So where do you put a Segway?
#16
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Florida
Programs: Delta frequent flyer Gold Medallion Status
Posts: 876
I have no problem with whatever anyone is able to use to increase her mobility. If I were able to stand, I might also find this a better way to get from one place to another. As it is, I depend upon someone pushing a wheelchair or using my electric scooter.
I prefer taking my scooter, and I like being able to use it to get to the plane and to transfer to connecting flights. It provides me with much more independence. I have been using my current scooter for three years. It has a couple of small chips, but overall it looks good for the amount of use it has had. On a flight last year a side panel was crunched. I filed a report with the airline, and I was immediately contacted by an agency representing the airline. They ordered a new panel and sent someone to my home to install it. I was exceptionally impressed with this immediate service. I have no concerns about gate checking my scooter.
I prefer taking my scooter, and I like being able to use it to get to the plane and to transfer to connecting flights. It provides me with much more independence. I have been using my current scooter for three years. It has a couple of small chips, but overall it looks good for the amount of use it has had. On a flight last year a side panel was crunched. I filed a report with the airline, and I was immediately contacted by an agency representing the airline. They ordered a new panel and sent someone to my home to install it. I was exceptionally impressed with this immediate service. I have no concerns about gate checking my scooter.
#17
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,731
Segway - not quite making sense to me...
I'm having a hard time figuring out how the Segways that I have seen could be safe for use in a crowded situation, like an airport or convention hall.
Are there different models of them? The ones I've seen raise the rider about 15 inches off the ground, are considerably faster than walking speed, and very quiet. My son was nearly run over by a police officer on one at the boardwalk - it came up behind him so quickly and quietly that he didn't know to get out of the way until someone shouted at him.
I don't know the top speed of an electric wheelchair or scooter, but I've never seen one go that much faster than walking pace. How does it work having the Segway user riding in a crowd?
Are there different models of them? The ones I've seen raise the rider about 15 inches off the ground, are considerably faster than walking speed, and very quiet. My son was nearly run over by a police officer on one at the boardwalk - it came up behind him so quickly and quietly that he didn't know to get out of the way until someone shouted at him.
I don't know the top speed of an electric wheelchair or scooter, but I've never seen one go that much faster than walking pace. How does it work having the Segway user riding in a crowd?
#18
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AVL
Programs: AA/BA/DL/US Air
Posts: 426
They have one that allows sitting. Amputee veterans use them. I've seen them in use at veterans conventions.
#19
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 3
I'm having a hard time figuring out how the Segways that I have seen could be safe for use in a crowded situation, like an airport or convention hall.
Are there different models of them? The ones I've seen raise the rider about 15 inches off the ground, are considerably faster than walking speed, and very quiet. My son was nearly run over by a police officer on one at the boardwalk - it came up behind him so quickly and quietly that he didn't know to get out of the way until someone shouted at him.
I don't know the top speed of an electric wheelchair or scooter, but I've never seen one go that much faster than walking pace. How does it work having the Segway user riding in a crowd?
Are there different models of them? The ones I've seen raise the rider about 15 inches off the ground, are considerably faster than walking speed, and very quiet. My son was nearly run over by a police officer on one at the boardwalk - it came up behind him so quickly and quietly that he didn't know to get out of the way until someone shouted at him.
I don't know the top speed of an electric wheelchair or scooter, but I've never seen one go that much faster than walking pace. How does it work having the Segway user riding in a crowd?
Are there different models of them? Yes, there are older models that do not use the newer lithium ion batteries and so you can fly with them just as you would a wheelchair. The newer ones operate slightly differently but are incredibly responsive because they check 100 times per second to see what your body language is telling it to do. It is about as close as most of us will come to having a machine that reads your mind. It took me about a minute to know that I could ride it and that I would not fall off. Basically, you just stand on it and trust it to do the balancing for you.
There are also models for offroad riding, for use when golfing, and police and cargo models...
raise the rider about 15 inches off the ground You are only 8" higher than everyone else. This is a distinct advantage over a wheelchair or scooter when in a crowd because you can see ahead. On my Segway, I'm just the height of a very average basketball player.
considerably faster than walking speed A Segway can go smoothly from barely crawling to a top speed of 12.5 mph and will go only as fast as you are telling it to go. It will never gain speed on the downhil as a wheelchair can (I know!) and will, in fact, slow down slightly to avoid over charging its batteries in the process. It can handle any hill you give it, but does not do stairs or escalators. It also has a zero turn radius.
and very quiet. Yes they are very quiet. When I ride on bicycle trails I have a little windchime that I hang on the handlebar--much more pleasant than a bicyclist who use an airhorn!
he didn't know to get out of the way You may bump into someone who is using a Segway, but it is highly unlikely that they will run into you. When someone invades your space or gets too close, one instinctively rears back--and this shift in your balance slows/stop/reverses the Segway immediately. And don't worry about your feet--The Segway has soft tires--you would feel it but it would not injure you.
How does it work having the Segway user riding in a crowd? It works beautifully. You simply go with the flow. I recently attended a large trade show. Those in wheelchairs and scooters were constantly having to deliberately start and stop. On the Segway, you simply hover where you are until a passageway opens up or glide around an obstruction with the touch of a fingertip.
You do have to know where your wheels are and be watchful--but that is true whether you are using a bicycle, wheelchair, scooter--or car. Or walking for that matter!
If you hadn't guessed by now, I love my Segway. I have a seat for it that allows me to sit OR stand but do not use it unless I need it that day. Sitting, of course, puts you back at the viewing level of a wheelchair... My Seg has given me a freedom I thought I had lost. I get to talk to the most interesting people. And I'm having a whee of a time, besides.
#20
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 3
The Segway can go up to about 24 miles on a single charge, depending on model, etc.
Yes they are expensive (but equivalent to a good power wheel chair.) Unfortunately Medicare and most insurance will not pay for them. It has been worth every penny!
Most states have EPAMD laws governing their use. If you are disabled, your use is protected under the revised ADA 2010 rules.
For more information on the veterans' program, Segs-4-Vets, go to http://DRAFT.org
#21
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,731
I've been using a Segway for more than 3 years now, so I can answer these questions for you.
Are there different models of them? Yes, there are older models that do not use the newer lithium ion batteries and so you can fly with them just as you would a wheelchair. The newer ones operate slightly differently but are incredibly responsive because they check 100 times per second to see what your body language is telling it to do. It is about as close as most of us will come to having a machine that reads your mind. It took me about a minute to know that I could ride it and that I would not fall off. Basically, you just stand on it and trust it to do the balancing for you.
Are there different models of them? Yes, there are older models that do not use the newer lithium ion batteries and so you can fly with them just as you would a wheelchair. The newer ones operate slightly differently but are incredibly responsive because they check 100 times per second to see what your body language is telling it to do. It is about as close as most of us will come to having a machine that reads your mind. It took me about a minute to know that I could ride it and that I would not fall off. Basically, you just stand on it and trust it to do the balancing for you.
he didn't know to get out of the way You may bump into someone who is using a Segway, but it is highly unlikely that they will run into you. When someone invades your space or gets too close, one instinctively rears back--and this shift in your balance slows/stop/reverses the Segway immediately. And don't worry about your feet--The Segway has soft tires--you would feel it but it would not injure you.
[http://www.segwaycaveats.blogspot.com/]
The National Safety Council has determined that the average reaction time for an emergency braking situation is three-quarters of a second. At even 12mph, a Segway would therefore travel an average of 13 feet before the user would even initiate braking. Segway claims that the device could then be stopped in an additional 5 feet (which would be a remarkable 1g of deceleration if true) for a total stopping distance of 18 feet. Again, this would be completely unsafe for sidewalk use.
- Energy increases with the square of velocity. This means the energy expended in a crash of a rider on a 80 lb Segway scooter going 12 mph would be approximately 25 times greater than for a person walking.
There's actually quite a lot of info on the web now about the risks of Segways, and how they are being banned in many places, with the support of a number of disability rights groups who cite the risks to both Segway users and those around them as cause to ban them. Goggle "pedestrian hit by Segway" and it will turn up almost 5,000,000 hits; the first hit on my list was for a law firm specializing in suing Segway riders who injure people.- Energy increases with the square of velocity. This means the energy expended in a crash of a rider on a 80 lb Segway scooter going 12 mph would be approximately 25 times greater than for a person walking.
It's worth noting the owner of the Segway company died last year while riding one. I think the machine is a piece of brilliant but misapplied engineering.
#22
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 3
Let's just say based on what I've witnessed at the mall and in public places, I don't share your trust in the Segway's balancing abilities.
... which puts pedestrians in a crowded environment at great risk of serious injury.
Physics, the National Safety Council and the Segway company do not support your claims about both stopping and injury potential:
[http://www.segwaycaveats.blogspot.com/]
It's worth noting the owner of the Segway company died last year while riding one. I think the machine is a piece of brilliant but misapplied engineering.
... which puts pedestrians in a crowded environment at great risk of serious injury.
Physics, the National Safety Council and the Segway company do not support your claims about both stopping and injury potential:
[http://www.segwaycaveats.blogspot.com/]
The National Safety Council has determined that the average reaction time for an emergency braking situation is three-quarters of a second. At even 12mph, a Segway would therefore travel an average of 13 feet before the user would even initiate braking. Segway claims that the device could then be stopped in an additional 5 feet (which would be a remarkable 1g of deceleration if true) for a total stopping distance of 18 feet. Again, this would be completely unsafe for sidewalk use.
- Energy increases with the square of velocity. This means the energy expended in a crash of a rider on a 80 lb Segway scooter going 12 mph would be approximately 25 times greater than for a person walking.
There's actually quite a lot of info on the web now about the risks of Segways, and how they are being banned in many places, with the support of a number of disability rights groups who cite the risks to both Segway users and those around them as cause to ban them. Goggle "pedestrian hit by Segway" and it will turn up almost 5,000,000 hits; the first hit on my list was for a law firm specializing in suing Segway riders who injure people.- Energy increases with the square of velocity. This means the energy expended in a crash of a rider on a 80 lb Segway scooter going 12 mph would be approximately 25 times greater than for a person walking.
It's worth noting the owner of the Segway company died last year while riding one. I think the machine is a piece of brilliant but misapplied engineering.
I just now took the time to read through every one of the first 80 items in the listing from a Google search for "pedestrian hit by Segway" . Not a single one of the articles documents a pedestrian being hit and/or injured by a Segway rider. The first item you mention is essentially an advertisement for a law firm and includes this statement.
A pedestrian hit by a Segway rider could potentially suffer a range of devastating injuries which may include broken or fractured bones, spinal injuries or worse. If you are injured by a Segway rider, you do have legal rights. Even though a Segway-pedestrian collision might be a rare occurrence in North Texas, the law still gives you the right to pursue a claim for compensation just like any other accident where someone else was at fault.
The article you quote: does come up in the search as does this one: which summarizes 6 different safety studies. It would pay to read both and draw one's own conclusions.
My experience says that I can--and have--turned away from hitting a pedestrian who cut in front of me or a child who darted into my path probably faster than I could have moved if I had been on foot. If anyone wants to assume that I am going to be traveling 12.5 mph in any spot where I might encounter a pedestrian--visible or unexpected-- then I must resent the assumtion that I am that stupid. That would be user fault, not that of a Segway itself.
Any device--car, bicycle --even shoestrings---can be dangerous if the user does something stupid or if something unexpected or unforseen happens and cannot be adequately coped with. Maybe we should ban showers and bathtubs? <G>