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08-24-2013, 07:55 PM | #1 |
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Location: New York, NY
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Citibikes? No Fair
I am a bit envious of all of the catering to bicyclists in NYC, especially with this new Citibike program.
Citibike has bike stands with a row of bikes for the public. You rent it, then once at your destination, you leave it at another Citibike stand. Each time I am standing at the bus stop (because NYC is not Segway friendly), I think, "What about Segways?" I don't think public rentals of Segways would be wise, but I am referring to the city not legalizing the use of them while further catering to an influx of bikers. These riders are everyday people in business clothes without helmets (usually) nor safety gear in city traffic -- not on bike trails nor in bike lanes. So how is that safe? Why can't I glide to work without worrying about getting a ticket? It's unfair in my opinion. |
08-24-2013, 11:25 PM | #2 | |
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Be envious. Be very envious.
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JohnM Anything worth doing for 2 hours is 10 times more worthwhile if done for 20 hours. RUSA #235 UMCA #3877 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. |
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08-25-2013, 02:52 AM | #3 |
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It is all about lobbying and politics. Has very little to do with merit. Not to say there is no merit here, just that it is not a factor in the legality part...
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Karl Ian Sagal To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. "Well done is better than well said." (Ben Franklin) Bene factum melior bene dictum Proud past President of SEG America and member of the First Premier Segway Enthusiasts Group and subsequent ones as well. |
08-25-2013, 01:54 PM | #4 | |
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Quote:
And I know I have been whining about this for years, but seeing the Citibikes zoom by while I am waiting for a bus (when I shouldn't have to) just rubs it in my face a bit. |
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08-25-2013, 05:28 PM | #5 |
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Yes, lobbying and politics. The International Bicycle Conspiracy strikes again!
Want to talk merits: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/tran...hare_part1.pdf http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/tran...hare_part2.pdf http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/tran...hare_part3.pdf http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/tran...hare_part4.pdf http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/tran...hare_part5.pdf http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/tran...hare_part6.pdf http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/tran...hare_part7.pdf http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/tran...hare_part8.pdf
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JohnM Anything worth doing for 2 hours is 10 times more worthwhile if done for 20 hours. RUSA #235 UMCA #3877 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. |
08-25-2013, 05:42 PM | #6 |
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In all fairness, writing a state EPAMD law that exempted cities with populations greater than one million was wrong.
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08-25-2013, 05:44 PM | #7 |
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Bicycles have these points:
1. They're large/bulky/get in the way. 2. They're not very stable at low speeds. 3. They are not protected from a car merging into you. 4. They don't run on electricity, which means you never have to recharge. Conclusion: They are way too dangerous on NYC streets and sidewalks, and along with being bulky and not protected, a bicycle is just too unsafe for NYC. Segways have these points: 1.Small foorprint, can easily go through almost any doors, get through back alleys. 2. Nimble, can easily make a 180 in its own space and can swerve to avoid obstacles. 3. Speed restricted, at its max speed, the Segway PT can get up to 12.5MPH, which however is unsafe for sidewalks, but still, limited, unlike a bicycle. Also, when they are legalised, a speed law can be set in place for a maximum of 4MPH on sidewalks. 4. Compact, no need for big space to store your PT, it takes up approximately the same space as a single stroller. 5. Safe, with added visibility to see over cars and be seen by them, the Segway PT is optimised for cities. What would you choose? Please feel free to add or correct any mistakes I have made. |
08-25-2013, 07:56 PM | #8 | ||
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Your pro bike positions are well expressed, even when the distinctions between electric bikes and segways are not significant. If it looks enough like a bike and not like a segway, it is protected, even if it has no pedals and works more like a segway and less like a bike. (electric motors for motion, etc) But, and it is a big but, I did not say there was no merit in allowing bicycles. I specifically said that this project (the rent a bike program she was talking about) was not without merit. My point was not about merit or not having merit. And you know that, despite your politically self serving response. The bicycle lobby is very powerful, and very organized, and good at getting its point out, and is fiercely defensive of any rights or privileges it sees that it has. It will not share any of its gains for fear of loosing its political impact. And that fear is relatively well placed, as there are many who would want some of the rights that bicycles have. Segway users are among those who would want to share the road/path/converted rail bed/shoulder of the road. One does not have to think there is an international Bicycle conspiracy to think there is an active and effective bicycle rights and access lobby. Your over reaction is noted, but it diminishes your point, on this SEGWAY forum.
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Karl Ian Sagal To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. "Well done is better than well said." (Ben Franklin) Bene factum melior bene dictum Proud past President of SEG America and member of the First Premier Segway Enthusiasts Group and subsequent ones as well. |
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08-25-2013, 08:18 PM | #9 | |
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I myself ride one regularly. I would ride more and want to, time permitting. As to your points... I do believe that bikes are longer than segways, but narrower. Overall footprint is bigger for a bike than segway, but not outrageously so. I had an apartment downtown Boston in my days before owning a segway, and I used to wheel it up onto its rear wheel, and balance it like that in the elevator to my room. It took more effort but I do not believe it took too too much more space than my segway. Maybe a bit. And I got more headaches from that, as I was supposed to use the freight elevator, than I get from having my segway in an elevator. Bikes are not very stable at low speeds, but most of us can drop our feet to the ground in one manner or another to not have a problem with this. Any low speed failure against the segway is compensated for by being able to go much faster than a segway. I agree that they are not much protection from an impact with a car. Of course, some of us can hit cars with our segways as well, so I don't see how this is much of a point. I believe that if you have a collision with a car when on your bike, you will loose. I further believe that if you have a collision with a car on your segway, you will also loose. I do not know that one is better to collide with cars with than the other. Bicycles do not run on electricity, that is true for many, but there are also a great many electric bikes, and electric assist bikes, and more. Being on a bicycle does not exclude the use of electricity any more. However, if the point is that bikes use human propulsion instead of electric, I agree for the most part. There are advantages and sweaty disadvantages here. To conclude they are too dangerous for NYC streets is comical, since they were there before cars, there are hundreds of thousands of them or more in NYC, and they are not likely to go away. I agree they are not designed for, nor should they ride on the sidewalk. AND there are dangers involved, as I am sure there are many collisions with the bikes every day, against cars, pedestrians, and a whole host of other objects. But then there are also collisions amongst the cars, amongst the pedestrians, and I am sure an occasional horse bumps into someone or something from time to time. Most of your segway comments are okay by me. You post the things you like, and I will not argue against any of them, but I might have used different examples. I personally do not think this is an us or them kind of thing. I do not see that trying to diminish the bicycle will make the segway user any more accepted. I see that they two items are different, and do some similar and some different things, and even the similar tasks are done differently. It is like trying to say an orange is better because an apple bruises easier. I see them as very different fruit, and hammering the apple does not improve the orange.
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Karl Ian Sagal To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. "Well done is better than well said." (Ben Franklin) Bene factum melior bene dictum Proud past President of SEG America and member of the First Premier Segway Enthusiasts Group and subsequent ones as well. |
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08-26-2013, 12:12 AM | #10 | |
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Another difference is that Segways don't have the oily chain, chainrings, spokes, and other sharp or pinching parts bikes have that can cause problems in an encounter with a pedestrian.
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