# What ever Happened to the Segway (transportation vehicle)? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 28, 2013, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-the-segway-transportation-vehicle/664769 "2013-07-28T23:49:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![silvermist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@silvermist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silvermist)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-the-segway-transportation-vehicle/664769/41 "2013-07-29T20:55:26Z")
They rent them to tourists in Portland, ME. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-the-segway-transportation-vehicle/664769/42 "2013-07-29T21:40:55Z")
> [@silvermist](#): > > They rent them to tourists in Portland, ME. Here in Italy too. Although I don’t see much uptake. The police use them too, which IMO is a huge waste of money. They are able to walk and it’s not like you’re going to catch criminals with them in a crowded medieval city. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-the-segway-transportation-vehicle/664769/43 "2013-07-29T21:57:54Z")
The Mythbusters have one, I think. And didn’t OK GO use them in one of their videos? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-the-segway-transportation-vehicle/664769/44 "2013-07-29T23:04:30Z")
They gradually transitioned to another line of research. ---
**Author:** ![Otara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Otara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otara)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-the-segway-transportation-vehicle/664769/45 "2013-07-29T23:12:59Z")
They’re pretty much banned in some areas, as the link shows. They’re a problem on narrow sidewalks and on the road, so private is where they end up. In my view they mostly lose to bicycles - cheaper, and exercise to boot. Otara ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-the-segway-transportation-vehicle/664769/46 "2013-07-29T23:38:15Z")
I can’t add anything new, but like others have said I usually only see them used by security officials and when people are using them to give segway tours. A 2 (or 3) wheeled electric scooter costs about 10x less than a segway and does the same thing, I don’t see the market. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-the-segway-transportation-vehicle/664769/47 "2013-07-31T09:34:43Z")
The local cops have a couple…which is the inspiration for this: “Segway Cop Blues” (NSFW lyrics) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/p92JXs-wjxw/hqdefault.jpg "Segway Cop Blues: by James Spann and the Suspenders") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p92JXs-wjxw) ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-the-segway-transportation-vehicle/664769/48 "2013-07-31T12:13:32Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Reminds me of an xkcd cartoon : > It is labelled something like “Oops–this may upset our plans for dominating the earth”. > > The picture is of a Dalek. > A Dalek at the bottom of long staircase, looking up.. Very much not XKCD. In fact it’s from [Punch](http://punch.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Peter-Birkett-Cartoons/G00001B2ocJ0hnRw/I0000ZvleumhOmDo) magazine, by Peter Birkett in 1981. And it probably wasn’t an original idea even then. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-the-segway-transportation-vehicle/664769/49 "2013-07-31T12:33:34Z")
In Philadelphia there is at least one tour service that uses Segways. I’ve seen them near the Art Museum and also in the Queen Village/Bella Vista area. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-the-segway-transportation-vehicle/664769/50 "2013-07-31T12:42:05Z")
> [@carlotta](#): > > Besides the price tag, I think they reason they didn’t catch on is the reason there isn’t more bicycle use: not enough safe places to use them. Either you’re sharing the road with cars…danger! or you’re sharing the sidewalk with pedestrians, in which case you are the danger. Do you mean “for the same reason there isn’t more bicycle use”? I agree that they’re unsuited to existing rights of way. Cities are carving out bike lanes on city streets. I don’t think “Segway lanes” are coming any time soon, and I also don’t think they belong in bike lanes. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-the-segway-transportation-vehicle/664769/51 "2013-07-31T15:12:47Z")
I see people on them in the woods where I go mountain biking sometimes. They [rent them out](http://goape.co.uk/forest-segway). It looks quite fun. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-the-segway-transportation-vehicle/664769/52 "2013-07-31T20:13:19Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I primarily see them used for tours (I just saw some being used for that a couple of weeks ago). I also will occasionally see them used by the police. I’m not sure that I’ve ever seen one that was owned by someone for their personal use. [Segway Tours of Houston](http://segwaytoursofhouston.com/) uses them. SWMBO and I have taken several of their tours and they are a blast. I’d love to have one of my own but they are just too damn expensive. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-the-segway-transportation-vehicle/664769/53 "2013-08-01T00:17:11Z")
Obligatory post: [Gang of Virgins Terrorize Town](http://www.mileanhour.com/post/Gang-of-virgins-terrorize-town.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-the-segway-transportation-vehicle/664769/54 "2013-08-01T02:33:43Z")
You’ll never guess what I saw today on my bike ride home: A man wearing a Spiderman costume riding a Segway! I first saw him talking to a lady in her car in a parking lot. Then, as I was waiting at a stop light, he rode up next to me on the bike path. I wasn’t quite sure what to think. This is definitely the first Segway I’ve seen in this little burb, so I’m not sure why the extra attention grab with the Spiderman costume. Yeah, a bike is much faster than a Segway. Doubt I’ll be trading the bike for a Segway anytime soon. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-the-segway-transportation-vehicle/664769/55 "2013-08-01T03:43:25Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Actually, the Segway HAS a market, but it’s not the broad consumer base they’d hoped for. It’s used by security guards, especially those who have to cover large areas. I still don’t quite understand their popularity with Mall Cops (I see them in a lot of malls), but I completely understand the guys at places like EPCOT using them – they have to cover a Huge range. Or Campus security. IIRC their private use was banned just about everywhere shortly after their introduction. They were made illegal on roads and sidewalks, though there must be exceptions for specific people and specific reasons. Had they been allowed on some roads they might have made inroads into the scooter market. With regard to mall cops I can see how being a few inches off the ground might significantly improve their ability to see what’s going on around the open areas of the mall. ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-the-segway-transportation-vehicle/664769/56 "2013-08-01T04:00:45Z")
It’s been replaced by the SoloWheel. 😃 [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/e5Hdq2QOugk/maxresdefault.jpg "Solowheel Paris Girl Heels Rain Uphills Duo [www.solowheel.eu]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5Hdq2QOugk) ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-the-segway-transportation-vehicle/664769/57 "2013-08-01T04:10:47Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > IIRC their private use was banned just about everywhere shortly after their introduction. They were made illegal on roads and sidewalks, though there must be exceptions for specific people and specific reasons. Had they been allowed on some roads they might have made inroads into the scooter market. > > With regard to mall cops I can see how being a few inches off the ground might significantly improve their ability to see what’s going on around the open areas of the mall. Huh, I didn’t know that they had been banned for most people, but I guess that makes sense. And a few inches of height will not only improve the rider’s ability to see, but ability to be seen by others, and additional height also means that the rider has an intimidation factor, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-the-segway-transportation-vehicle/664769/58 "2013-08-01T08:05:33Z")
I think the price tag and illegality is the big thing. People say they are a solution in search of a problem but if you could ride one everywhere and they were cheap I think plenty of lazy people, or people who need to get somewhere in the “mile or two” range quickly would have adopted them. I live in the inner city and personally I’m very bike based but in a hot climate you have to dress a certain way for biking, and even then it only takes a 10 minute ride in mid summer and you will turn up at your destination sweaty and unkempt. There are plenty of times when there are local errands to run which I’d like to get done at faster than walking pace, but don’t need driving pace and don’t want the hassle of trying to find somewhere to park. They have just been made legal here and all the usual suspects are in the middle of the usual technophobic panic that comes with such things. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-the-segway-transportation-vehicle/664769/59 "2013-08-01T14:51:58Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > And that’s one of the places that you can rent one. (“that” being Walt Disney World) And no; you can’t rent one there\*. And you can’t bring your own either: [http://blog.wdwinfo.com/2013/04/15/supreme-court-ends-attempt-to-force-segway-use-at-walt-disney-world/](http://blog.wdwinfo.com/2013/04/15/supreme-court-ends-attempt-to-force-segway-use-at-walt-disney-world/) > [@](#): > > This morning (April 15, 2013), the United States Supreme Court ended attempts to force Walt Disney World to permit Segways in the theme parks. \*They have Segway Tours, but recently cancelled the ones that occur inside a theme park. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-the-segway-transportation-vehicle/664769/60 "2013-08-01T16:06:21Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Huh, I didn’t know that they had been banned for most people, but I guess that makes sense. > > And a few inches of height will not only improve the rider’s ability to see, but ability to be seen by others, and additional height also means that the rider has an intimidation factor, as well. Oh I think the dorkiness of a 300 lb mall cop riding around on a Segway cancels out any intimidation factor. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-the-segway-transportation-vehicle/664769.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ever-happened-to-the-segway-transportation-vehicle/664769.md?page=4)