Segway - easy target for theft? (newbie question) - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

08-23-2003, 07:10 PM

My friends and I were thinking of amassing some funds to buy a Segway Human
Transporter.

As fascinating a contraption that appears to be, I would be scared to death of
buying one.

Reasons:

1). It draws a lot of attention. Could you imagine rolling into every store in
town and being peppered with questions by curious onlookers? I imagine this
could be a pain. Apparently only a handful of people even have such an item.
I'm not so sure I would want such attention.

2). Easy target for muggers. As small as a Segway is, it would be easy to
steal. Can imagine buying one and it being ripped off as soon as I rip through
an alley. They are notoriously expensive (3-4 K?)

Would be interested in opinions. Thanks.

08-23-2003, 07:41 PM

>Would be interested in opinions. Thanks.

Segways aren't really relevant to this newsgroup. There has been
considerable off-topic discussion of them in the past, however,
go to the archives and search on "segway" and you'll get a fair
amount of opinions.

--

_______________________ALL AMIGA IN MY MIND_______________________
------------------"Buddy Holly, the Texas Elvis"------------------
__________306.350.357.38>>cwhitman@texastwr.utaust in.edu__________

08-23-2003, 07:44 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (SteveR8222) writes:

> Could you imagine rolling into every store in
> town and being peppered with questions by curious onlookers? I imagine this
> could be a pain. Apparently only a handful of people even have such an item.
> I'm not so sure I would want such attention.

There's some stores around here I'd like to roll
into on my bike.

A bowling alley might be kewl to ride through, too.

Too bad my wide handlebar won't slip easily
through doorways.

....

> Would be interested in opinions. Thanks.

I think bikes are way more useful & fun than
any electric quasi car such as the Segway.

cheers,
Tom

--
-- Powered by FreeBSD
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

08-23-2003, 09:33 PM

Tom Keats wrote:

> In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>,
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (SteveR8222) writes:
>
> > Could you imagine rolling into every store in
> > town and being peppered with questions by curious onlookers? I imagine this
> > could be a pain. Apparently only a handful of people even have such an item.
> > I'm not so sure I would want such attention.
>
> There's some stores around here I'd like to roll
> into on my bike.
>
> A bowling alley might be kewl to ride through, too.
>
> Too bad my wide handlebar won't slip easily
> through doorways.
>
> ...
>
> > Would be interested in opinions. Thanks.
>
> I think bikes are way more useful & fun than
> any electric quasi car such as the Segway.
>
> cheers,
> Tom
>
> --
> -- Powered by FreeBSD
> Above address is just a spam midden.
> I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

Tom - You don't need to live with that handicap!

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Just trim the offending bits.
:-) Best regards! Bernie

08-23-2003, 10:18 PM

24 Aug 2003 03:10:29 GMT,
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (SteveR8222) wrote:

>Would be interested in opinions. Thanks.

By the time I got tired of answering questions, it would be a relief
having the thing stolen.
--
zk

08-25-2003, 05:56 AM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] says...
> >Would be interested in opinions. Thanks.
>
> Segways aren't really relevant to this newsgroup. There has been
> considerable off-topic discussion of them in the past, however,
> go to the archives and search on "segway" and you'll get a fair
> amount of opinions.
>
>

They are realavant in that they are the enemy to urban cycling.
--
_________________________
Chris Phillipo - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

08-25-2003, 08:22 AM

=v= This is a newsgroup for human-powered transportation on
an incredible device known as a bicycle. Why not find a
newsgroup devoted to motor-powered gizmos to discuss same?

=v= Note that the Segway and electric bicycles are hyped as
replacements for the car, yet somehow we're expected to devote
some of our bikeways and newsgroups to them. That seems like
the wrong approach for replacing cars.
<_Jym_>

09-09-2003, 05:37 AM

Chris Phillipo wrote:
> In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] says...
>
>>>Would be interested in opinions. Thanks.
>>
>>Segways aren't really relevant to this newsgroup. There has been
>>considerable off-topic discussion of them in the past, however,
>>go to the archives and search on "segway" and you'll get a fair
>>amount of opinions.

> They are realavant in that they are the enemy to urban cycling.

I keep seeing this sentiment in the Segway stuff I've read on this group.

Would someone _please_ explain why a mobility assistance device for the
handicapped is an enemy of the bicycle?

If you are capable of standing[1] the Segway has got to be a million and
a half times better than those hideous scooter-carts and is in the same
price range as an electric wheelchair. It also puts your head at head
height which decreases the tendency of people to ignore you or treat you
like a child.

-M

[1] I walk okay. I bike fine. I still can't stand worth a damn for
more than a short while.

09-10-2003, 04:42 AM

"Chris Phillipo" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].. .
> In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
>
> The problem is not the device, it's the back stabing grease ball with
> all the connections that is trying and succeding to get tax payers money
> to pay for thruways for these things and allow them on both bike paths
> and sidewalks.

I don't see the problem. I'd much rather share a path or street, or sidewalk
(as a pedestrian) with a Segway than a roller blader. Given the price of the
technology, I doubt very much that conflict with Segways will ever become much
of an issue. Those gas-powered skateboards are a much bigger potential
problem, the big box stores are pumping them out at les than a tenth the price
of a Segway.

09-11-2003, 11:01 AM

In article <R_E7b.306698$Oz4.99624@rwcrnsc54>,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] says...
> "Chris Phillipo" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].. .
> > In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
> >
> > The problem is not the device, it's the back stabing grease ball with
> > all the connections that is trying and succeding to get tax payers money
> > to pay for thruways for these things and allow them on both bike paths
> > and sidewalks.
>
> I don't see the problem. I'd much rather share a path or street, or sidewalk
> (as a pedestrian) with a Segway than a roller blader. Given the price of the

The problem is not that obvious and indeed I don't know all the details
because this will never be an issue where I live. As I understand it,
there is actual legislation being shoved through your state legal
systems buy lobbyists to allow these things to basically invalidate the
laws that currently exist for bicycles and all vehicles. Segways travel
at similar speed to bicycles in urban environments and carry enough
weight to do damage to pedestrians yet they are being marketed as a new
form of running shoe with no requirement for signaling, reflectors or
even that the thing be in good working order. This means that a
"pilot" of one of these operating it wrecklessly could not even be
charged with a vehicle infraction. Now if these things are mandated to
the sidewalks of America, who's to say that bicycles shouldn't also be
put there, many ignorant drivers say that now, just wait until there's a
precedent set for this argument in written law.

I found this tidbit one time describing the law in New Hampshire as it
applies to the Segway: The Segway's speed and operating characteristics
define it as a vehicle under section 259:122, except that it is
specially defined as not being one. Therefore, the normal rules of the
road do not apply to the Segway. They do apply to bicycles.

The main beef is that this could stand in the way of current efforts to
get money for wider lanes for bicycles in urban environments because the
argument would be that they should be on sidewalks with Segways or the
flip side is that money will be used to create paths for Segway use and
since a Segway is a "pedestrian" these paths would be off limits to
bicycles.

Now I think this whole idea is going to flop and finally suck Dean
Kamen's billions out his ass because he is pulling a Howard Huges/Spruce
Goose on this one and I think he will not abandon it no matter what
obstacle stands in his way. Him and Ed Begley Junior will be riding the
last two of these across California in an effort to promote a greener
environment. Riding a wave ahead of the brown outs in search of a
working receptacle to plug in their extension cords.
--
_________________________
Chris Phillipo - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]