Planning a Segway-friendly route

[yosgof]

I've discovered, the hard way, that to make commuting a viable option (at least in the older part of Tel Aviv, where my office is located) requires some scouting.

Commuting requires a different mind setting when planning one's route. The commuting route is a route to be used on a daily bases and therefore it needs to be efficient and sufficiently easy and pleasant.

Sure, each one has probably worked out his driving walking routes to the most frequent locations but… on a Segway one needs to rethink some. In an urban environment going from point A to point B can usually be achieved via several routes. Due to various obstacles, narrow pavements, construction work, quality of pavements, availability of cutouts, uncut tress and lots and lots more, the route selection (at least at first) becomes a trial and error process, very much the way mice solve mazes.

So on an HT, shortest may not necessarily mean fastest or indeed may not always imply short.

- Yossi
http://gallery.photo.net/photo/3365119-lg.jpg

[luckie]

Very true. When I first received my Segway, I carefully scouted out a "viable" route from my home to work with curb cuts and wide sidewalks or roads with big bike paths. These days, 14 months later, my route is based more on which route is the most fun.

In fact, I've made my commute slightly longer than it needs to be because it's so fun to ride on the Segway with particular routes. Some roads and alleys have much more interesting things to look at, some are very smooth and free of many pedestrians and thus my original path has changed/evolved over time.

Finding an optimal commuting route is great fun.

----
Douglas B. Luckie, Ph.D.
Cystic Fibrosis Research Lab
Department of Physiology and Lyman Briggs School of Science
Michigan State University
http://surf.to/msucf
http://35.9.122.184/blinky.gif

[macgeek]

The irony here in Brooklyn, N.Y.
is the WORST roads are the Bike paths.

Jonathan

"Think outside the car"

[adobephile]

Gliding has given me a unique perspective of the "sidewalk ruins" of my area. Most are 50 or 60 years old, heaved up from expanding tree roots and cracked, overgrown with untrimmed bushes and low-hanging tree branches.

Some clever planner decades ago had the bright idea of creating *one* cutout per corner set at a 45 degree angle instead of two, each in line with its cross walk. These are on a busy four-lane street, and force one to roll down right next to vehicular traffic whizzing by. Quite unpleasant.

Thankfully, there is a good deal of new real estate development going on, too, and apparently city codes which provide for new sidewalks. However some of these which I've tested were screeded somewhat less-than-smoothly, thanks to somewhat less-than-enthusiastic or less-than-skilled laborers. At least they have consistent cutouts.

Part my recent commutes have been after business hours in the late evening. This has allowed me to glide down various residential streets which have been for the most part free of traffic.



"The job of art is to chase ugliness away."
Bono, U2.
From a personal appearance
at an Apple Computer music event.
October 26, 2004

Daniel Swanson
http://www.van-garde.com

[KSagal]

It seems that you guys that are complaining about the trees and bushes could hook up with the complaints about the curb cuts...

As a for instance, if you carry a chain saw, and trim the lower branches from offending trees, then use the branches to lay in the gutter where there is no curb cut, you could kill two birds with one stone...

Of course, gliding with a chainsaw may not make you the most approachable sort...

Karl Ian Sagal

Each road you travel should be just a bit better for having had you pass.

[KSagal]

The preceding post was offered for humor purposes only. It may or may not have been funny, but I do not now nor have I ever endorsed the thought of gliding in busy downtown areas with a running chainsaw...

Karl Ian Sagal

Each road you travel should be just a bit better for having had you pass.

[wwhopper]

Gliding with a chain saw in Israel - now that would make the news.....

Bet no one would make remarks about an alternate lifestyle then.

Will W Hopper
DCSEG Member
Come out to the Mid-Atlantic Regional SEG America Event - SegwayFest - DC Sept 23-25 in Washington DC - The Most Segway Friendly City in America!

[yosgof]

Karl,

Jokes aside (Chainsaw man? I’d much rather attach Freddy Kruger like claws and be done with everything including people giving bad advice), the first thing I could think of after a mid city glide was: “I’d sure wouldn’t want to be in a wheelchair in this city”.

While low hanging branches are just a nuisance easily overcome with a helmet and protective (sun) glasses, narrow and broken pavements as well as people parking on pavement are much more difficult.


- Yossi
http://gallery.photo.net/photo/3365119-lg.jpg

[pam]

I remember my first year, going down the street with rose clippers and clipping branches that hung over the sidewalk at eye level. Course, I'm shorter than most of you guys, so didn't have to clip as far.
Pam

[wwhopper]

Using the Segway gives you a whole new perspective on things, access to places that you would not normally think about and obstacles that you might just ignore other wise.

That extra 8 inches of height is really a different point of view.

Will W Hopper
DCSEG Member
Come out to the Mid-Atlantic Regional SEG America Event - SegwayFest - DC Sept 23-25 in Washington DC - The Most Segway Friendly City in America!

[woodenapple]

quote:Originally posted by pam

I remember my first year, going down the street with rose clippers and clipping branches that hung over the sidewalk at eye level. Course, I'm shorter than most of you guys, so didn't have to clip as far.
Pam
Each spring I break off the new growth of several bushes, trees, and vines that start to hang over the sidewalk along my commute route. Just a quick pinch of the soft green shoots as I glide by keeps my route from getting overgrown.

It is not just low-hanging branches, but also branches that crowd the sidewalk from the side. The "side" branches would be easy enough to just brush past, but I don't want to brush against them when they are wet.

So I keep my glide path clear using the Barney Fife approach: "Nip it - Nip it in the bud!"

Rodney

May all your days be Segway days!

[KSagal]

quote:Originally posted by yosgof

Karl,

Jokes aside ... “I’d sure wouldn’t want to be in a wheelchair in this city”.

While low hanging branches are just a nuisance easily overcome with a helmet and protective (sun) glasses, narrow and broken pavements as well as people parking on pavement are much more difficult.

- Yossi
http://gallery.photo.net/photo/3365119-lg.jpg


I'll agree with you here, for sure. I had no idea the deplorable condition of the sidewalks in my town, or the lack thereof, and had the exact same thought. (How difficult it would be for a wheelchair or person with very limited mobility.)

Karl Ian Sagal

Each road you travel should be just a bit better for having had you pass.

[jgrohol]

That is so true. When my wife and I go gliding around our town, it's amazing the stuff we see, the cute little houses tucked out of the way that you wouldn't even know existed driving by at 40 MPH in a car. In many ways, the Segway HT teaches you to rediscover the neighborhood you thought you already knew (but didn't really). (Walking does the same thing, but your range is fairly more limited.)

Yeah, sidewalks in all but newer communities seem to be pretty lacking. Heck, in many places around town, there aren't even any sidewalks! Of course, you're bound to run into that sort of thing in these smaller New England towns.

John


--
All views expressed here are my own, not necessarily those of my employer or others. Check out http://grohol.com/.

[Desert_Seg]

I just had a long discussion with one of the Police Generals about the different perspective one gets when gliding (or even walking) as opposed to being in a car. He was intrigued by this and asked many questions. I wonder how many people even pay attention to what is in their environ as they whiz by in their car?

On the flip side, I'm normally riding in the street / gutter. Curb cuts are not very common and the hazards of torn up sidewalks, people darting out of gates, and just the general nuisance of fighting folks on the sidewalks led me to the roads. Not always the safest mode of travel but that's where I would be if I were riding my bike so....

Steven

Segway of UAE - The Segway product line distributors to Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Tunisia, UAE, and Yemen

[terryp]

I have to dodge a number of low-hanging branches and blackberry vines on the sidewalk portion of my commute. Most are low enough that even a short pedestrian would have to duck. Time to add a pair of pruning shears to my bag. ;)

Segway - What's holding you up?