Segway could travel future roads (Followup) [Archive]

Casey

10-05-2002, 07:44 AM

quote:Segway could travel future roads

Amy Glasheen, Staff Writer October 04, 2002

City of Oconomowoc Â*- Police cars and bikes may have another mode of transportation joining them in the future to patrol city streets.

Mayor Gary Kohlenberg announced at Tuesday's Common Council meeting that he has been in contact with donors who would provide a Segway Human Transporter for city police to use. Kohlenberg said three corporate citizens, whom the mayor didn't name, would finance the machine's cost of approximately $5,000. The sponsors would also cover a warranty and training. Kohlenberg said the Segway would not cost the city anything.

The council didn't make a formal decision on the transporter, though officials appeared split on the benefits of the device.

The Segway looks like a scooter with big wheels. To move forward, the occupant leans forward, and to go backward, the occupant leans back.

In order to turn, the occupant rotates the steering grip under their wrists in either direction.

At maximum speed, the Segway travels 12.5 mph and it runs on specialized batteries. There are no brakes and no gas pedal. The Segway can be used on grassy areas, but it's best on pavement, according to information on the product's Web site, www.segway.com.

Kohlenberg said Atlanta's police force uses the devices and Chicago's force is in a trial period. The U.S. Postal Service and Disney Cruise Line also have used the product.

"This is not Chicago, this is not Atlanta. We're much better, we're Oconomowoc," Kohlenberg said. "We too are cutting edge."

"Here's an opportunity to train on a high-tech piece of equipment,' he said, adding it's a way for the city to keep up with the changing technology. "If I told you 15 years ago that many communities would have policemen on bicycles, people would have said, 'no way.' "

The mayor said he sees the Segway as not just a piece of police equipment, but as a public relations device. One area it could be used is at the high school.

The mayor has discussed the idea with Police Chief and Public Safety Director Hugh Martin, who expressed some concerns over the Segway.

Martin said that while the Segway did interest him and he has done additional research on it, he also had concerns.

" ... I think the big question is, what are we going to do with it when we get it?" Martin said to the council.

He said his main concerns were whether the officer is comfortable on the Segway and also safe.

" ... Those (safety concerns) are primary, because we're talking about putting an officer on a piece of equipment that he's not familiar with and it doesn't appear, at first glance, to provide an awful lot of protection for the officer," Martin said.

Another concern is that the device can't be secured if an officer would have to leave it and chase down a suspect, Martin said.

Ald. Joe Snyder also expressed his concerns with the safety of the device.

"You would have to work hard to sell me on this idea," he said, noting that while attending a NASCAR race, he saw an individual using the Segway fall from it.

Â©Oconomowoc Focus 2002