Segways banned in Britain

[BuddyB309]

*shakes head* sad.... It seems that the Segway is always getting the boot from politicians. If they would only realize.....

[Jeremiah Johnson]

Only realize what? I know I don't share the same sentiment as the majority of ChiefDelphi users and the FIRST community, but I don't see the practicality of using a Segway daily. Walking is just as easy and consumes less space on the sidewalks. Now, if you have an injury or something of the sort that doesn't allow you to walk for very long then be my guest, ride a Segway. It's a cool invention and all.

Heh... Highway Act of 1835 was used to ban it. Weird.

[thegathering]

Does that mean that it's illegal for Britons to ride thise too?:

[Tom Bottiglieri]

Digg has become pretty worthless lately. It attracts alot of scum from the internet community, half of which are unemployed 25 year old dorks who have nothing better to do than sit around eating cheetos and posting on game forums all day. The amount of ignorance contained in some of these comments is unbelievable. Segways are unsafe on sidewalks? Please.. the Segway is one of the safest vechicles in the world today. A 5 year old could stop a segway moving at full speed just by sticking out his hand... let's try to see him do that with a mountain bike.

[Cody Carey]

Originally Posted by Budda648

Only realize what? I know I don't share the same sentiment as the majority of ChiefDelphi users and the FIRST community, but I don't see the practicality of using a Segway daily. Walking is just as easy and consumes less space on the sidewalks. Now, if you have an injury or something of the sort that doesn't allow you to walk for very long then be my guest, ride a Segway. It's a cool invention and all.

Because it is easier and faster, the same reason people drive cars or ride bikes.

[thegathering]

Originally Posted by Budda648

Only realize what? I know I don't share the same sentiment as the majority of ChiefDelphi users and the FIRST community, but I don't see the practicality of using a Segway daily. Walking is just as easy and consumes less space on the sidewalks. Now, if you have an injury or something of the sort that doesn't allow you to walk for very long then be my guest, ride a Segway. It's a cool invention and all.

It's 12 mph top speed is the same as you running a 5 minute mile pace wherever you're going. It's cleaner than cars and safer than bikes. The only drawback is it's 5k$ price tag (about the same as a dualsport dirtbike or a small motorcycle).

[MikeDubreuil]

A lot of people have been saying the Segway is safe. Can anyone link to any research that says a Segway is safe in public places?

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by MikeDubreuil

A lot of people have been saying the Segway is safe. Can anyone link to any research that says a Segway is safe in public places?

Ride one and you will get your proof that it is safe.

Common sense holds true, and I think this post sums it up for anyone who owns, rides, or reads up on Segways and it's ingenuity.

Originally Posted by Tom Bottiglieri

.. the Segway is one of the safest vechicles in the world today. A 5 year old could stop a segway moving at full speed just by sticking out his hand... let's try to see him do that with a mountain bike.

[KenWittlief]

Originally Posted by MikeDubreuil

A lot of people have been saying the Segway is safe. Can anyone link to any research that says a Segway is safe in public places?

i think its reasonably obvious that a Segway is safer than a bike or electric scooter.

Ive fallen off bikes at 12-15mph and gotten very cut up and bruised. Half the danger is the bike itself, falling onto the bike / pedals / into the spokes...

and a bike can reach 40mph easily going down a hill, its can become unstable when braking, esp in dirt or wet pavement, and if you optimize the seat height to get the most power from your legs, the seat is too high when riding <5mph (difficult to plant your feet).

None of these things are an issue on a Segway. BTW I am amused by the number of people mocking the Segway on Digg, when (apparently) not one of them has ever ridden one. I believe the proper word to describe these people is ignorant (along with the three members of the British review panel who refused to ride it).

[Ashley Weed]

Although, I don't recommend trying to fall of your Segway on purpose. I have done several tasks that have landed me in that position, and it just so happens, it is really hard to flat out 'fall' off the Segway. The majority of the time I fall on a knee, or in an awkward position that is never "falling" like a bike tumble.

The worse that I have ever done in any crowded situation is ran over people's toes, and to tell you the truth - my meager few pounds and my P's weight is a lot less than the "Average American Man" you come by these day's so I highly doubt I've ever even bruised anyone in this situation.

Yes, the Segway has extreme benefit's over walking. Have you ever considered walking 6 miles to work? I bet in any such similar situation you would drive a vehicle, consume the fuel, the wear and tear on your vehicle, and the idle time in congestion of traffic sure adds up on gas.

You think getting hit by a bike hurts? How blatently obvious is a person on a Segway going down a street? Getting hit by a bike on a Segway sure makes the old bones ache.

I'll take my Glide every day to work, and save the $40+ bucks a month on my commute any day.......

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by Ashley Weed

a bike on a Segway

Now THAT sounds dangerous

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by Ashley Weed

..and save the $40+ bucks a month on my commute any day.

gg.. I remember when my fuel efficient Neon (of the Dodge variety) used to get me everywhere I wanted to be for less than 40 bucks in gas a month.

Now it's like 25 bucks every 5-6 days or so.

Originally Posted by artdutra04

And with the large growth of paved bicycle (linear) trails in Connecticut, the commute options for Segway owners are constantly growing.

You know Art, technically, the paths you want to use, such as the one from Cheshire to New Haven that I drive by almost every day have signs that say "no motor vehicles allowed".

Now, being on a hybrid propane gas/electric vehicle racing team in college has taught me the difference between a motor and an engine, and that apparently you can use your engine powered car/motorcyle on these paths but not your motor powered Segway if you take it to the letter of the law, and the definition as provided by Websters Dictionary of a motor and an engine.

But.. that's a whole other discussion now isn't it??

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

Now it's like 25 bucks every 5-6 days or so.

Double the dollars or halve time for my case. Commuting is still cheaper than living closer to (or at) school though.

[Denman]

Well, i'm disappointed, personally, i have never seen a segway in britain (only at new york regional in fact) and even i could ride that after about 5 minutes practise.
to be honest, there are a lot of pointless laws like that, and it just takes some interpretation, for example, theoretically if you have a taxi, you have to keep a bale of hay for the horse in the boot (trunk) of the taxi for it....

[Jon K.]

Originally Posted by Ashley Weed

The worse that I have ever done in any crowded situation is ran over people's toes, and to tell you the truth - my meager few pounds and my P's weight is a lot less than the "Average American Man" you come by these day's so I highly doubt I've ever even bruised anyone in this situation.

At one Bash @ the Beach someone had their seg, and I purposefully had one of my friends run over my foot while riding this seway(with owner permission of course) and it didn't hurt me a bit. Someone stepping on my foot hurts more then the segway running over it did.