# I saw my first Segway! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 28, 2005, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-my-first-segway/314495 "2005-07-28T00:59:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-my-first-segway/314495/21 "2005-07-28T13:10:43Z")
> [@parthenokinesis](#): > > Mmmn… how about a Montage? > > Ya know a bunch of segway’s all in a bunch, it’s gotta be a montage. > > Always fade out in a montage… 😃 I don’t know what’s more disturbing… that 1) I know exactly the movie you’re referencing or 2) that we both picked collective words for Segways that begin with ‘M’ and 3) we’re both from Stone Mountain. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-my-first-segway/314495/22 "2005-07-28T13:12:37Z")
> [@GrizzRich](#): > > Downtown Cleveland is crawling with them. > One can take a test ride for about a half-hour for a fee. > > Or one can go on a sightseeing tour of Cleveland. An entire caravan of Segways led by a tourguide. Same thing in Chicago. There are tours guided lakefront tours available, and I believe I’ve even seen police patrols on the things. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-my-first-segway/314495/23 "2005-07-28T13:15:38Z")
See one? Heck, a couple of weeks ago I got to _ride_ one. They had a “Bring your Son/Daughter to Work Day” and someone arranged for a Segway to be here, along with other Robots (I know a Segway isn’t a Robot – but I didn’t draw the lines here). After the demo, they asked if any adults wanted to ride. MilliCal pushed me forwards, but I would’ve gone anyway. I got to ride for a long time, because it took a while before any other adults volunteered. MilliCal got to ride it, too. **Pepper Mill** is soooo jealous. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-my-first-segway/314495/24 "2005-07-28T13:21:32Z")
My company has a conference every year for our software resellers, and this year we had a Segway, so yes, I’ve ridden on one too. Apparently some of my coworkers got carried away and actually crashed the dumb thing. They’re a fun diversion, but not really practical. I don’t know how they stand when someone’s not on, but I think that they have to be leaned against something - we always hung onto them while trading off, and I never saw it just standing there by itself. ---
**Author:** ![parthenokinesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/cc9497/32.png) [@parthenokinesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parthenokinesis)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-my-first-segway/314495/25 "2005-07-28T13:38:23Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > I don’t know what’s more disturbing… that 1) I know exactly the movie you’re referencing or 2) that we both picked collective words for Segways that begin with ‘M’ and 3) we’re both from Stone Mountain. Well, really #2 isn’t very disturbing at all, but 1 & 3 are doppelganger territory, Askia are you my “evil, other self”, are you the _Parthenonemesis_ that was foretold? I will not fold, I will not flee, I shall fight and I will be victorius Sorry, got a little carried away there. Ya know what I’m looking forward to? Opening the thread I saw my first Segway Joust! ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-my-first-segway/314495/26 "2005-07-28T13:56:31Z")
The Saint Louis Science Center rents Segways you can ride to [tour Forest Park’s path and bike trails.](http://www.slsc.org/default.asp?V_DOC_ID=968) ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-my-first-segway/314495/27 "2005-07-28T15:23:54Z")
> [@Queen Tonya](#): > > I first learned about these revolutionary personal transport thingies right here on the Dope, and giggled at the thought of anyone actually buying/using one, and today I saw one. The lady driving…er, standing…riding? The lady operating it was even cruising up a slight hill as we passed her, it appeared to have no problem with the incline or keeping her balanced. She was putting along about 5 mph maybe, although that might have been a slower pace because of the hill. > > I looked them up and there are three authorized dealers in the greater metro area here, who knew? It didn’t appear to be a test drive or advertisement in the making, no one was around her or filming her so people really buy those things, neato! > > Anyone else ever seen one in action? I got to ride one last Halloween. Our office let everyone wear costumes on the Friday before, and I came as the Incarnation Of Death. One of my cow-orkers was selling tickets for his school’s band and the big prize was a Segway. He had a demo model with him and of course, Death had to ride the Segway into everyone’s office and yell boo. Great fun, and I just loved riding that thing. If I could afford one, I’d buy it on the spot. Way cool. ---
**Author:** ![Nightsong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nightsong/32/3083_2.png) [@Nightsong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightsong)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-my-first-segway/314495/28 "2005-07-28T15:33:45Z")
There are (or were: haven’t been around often enough to see them again) a few at the Univeristy I go to: the Physical Plant people liked them for when they had to make small repairs or go look at something. It was faster and easier for them to grab the few things they needed, pop 'em into the tool caddy on the Segway, and motor on over than it would be to either walk or drive a pickup over. Another time I saw one was for a gentleman who had problems walking or sitting for too long, but could stand up without difficulty. For his situation a Segway was perfect. * * * \<\< I wanna move to Theory. Everything works in Theory. \>\> ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-my-first-segway/314495/29 "2005-07-28T16:16:52Z")
I’ve never seen one in real life, but I remember the hype before it came out. They called it “Ginger,” for some reason, and said it would revolutionize day-to-day life. Now the Segway has just become a running joke on the Simpsons. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-my-first-segway/314495/30 "2005-07-28T17:04:33Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > I saw a flock\* of these things running along the footpath in downtown Salt Lake City once. Boy they looked weird all inclining along together, you felt like you should tilt your head accordingly in order to see them properly. > > - we need a better collective noun than this. A Continuity? An Inclination? Suggestions welcome. I humbly suggest calling them a **precession** of Segways. Nope, that’s not misspelled. Think about it. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-my-first-segway/314495/31 "2005-07-28T18:27:55Z")
The only one I’ve ever seen in real life was on a stage: I saw Peter Gabriel in concert a year or two ago, and during one of the songs he and his daughter rode around on Segways. My friend and I were ridiculously close to the stage – something like the 6th row – so we got an eyeful. My friend didn’t know what they were, and when I told her she’d never heard of them. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-my-first-segway/314495/32 "2005-07-28T22:12:20Z")
I haven’t seen one in person, but from what I’ve heard so far it looks like my prediction is coming true: that they’ll find a niche as a recreational vehicle, but they’re not practical for most people. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-my-first-segway/314495/33 "2005-07-28T22:21:46Z")
Local politico was stumping from one - Wanted to use the Segway as his hook to talk about his planned segue into office. Thje machine was fascinating. _He_ was a dork. He got his tail kicked, of course. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-my-first-segway/314495/34 "2005-07-28T22:32:57Z")
If they could get the price down and come up with some coherent city codes, I’d be all over it. I live about a mile and a half from the BART station- a little too far to be an easy walk- and if I could take it to BART and board the train with it, I would be seriously tempted. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-my-first-segway/314495/35 "2005-07-28T23:02:00Z")
> [@even sven](#): > > If they could get the price down and come up with some coherent city codes, I’d be all over it. I live about a mile and a half from the BART station- a little too far to be an easy walk- and if I could take it to BART and board the train with it, I would be seriously tempted. Have you seen the size of those things? Three or four commuters trying to board a BART car with Segways would lead to havoc on the train. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-my-first-segway/314495/36 "2005-07-28T23:11:47Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > I’ve never seen one in real life, but I remember the hype before it came out. They called it “Ginger,” for some reason, and said it would revolutionize day-to-day life. Now the Segway has just become a running joke on the Simpsons. And _Arrested Development._ ---
**Author:** ![kimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f0a364/32.png) [@kimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kimera)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2005, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-my-first-segway/314495/37 "2005-07-28T23:12:03Z")
One of my friends recently bought one and I’ve driven it many times. ---
**Author:** ![Airblairxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Airblairxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airblairxxx)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-my-first-segway/314495/38 "2005-07-29T00:50:10Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I think it’s perfectly appropriate that they will be forever associated in my mind with G.O.B. from _Arrested Development_. Seconded. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-my-first-segway/314495.md?page=1)