luckie
07-25-2006, 09:58 AM
A Sucker for A Segway
By Allison Hurwitrz
Tuesday, Jul. 25, 2006
http://www.portfolioweekly.com/Pages/InfoPage.php/iID/1728
When I first saw the cop wheeling around the street on his Segway, I could only think of one thing: Arrested Development. If you’ve never seen the show, you should. It’s hilarious. It also stars Gob (pronounced "Jobe"), a ridiculous magician who rides around on his equally ridiculous gyroscopic scooter.
Hence, I couldn’t help but laugh at the Norfolk Police Department officer. What, are the police too lazy to walk now?, I thought. Must they spend a ton of money on new equipment simply so they can glide à la Gob? I had to find out what all this Segway mess was about.
I went straight to the source: Segway of Hampton Roads, the Seven Cities’ very own dealership on Shore Drive in Virginia Beach. Co-owner Mark Landers was more than enthusiastic about the scooters formerly known as "Ginger." He extolled their virtues —not only do police utilize them, but so do airport security and bomb squads. They are used for advertising at festivals, on golf courses and in warehouses, and the bouncer at Kokomo’s is even planning to use one to patrol its outdoor bar area. As he praised the many uses of the Segway, I marveled at the abundance of laziness.
Landers’ dealership received its first inventory this past November and, although he wouldn’t give any concrete numbers, Landers says they’ve sold "a lot more than you might think." He predicted that "one day everyone will have one — like the TV, VHS, or the mouse on the computer."
Liar, I thought.
Then I took one for a ride. Mark and I hopped on our matching scooters and prepared to cruise around Chick’s Beach. Something magical happened. In less than five minutes, I didn’t just want a Segway — I needed one. Like real bad.
The scooter, its mechanics similar to a gyroscope, constantly balances itself and is extremely perceptive to the movements of its rider. When you lean slightly forward, it goes forward. Twist the handle bar and shift left, it goes left. Want it to stop? Bend your knees and angle back. It’s that simple.
After practicing in the parking lot, we headed across Shore Drive toward the marina. Quickly, any awkwardness of riding the new machine was replaced by ease. And ego.
As we passed some pre-teens on their bikes, I imagined the jealous thoughts they surely were having about me on my scooter. When a couple walked by, hand-in-hand, I shook my head in disgust at their archaic, pedestrian mode of transportation. I was on a Segway, biotch!
Overconfidence overtook me and just when I was bragging to Mark how good I was becoming ("Look how good I am!" I shouted), I wiped out. My three-inch wedge platform shoes went flying in opposite directions, and I, not wanting to let go, held on for dear life until I was wedged between the scooter, a wall and the ground, twisted and tangled like a pretzel.
Mark told me not to write that. I guess it’s bad PR. But like a 5-year-old learning to ride a bike, I picked myself up, retrieved my shoes and got right back on. I was becoming addicted to the Segway and the way people stared in awe and amazement (I hoped) at my deftness and skill.
When I had scoffed at the Norfolk police’s use of the Segway, I didn’t understand that this is what it’s about. The scooters’ novelty factor serves as an icebreaker between "them" (officers) and "us" (civilians.) Sure, the Segways, which cruise up to 12.5 miles per hour, are convenient, but they mainly function as a way for the officers to be seen as approachable.
They serve as a "bridge from the officer on foot to the officer on beat," said Landers. While some people, myself included, might be inclined to chuckle at the sight of a cop on Segway, it does keep the officer on an accessible plane right there on the sidewalk.
Chris Amos of the Norfolk Police Department agreed that the Segways are a "great PR tool."
"They’re a magnet for people. You put ‘em on a Segway and it’s kind of like a moth on a flame," he said.
As for the perception that it’s a lazy mode of transportation, I must admit that in a way it is, but it also can be beneficial for people faced with strenuous tasks like patrolling a beat all day in hot Southern summers.
Landers says the Virginia Beach bomb squad owns a Segway because it allows for specialists in very heavy equipment to maneuver much more efficiently than they could on foot. I was also impressed to learn that the vehicles don’t have to stay on level pavement; they can easily maneuver on grass and up and down surprisingly steep inclines.
When the Segway first hit the market in the late ’90s it retailed for around 10 grand; now it sells for about $5,000. While this price is still high, Landers expects it will continue to decrease. Owning one of the electric-powered Segways, however, does eliminate dependence on outrageously expensive gasoline — and it’s much better for the environment.
As of now, the Norfolk Police Department owns four scooters, Newport News has two, and Portsmouth and James City County have them as well, according to Landers. The Segway owned by the Virginia Beach bomb squad was obtained thanks to a grant from the Department of Homeland Security.
Amos says that both officers and civilians have been "overwhelmingly supportive." There have been many "folks" who have approached the officers on the Segways who have never spoken to a police officer before. True, he says, "we always have the one or two with a ‘that’s my tax dollars’ approach who view them as toys, but the vast majority think it’s pretty cool."
I’m not ashamed to admit I have graduated from the former camp.
My eyes have been opened to the wonders of scooter-dom, and I will no longer be snickering at the cops for riding their Segways. As a display of solidarity with the NPD, starting today I’ll be taking up a collection in hopes of one day owning a Segway of my own. I long desperately to relive the high I got from cruising around above the peons with all their walking, striding, and so forth.
Of course, what I really want is to slide up on my new phat wheels, pucker up my face, and give it a good, ominous, "Hello Michael." Again, you should start watching Arrested Development.
http://www.portfolioweekly.com/Art/072506%20web%20pix/PF25_NV_segway.jpg
By Allison Hurwitrz
Tuesday, Jul. 25, 2006
http://www.portfolioweekly.com/Pages/InfoPage.php/iID/1728
When I first saw the cop wheeling around the street on his Segway, I could only think of one thing: Arrested Development. If you’ve never seen the show, you should. It’s hilarious. It also stars Gob (pronounced "Jobe"), a ridiculous magician who rides around on his equally ridiculous gyroscopic scooter.
Hence, I couldn’t help but laugh at the Norfolk Police Department officer. What, are the police too lazy to walk now?, I thought. Must they spend a ton of money on new equipment simply so they can glide à la Gob? I had to find out what all this Segway mess was about.
I went straight to the source: Segway of Hampton Roads, the Seven Cities’ very own dealership on Shore Drive in Virginia Beach. Co-owner Mark Landers was more than enthusiastic about the scooters formerly known as "Ginger." He extolled their virtues —not only do police utilize them, but so do airport security and bomb squads. They are used for advertising at festivals, on golf courses and in warehouses, and the bouncer at Kokomo’s is even planning to use one to patrol its outdoor bar area. As he praised the many uses of the Segway, I marveled at the abundance of laziness.
Landers’ dealership received its first inventory this past November and, although he wouldn’t give any concrete numbers, Landers says they’ve sold "a lot more than you might think." He predicted that "one day everyone will have one — like the TV, VHS, or the mouse on the computer."
Liar, I thought.
Then I took one for a ride. Mark and I hopped on our matching scooters and prepared to cruise around Chick’s Beach. Something magical happened. In less than five minutes, I didn’t just want a Segway — I needed one. Like real bad.
The scooter, its mechanics similar to a gyroscope, constantly balances itself and is extremely perceptive to the movements of its rider. When you lean slightly forward, it goes forward. Twist the handle bar and shift left, it goes left. Want it to stop? Bend your knees and angle back. It’s that simple.
After practicing in the parking lot, we headed across Shore Drive toward the marina. Quickly, any awkwardness of riding the new machine was replaced by ease. And ego.
As we passed some pre-teens on their bikes, I imagined the jealous thoughts they surely were having about me on my scooter. When a couple walked by, hand-in-hand, I shook my head in disgust at their archaic, pedestrian mode of transportation. I was on a Segway, biotch!
Overconfidence overtook me and just when I was bragging to Mark how good I was becoming ("Look how good I am!" I shouted), I wiped out. My three-inch wedge platform shoes went flying in opposite directions, and I, not wanting to let go, held on for dear life until I was wedged between the scooter, a wall and the ground, twisted and tangled like a pretzel.
Mark told me not to write that. I guess it’s bad PR. But like a 5-year-old learning to ride a bike, I picked myself up, retrieved my shoes and got right back on. I was becoming addicted to the Segway and the way people stared in awe and amazement (I hoped) at my deftness and skill.
When I had scoffed at the Norfolk police’s use of the Segway, I didn’t understand that this is what it’s about. The scooters’ novelty factor serves as an icebreaker between "them" (officers) and "us" (civilians.) Sure, the Segways, which cruise up to 12.5 miles per hour, are convenient, but they mainly function as a way for the officers to be seen as approachable.
They serve as a "bridge from the officer on foot to the officer on beat," said Landers. While some people, myself included, might be inclined to chuckle at the sight of a cop on Segway, it does keep the officer on an accessible plane right there on the sidewalk.
Chris Amos of the Norfolk Police Department agreed that the Segways are a "great PR tool."
"They’re a magnet for people. You put ‘em on a Segway and it’s kind of like a moth on a flame," he said.
As for the perception that it’s a lazy mode of transportation, I must admit that in a way it is, but it also can be beneficial for people faced with strenuous tasks like patrolling a beat all day in hot Southern summers.
Landers says the Virginia Beach bomb squad owns a Segway because it allows for specialists in very heavy equipment to maneuver much more efficiently than they could on foot. I was also impressed to learn that the vehicles don’t have to stay on level pavement; they can easily maneuver on grass and up and down surprisingly steep inclines.
When the Segway first hit the market in the late ’90s it retailed for around 10 grand; now it sells for about $5,000. While this price is still high, Landers expects it will continue to decrease. Owning one of the electric-powered Segways, however, does eliminate dependence on outrageously expensive gasoline — and it’s much better for the environment.
As of now, the Norfolk Police Department owns four scooters, Newport News has two, and Portsmouth and James City County have them as well, according to Landers. The Segway owned by the Virginia Beach bomb squad was obtained thanks to a grant from the Department of Homeland Security.
Amos says that both officers and civilians have been "overwhelmingly supportive." There have been many "folks" who have approached the officers on the Segways who have never spoken to a police officer before. True, he says, "we always have the one or two with a ‘that’s my tax dollars’ approach who view them as toys, but the vast majority think it’s pretty cool."
I’m not ashamed to admit I have graduated from the former camp.
My eyes have been opened to the wonders of scooter-dom, and I will no longer be snickering at the cops for riding their Segways. As a display of solidarity with the NPD, starting today I’ll be taking up a collection in hopes of one day owning a Segway of my own. I long desperately to relive the high I got from cruising around above the peons with all their walking, striding, and so forth.
Of course, what I really want is to slide up on my new phat wheels, pucker up my face, and give it a good, ominous, "Hello Michael." Again, you should start watching Arrested Development.
http://www.portfolioweekly.com/Art/072506%20web%20pix/PF25_NV_segway.jpg