# Those Darn Segways! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 8, 2003, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-darn-segways/173926 "2003-05-08T17:19:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2003, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-darn-segways/173926/21 "2003-05-10T07:28:50Z")
Just like Great Great Grandpa said: “Them damn horseless buggies are stinky and loud. Ain’t nobody gonna buy them.” Hence, our family does not own stock in Ford. Laugh all you want…it might not be the Segway, but in a few years, some form of electric people mover will be making millions. Baby boomers (aka “old farts”) are going to need to a way to get around Walmart and back to their car, and somebody is going to find a way to do it. ---
**Author:** ![smaft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@smaft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smaft)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2003, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-darn-segways/173926/22 "2003-05-10T15:06:01Z")
I saw one recently near here- the parking meter guy was using one to get from one block to the next (there are only meters on the cross-streets). I thought that made a lot of sense. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2003, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-darn-segways/173926/23 "2003-05-10T15:54:46Z")
Now if they could make a Segway that did my personal bidding (“Yo Segway, go get more beers” “Segway, the drycleaning please”) then I’d pop 5k, other than that, I’m sticking with the pollutionmobile. ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-darn-segways/173926/24 "2003-05-10T16:07:57Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by DMark_ > Laugh all you want…it might not be the Segway, but in a few years, some form of electric people mover will be making millions. Baby boomers (aka “old farts”) are going to need to a way to get around Walmart and back to their car, and somebody is going to find a way to do it. Not a chance, barring a) a sudden revolution in batteries or b) invention of cold fusion. Besides, you want some old fart to take this thing, which weights about a ton, from the trunk of his car to the ground, so he could save a few steps? Something isn’t right here. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-darn-segways/173926/25 "2003-05-10T19:27:25Z")
I saw one in action the first time this week. It was cool. If it didn’t have better uses for the cash, I’d get one. In my case, I walk often and use the car only rarely. I’d use the Segway to replace most of the car trips. ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2003, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-darn-segways/173926/26 "2003-05-10T20:27:13Z")
What perfect timing for this thread. I commute via the Van Dorn Metro Station to my job in Arlington. I noticed this woman using a Segway and it turns out there was a story about her in the Washington Post newspaper. Alas, the paper has been thrown out so I forget her name. It seems the woman suffers from Multiple Sclerosis and the Segway meets her needs better than a wheelchair or crutches. It might turn out that municipalities must allow the Segway if disabled people sue them under the ADA. ---
**Author:** ![Rusalka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecd19e/32.png) [@Rusalka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rusalka)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2003, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-darn-segways/173926/27 "2003-05-10T20:28:35Z")
Let’s see, the thing has: 1. Limited range (10 miles under good conditions, 15 optimal!) 2. A top speed of 12.5 mph. 3. weighs 83 pounds 4. the more you use it, the less exercise you’ll get. 5. requires you to recharge it after every use. 6. Is fueled by expensive electricity which probably comes from fossil fuel. 7. costs $5000 On the other hand, I know a vehicle that 1. has unlimited range 2. a top speed of 25mph. depending on the user, moderate speed of 12.5 m.ph. 3. weighs 25 lbs. 4. The more you use it, the more exercise you get. 5. Never needs recharging. 6. Can be fueled by bananas and other cheap food items. 7. Costs range from $200 - $500, good quality and new. It’s called a “bicycle”. What were the backers of the Segway thinking?? I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-darn-segways/173926/28 "2003-05-10T20:40:20Z")
I can definitely see where the Segway would be useful–meter readers, messengers, “foot” patrols, people with either permanent or temporary disabilities…it’s easy to come up with quite a list. I have to admit, they do look rather cool. At this point, however, a variety of factors–costs, battery life, and weight, for instance–will probably turn the Segway into a Razor scooter for the financially well-off. For right now, bikes just make more sense (for all the reasons **Rusalka** mentioned, plus the fact that they’re easy to repair). ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2003, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-darn-segways/173926/29 "2003-05-10T20:51:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by medstar \* > \*\* It seems the woman suffers from Multiple Sclerosis > \*\* How can she balance it if she has MS? > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by medstar \* > \*\* > It might turn out that municipalities must allow the Segway if disabled people sue them under the ADA. \*\* The SanFrancisco said “there is a law against motorized vehicles on the sidewalk and it is a motorized vehicle”. What if she used a three wheeled Harley? Could she sue to ride a motorcycle on the sidewalk? Surely they allow motorized wheelchairs on the sidewalk. Perhaps they can make some authorized version of the scooter available that will allow handicapped people in and keep the rich assholes off the sidewalk. ---
**Author:** ![Rusalka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecd19e/32.png) [@Rusalka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rusalka)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2003, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-darn-segways/173926/30 "2003-05-10T21:38:58Z")
I doubt that handicapped people are clamoring for these. They already have motorized wheelchairs. How many people with physical disabilities would want to stand for long periods of time? Standing in one spot is very hard on your body and back, much harder than walking or riding a bike. If you can’t walk, you’re not going to be able to stand up for miles of Seqway riding. Most people I know who need assistance walking, have trouble standing as well. I had a temporary disability (lower back injury) where standing still (or even sitting) was absolute torture. Walking relieved the pain. You don’t realize how hard standing is on your body until it hurts. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2003, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-darn-segways/173926/31 "2003-05-10T22:00:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeep’s Phoenix \* > \*\*I can definitely see where the Segway would be useful–meter readers, messengers, “foot” patrols,\ > > \*\* But those people need to stop often. How can they do this on a larger, motorized vehicle any better than on a smaller, nonmotorized vehicle? Sounds like it would be more dangerous - for them and for others. ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-darn-segways/173926/32 "2003-05-11T23:51:33Z")
carnivorousplant said: > [@](#): > > How can she balance it if she has MS? Maybe a moderate case of it? Rusalka said: > [@](#): > > I doubt that handicapped people are clamoring for these. They already have motorized wheelchairs. How many people with physical disabilities would want to stand for long periods of time? Standing in one spot is very hard on your body and back, much harder than walking or riding a bike. If you can’t walk, you’re not going to be able to stand up for miles of Seqway riding. Most people I know who need assistance walking, have trouble standing as well. I guess it’s a quality of life issue for her. She said that she used the Segway on a path near the water and saw statues she’d never seen before. She said that it was difficult getting her wheelchair on Metro because the front wheels would get caught in the gap between the walkway and the subway car. With the Segway, she could glide right in. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-darn-segways/173926/33 "2003-05-12T00:13:48Z")
Let’s get her something akin to a handicapped permit and she can ride the darn thing on my sidewalk anytime. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-darn-segways/173926.md?page=1)