds on motorized vehicles, DAMN.
Re:How about (Score:3, Insightful)
I assume you own a car? Do you walk to the grocery store? How about to the movie theater?
When was the last time you walked between 5-15 miles to get to a destination. Now, when was the last time you DROVE there?
The Segway is meant to replace driving in short trips to and from locations between 10 and 15 miles from your departure point. It uses no gas, and cost $0.10 a day to charge.
Its transportation, not exercise.
Re:How about (Score:4, Insightful)
Neither, really. It's suppose to fit a zone in between that has previously been poorly-serviced.
Do you walk to the grocery store?
That'd be an especially bad use of the Segway. Grocery customers buy numerous large bags, which you can't transport standing on a scooter. Keeping the purchase size down to what a Segway can carry would nessecitate more trips.
The Segway is meant to replace driving in short trips to and from locations between 10 and 15 miles from your departure point.
The Segway goes maybe 12 miles in an hour. Depending on road conditions, automobiles do between 20 and 60. For the 10-15 mile trips you're talking about, a car is the rational choice for the following reasons:
Segways don't do well compared with bicycles either. Bikes are about equivalent in terms of speed, cargo, and weather protection, but can cost just 1% of the sale price, and have the benefit of increasing the operator's cardiovascular health.
Plus, in uncongested areas, the bike is faster too... and of course it goes longer between recharging.
The market niche for Segways is apparently people who'd like to make small bicycle-level trips, but are too obese to pedal themselves.
Hmmm... (Score:3, Insightful)
I don't think so. I know guys who bike 40 miles a day (not that uncommon in Colorado) and for most of the hills between my house and work, you are not going to be going much better than walking speed up them even with a lot of conditioning. I can tell because I pass them every day in my car and I have never seen any of them going above a crawl.
If the shower is a conseque
Re:How about (Score:2)
No, and I also don't buy so little that I could fit a week's worth of groceries on my back for the trip home. I don't see how the Segway would help anyone do their grocerie shopping.
Re:How about (Score:2)
Use these... you can fit a surprising amount of stuff in them.
I wouldnt use the Segway for large shopping trips... but I ride it 2 miles to work every day.
Not a new idea (Score:2)
And yes, a line of turistas on Segways looks just as idiotic as you're imagining it does. See? [floridaever-glides.com]
Deposit required (Score:5, Funny)
Minneapolis (Score:2)
http://www.humanonastick.com/
Yuck, hard enough to avoid people along the lake (Score:2)
Re:Yuck, hard enough to avoid people along the lak (Score:2)
Jousting tournaments (Score:2)
I can't wait until Chicagoans set up Segway jousting at Navy Pier. It's just a matter of time.
A three hour tour (Score:3)
Why did I get flashbacks of Gilligan's Island when I saw that phrase? Hmmm...
Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale,
a tale of a fateful day.
That started from Chicago's port,
aboard this here Segway.
The tour guide was way up front,
the crowd was brave and sure.
Five tourists set off that day,
for a three hour tour, a three hour tour
The weather started getting rough,
the Segways all were tossed.
If not for the courage of the fearless bunch,
the tour would be lost; the tour would be lost.
The Segways took ground on the shore of this uncharted desert isle,
with Gilligan, the guide too,
the Millionaire, and his Wife,
the Movie Star, the Professor and Mary Ann,
here on Lake Michigan's Isle.
Speed and safety (Score:2)
On my blades, my last trip on even ground was about 18.2km/h. That puts the segway at a little over me when maxed, but probably fairly under at sidewalk speed. I'm sure I'm not the fastest blader around...
The point being, the safety issues with the segway aren't so much centric to speed as they probably are to weight and carelessness. The added weight of the machine could be somewhat of a dange
From the "just in case" link (Score:4, Funny)
FWIW... hartford cops (Score:2)
*shrug*
e.
What? (Score:2)
Seen 'em (Score:2, Informative)
I guess I'm a little late to this conversation, but just wanted to mention that I've seen these tours already happening. I was downtown, at Columbus and Monroe, on May 15th and saw a group of people on Segways wearing helmets. I overheard one of them telling the group what route they were going to take to complete their tour.
It'll be interesting to see how this affects pedestrian traffic downtown. Shouldn't be too bad as long as they stay close to the lakes and parks; I can't imagine how they'd get around
to whom? (Score:3, Insightful)
After reading link about segway accident, I realized
that helmets should be provided also to pedestrian, not just drivers.
Re:Shut up already (Score:3, Interesting)
but in all honesty, the segway isnt for you. Your happy on a bike, and thats ok. Just realise that it is picking up steam and sales and you might just have to share the sidewalks in the future.
Re:Shut up already (Score:3, Interesting)
Those who own one and wish to ride them at the faster speeds can ride them in the bike lanes.
And for cites with dedicated bike lanes, that's fine. However, the unit's riders are legally considered a pedestrian. This is because the Segway is MUCH more controllable than a bike, or skateboard.
At 12MPH I can stop within a foot. Which I cant do on a bike. I can also stand still and pivot in place, allowing me to
Actually it takes more work than you would think (Score:3, Interesting)
Heck, even just standing up for a long time without balancing in different ways is more than most peo
Re:Helmets!? (Score:2, Funny)