Segways banned in Britain

[Mike]

http://digg.com/tech_news/Segways_Ba...ewalks_Road s

I kinda saw something like this coming sooner or later.

[thegathering]

Wow.

Americans have always been the ones called technophobes when it came to stem cell research and embryonic tissue research.

Talk about Luddites...

[Richard Wallace]

These sections of the FOX article really stand out:

In Britain, the Department for Transport has welcomed the scooter with a double whammy, invoking the Highway Act of 1835 to ban it from sidewalks and EU vehicle-certification rules to keep it off roads. ...

Andy Hughes, a spokesman, said that four officials attended a testing session, three of whom refused to ride it. The fourth traveled only 100 yards.

"The department seems reluctant to accept new technology, and there is a degree of [butt]-covering in the regulations," Hughes said.

[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?:

[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.

[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.

[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

[Alan Anderson]

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?

Yes.

Originally Posted by Quebec Department of Transport

No incident or serious injury, nor any Segway/pedestrian collision or physical interference, was reported during either of the two phases of evaluation, where distances totalling more than 9,000 km were covered.