Re: Segways banned in Britain
 

If you're going to base your worries on operator stupidity (e.g. running into a wall) or improbable mechanical failures, there is no way to satisfy you.

Re: Segways banned in Britain
 

well, yeah there is: Ibot (which is how this side thread all got started)

it may sound simplistic, but engineers design systems with specific requirements, and specific usage in mind. The Ibot was designed so that you dont have to jump off it when something go wrong.

The Segway was designed for people with normal (average) physical abilities.

Re: Segways banned in Britain
 

Yes, very true system usage can be expanded on through the most elaborate rules developed in HCI over the years in the case of the Segway. However, in who's eyes is the determining factor who is "normal" or fit enough for the Seg?

On a first glance, or when I am on my Seg I may fit your stereotype of "normal". However, if you spent a day with me, you would quickly come to realize I too would fall into these engineers specified requirements.

Re: Segways banned in Britain
 

the engineers who designed it should of had some input into the users manual. That two page speel that is in every users manual now-adays: not intended for: children, animals, persons over 250 lbs... do not use in the water or near cliffs.....

the users manual should spell out who the system was designed for.

Re: Segways banned in Britain
 

Link to the user's manual. As Ken says, there are warnings in several places. See p. 8 for warnings about operating limits including weight. Specified payload weight range (per Table 2 on p. 5) is at least 100 lb. and not to exceed 260 lb.

Re: Segways banned in Britain
 

However, who determines what an "able bodied" individual is, compared to a "non-able bodied" individual. I don't think any engineer would ever be capable of doing that.

As a Segway owner, I was well aware of the owner manual and the user restrictions. I sure would like to know what weighing under 100 lbs. has to do with the operations of the machine though, as I've never seen it affect its "sensitivity" of the sensors.

Re: Segways banned in Britain
 

OK, that is a good example of a design criteria that the engineers would know about, but you may never encounter in your lifetime using the machine.

The device requires the rider be able to shift their weight fore and aft to control the speed. Based on the physics involved (the weight of the machine with its full rated payload, speed, hills, surface friction, battery charge, temp (affects motor and battery performance)) a person under 100 lbs may not be able to lean back far enough to make a segway stop under worse case situations (ie, going down a 30° incline? with 50 lb of books in a carrying case, with a 50mph tailwind....)

The engineers must design a system for the worst case scenario, and spell out limitations in the users manual. Most people dont think of things this way - that is why automobiles started being mass produced in the early 1900's but a simple thing like seatbelts were not required until the mid 1960's. No one wants to consider what happens in the worst case.

Tens of thousands of people died, who could have been saved if they wore seatbelts from the early 1900's, until just recently when most states passed laws requiring they be worn. Tens of thousands died from the 60s to the 90s, sitting on their seat belts. Why? because its human nature to reject bitter reality and to think "that doenst apply to me, thats for someone else".

I suppose Segway could create a user manual table that lists height, weight, payload limits, top speed, steepness of hills, windspeed, stopping distance.... and let people choose to ride if they stay within the correct part of a six dimensional graph, for example, if they only weigh 70 lbs but will never carry anything with them on the segway, or will never go up or down hills... but that would become so confusing it would be worthless.

Re: Segways banned in Britain
 

All Segways have been recalled because of a software design glitch. Ouch...

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/ZDM/story?id=2434927

Re: Segways banned in Britain
 

I had the chance of riding the segway briefly in 2003 @ the NYC Regionals and I must say as a person who likes technology but gets scared of things running themselves (practically anyway). I in my own opinion believe that the Segway is safe. If the segway can stand up by itself w/o no help or anything to lean on for it to remain standing then it is safe by me. It's very easy to handle and operate. By GB banning this cool invention is upsetting. I just can't come up with a legitimate reason to ban something that was designed for safety all around.

As far as the Horizontally challenged people using the segway - well I'll stay neutral b/c there is too many Pros and Cons to it. What I will say is whatever can help them get from point A to point B efficiently is fine by me.

As far as the Recall is concerned eh. Nobody is perfect; espicially programmers. I don't mind the little stuff breaking, its when the much bigger stuff breaks that gets me worried and questions the company in which the product comes from.

Once again I see the segway as a much safer alternative when it comes to driving to work or riding a bike during some leisure time. I hope to own one pretty soon. :]

Re: Segways banned in Britain
 

That'd be why the only Segways I've seen have been photos and 1 at the NYC Regional then...

Re: Segways banned in Britain
 

think a little bit outside the box here, it probably not the apparent "danger" from a segway but the money they get- you pay a congestion charge to sit in ken livingston's traffic jams every day (8 pounds i believe) and the taxes from the gas you use. while they do waive the congestion charge for hybrids- they still use gas and the cars are so overpriced anyways that the taxes from them cover it. anyone who reads this should look up the peel p50: 106mpg from a 49cc moped engine, it has to pay congestion charge while a lexus hybrid suv at ~30mpg doesnt.

Re: Segways banned in Britain
 

On this topic, I found out the hard way a couple of months ago that Segway use is banned on streets and sidewalks in the province of Ontario.

I was gliding home from work one afternoon (a 2.3 km trip) when a squad car pulled across three lanes of traffic and stopped next to me on the wrong side of the road, and the police officer inside asked me to stop and dismount my Segway. After spending ten minutes on the radio confirming things with her dispatcher, she informed me that it is illegal to ride a Segway on public property in Ontario, unless you have a disability, or are an on-duty police officer or postal delivery worker participating in a particular study. The officer let me go with a warning, but said that if I was stopped again my Segway would be impounded and I would be subject to a fine ranging from $250 to $2500! :ahh:

So since then I've been polluting the environment and contributing to traffic by taking my car to work (or sometimes I just walk, if time and the weather permit).

Re: Segways banned in Britain
 

finally someone with half a brain, segways are nothing but a dangerous nuisance

Re: Segways banned in Britain
 

youre right, this was coming to them but i find this an outrage!!!