Segway

[onthebottom]

Take a look. Is it the next big thing or a way for Americans to get fatter?

You be the judge:

http://www.segway.com/

 

[train]

I saw a 60 minutes segment that was done about a week ago on the founder of this company . I believe he is also the main creative force as well - apparantly made millions inventing better medical mechanical devices that are in widespread use . Latest invention is an amazing new wheelchair . I think what you are seeing here is a commercial offshoot using some of the technology developed during the wheelchair project . It would have some application for commercial operations such as warehouses and possibly postal services but I can't see it for recreational use .

 

[onthebottom]

What

No Segway X games?

 

[Romeo]

Eat Beaver Creek

I should buy one and paint it purple with my logo on it. Hobbyists could segway around Richmond Hill without the need of a car. I imagine the sidewalk between Wilmot and 155 EBC would need to be paved properly.

 

[McMac]

Disney

Disney has become a major investor in this and it has been provided to both of their theme parks. EPCOT has staff members zipping around on these things, and one of the displays in the Innovations Pavillion is dedicated to it.

Beware the Mouse!

 

[Why Not?]

I believe US Mail is doing trial runs on it. Its great for those that have a lot of walking to do. Gotta try one sometime soon.

This is correct and the city of Atlanta is experimenting with them for police and community service people who travel around helping out tourists and the like.

However, I've got a question for the lawyers on the board. As I understand the various applicable laws of Ontario, this thing would be considered a motorized vehicle. As such it would not be allowed on side walks. However, being a motorized vehicle, it requires such stuff as turn signals, rear-view mirrors, license plate etc. to operate on the street. Stuff that is clearly lacking.

So, if you can't use it on the street and can't use it on the sidewalks, where the hell do you use it?

Jump in lawyers. Am I wrong here?

 

[danibbler]

Actually...

the company has been lobbying state governments hard in order to allow this product on sidewalks. Without such lobbying, the Segway would be limited to the street(which is where I believe it belongs). So far,about 32 states are going to allow this vehicle on their sidewalks but individual cities will probably have the final say. It's NOT gaining exception because civil servants will be using it.

So far, testing have been mainly limited to some government departments, military and a few vertical industrial applications. The product has just gone on sale at Amazon with delivery sometime in March, I believe.

 

[anotherhappy]

So as a motorized wheelchair, and not a motor vehicle, could you be charged for riding one while impaired?

(actually, second thought- could you even ride one while impaired? =)

 

[Why Not?]

So as a motorized wheelchair, and not a motor vehicle, could you be charged for riding one while impaired?

(actually, second thought- could you even ride one while impaired? =)

This is an interesting thought, if somewhat off topic.

Not only is it illegal to operate a motor vehicle while impaired, it is illegal to be in "care and control" of a vehicle while impaired. This means you can be asleep, in your car, in your driveway and, as long as you have the keys in your possesion, you are commiting a crime. You do not need to be on the road, on public property or even have the car running.

So if a guy in a motorized wheel chair goes to a bar, or even is at home, has a few beers and wheels himself to the bathroom, can a cop nab him? There must be some sort of exemptions for wheel chairs.