Well, That Didn't Work: The Segway Is a Technological Marvel. Too Bad It Doesn ... -

[JohnG]

Wired
<img alt="" height="1" width="1">
Well, That Didn't Work: The Segway Is a Technological Marvel. Too Bad It Doesn ...
Wired
We were all supposed to be riding Segways by now. The company was supposed to be rolling in cash, the scooter's inventor a modern day Jay Gatsby (minus the bootlegging and murder). It didn't happen: Today, the Segway is a punch line, a way for mall ...

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Source: Google News

[noalox]

Sigh. More drivel masquerading as a serious report. Then followed by a slew of people talking out of their derriere's with the majority clearly having never seen, let alone ridden, a Segway.

Valiant effort, Lily. Telling that no one responded to your informed post. Nothing more needed to be read.

[Lily Kerns]

Originally Posted by noalox

Sigh. More drivel masquerading as a serious report. Then followed by a slew of people talking out of their derriere's with the majority clearly having never seen, let alone ridden, a Segway.

Valiant effort, Lily. Telling that no one responded to your informed post. Nothing more needed to be read.

There are none so blind as those who do not want to see...

[dudeman1961]

Well said!

[JohnM]

Nothing new here. WIRED has been re-writing the same Segway article over and over since 2003.

[Civicsman]

“The world just wasn’t ready for it.”

nope. thats just kidding yourself... the world just didnt want it. ...

and.....there's the bottom line. One can argue about relative advantages and disadvantages of Segway two-wheeled, self-balancing transportation, but after almost 14 years, the marketplace has spoken clearly.

Segs are niche machines, useful for some, but not for most. They ARE fun, but those willing to spend $5k+ for a self-balancing toy are in a distinct minority. It is now abundantly clear that they will not significantly displace other forms of transport for most people, even in Europe or Asia, and they are far too expensive. Segway aficionados need to come to grips with the situation. Promote the machines if you wish, but recognize and understand the reality.

I'll also point out that it is the world-wide market which has spoken with such clarity, not just the U.S.A.

[PeteInLongBeach]

Originally Posted by Civicsman

They ARE fun, but those willing to spend $5k+ for a self-balancing toy are in a distinct minority.

I don't know about anyone else, but I certainly did not buy a Segway as a toy or novelty. It has been extremely useful to me as part of an overall transportation strategy, which includes walking, kickscooter, folding bike, segway, bus, train, car, RV, and air travel. I could have spent an equivalent price for a motor scooter, and few would have questioned it or assumed it was merely a toy. But a motor scooter's particular characteristics and functionality do not fit well in my transporation scheme, and it is not as useful (or safe) for me as other devices in the hierarchy. The segway fits very well to fill the gaps and co-exist among several of the other devices.

It's all about using the most appropriate tool(s) for each travel scenario.

[Lily Kerns]

Originally Posted by PeteInLongBeach

I don't know about anyone else, but I certainly did not buy a Segway as a toy or novelty. It has been extremely useful to me as part of an overall transportation strategy, which includes walking, kickscooter, folding bike, segway, bus, train, car, RV, and air travel. I could have spent an equivalent price for a motor scooter, and few would have questioned it or assumed it was merely a toy. But a motor scooter's particular characteristics and functionality do not fit well in my transporation scheme, and it is not as useful (or safe) for me as other devices in the hierarchy. The segway fits very well to fill the gaps and co-exist among several of the other devices.

It's all about using the most appropriate tool(s) for each travel scenario.

This toy or tool question is apparently part of the reason why the 2010 version of the ADA lumped Segways in with ATVs, etc. as OPDMDs. (Other power driven mobility devices). They can be and are also used for other purposes. The guide for small businesses goes on to add, however, that there will be very few instances where a business can legitimately deny a Segway user the right to use it.
This can be difficult for someone trying to enforce existing rules and having no way of determining whether the user is disabled or not. The law gives them the right to ask for proof, but if you don't have it they have to take your word for it unless they have visible evidence to the contrary. Things are changing! I no longer carry a sign on my seg and it has been a while since I have been challenged....

[Gihgehls]

I definitely bought my Segways because they were fun toys/novelties. When they worked, I used one of them every day, for fun.

[KSagal]

Originally Posted by Gihgehls

I definitely bought my Segways because they were fun toys/novelties. When they worked, I used one of them every day, for fun.

I wish I had a higher purpose, but I have to admit that a huge consideration of my buying my segways was also the fun/novelty aspect. I never commuted, nor ever used my segway in a manner that could not be duplicated by walking or using another device. I simply liked and chose to use my segway.

Also, my segways have experienced very little down time, less than any conveyance I can think of, per mile. With tires and chains on bikes, I have to say that my segways have treated me better. (I also treat them better, in that I store them inside the cellar instead of garage or shed, which may tend to help their lack of environmental degradation.)

If I had to categorize it, I would have to say that single largest replacement use of my segway was tedious short car trips for errands or the like. I never stopped using my bicycle, nor walking, nor driving. I just added another option to my conveyance choices, and for me it fell into the category of fun transportation, mostly recreational.