Building won't let me bring a Segway inside

[chicago]

I am thinking about buying a Segway and today I asked the building that I work in ( Wrigley building in Chicago) if I could walk a Segway up to my office. They said no, have to park it at the bike rack. Any ideas on how I can get them to change this?

Dave

dave7smith@aol.com

[Sal]

I would politely ask their reasoning.

I have an email I sent to the security of the building where I work. They already didn't mind me gliding to work, but insisted I did not glide in the building. I was happy to oblige.

I'll send you the email I sent (I have it at work), maybe it'll work for you.

-Sal

P.S. I hate to say this, but sometimes asking for forgiveness is better than asking for permission. Walk it in and see what they say. It ain't a bicycle, doesn't take up as much room. And I am sure you have people waling in with rolling suitcases. Same diff. I'll get you that email on Monday.

[Desert_Seg]

...I am sure you have people waling in with rolling suitcases. Same diff.

Excellent analogy. A rolling suitcase takes up similar amount of space, is rolled on streets (hence picks up the same dirt), and can weigh more than a Segway. This analogy, if will versed, could lead to a positive response. Kudos to Sal.

I'd also recommend that you offer to let them try the unit, point out that you won't be using a parking space in or around the building, and that it is great PR for them.

Steven

[gbrandwood]

Also, I find it strange - in a way - that companies (not yours unfortunately) are happy to let you push (or pull) a Segway through an area, when it seems to me that it is safer, takes up less room, and is easier to control the machine when you are actually on it and gliding slowly. Certainly, I find it easier to get through a doorway if I'm actually on board. :confused:

I like the analogy, but as Sal suggests, you need to understand their reasons before you can make successful counter arguments. It might even be they have no reasons, and just did it without any real thought. Perhaps then, demonstrating just how safe, manoeuvrable and discrete (:o) it is will be the way ahead.

Good luck.

Sal, can you post your e-mail here for all to see?

[driley]

I do not find it all that unusual that a workplace would not allow an employee that commutes on a Segway to park it inside.

As far as I know, cars, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles etc are not typically parked/allowed inside Office buildings.

I don’t really buy that Segway’s take up less room than bicycles to store. If you are considering just one Segway, maybe. But what about ten bikes versus ten Segway’s. Maybe the bikes would take up less space? There certainly would not be much of a difference.

Just wondering why a Segway should be allowed if bikes were not? I ask this as a general question outside of this specific instance, since I really do not know if bikes are allowed in this particular building.

Understand, I parked a Segway inside my workplace for 3 years. Mine was accommodated since I have a disability. Still, there really were not many places for me to park it and I would understand their generally not allowing them to be parked in the building.

Devin

[PeteInLongBeach]

If handtrucks are allowed through the building for deliveries of supplies/equipment, you might want to point out that the Segway is about the same size and even less likely to mark floors due to the tire design/material.

[dale@thecoys.net]

I am thinking about buying a Segway and today I asked the building that I work in ( Wrigley building in Chicago) if I could walk a Segway up to my office. They said no, have to park it at the bike rack. Any ideas on how I can get them to change this?

Dave

dave7smith@aol.com

Wrigley building? Then your company is renting space from them. Your company is their customer.

Ask your boss to help you find out who in your company handles relations with the building manager. Of course, explain to your boss why you want to know, and ask permission to talk to the person who handles the rental contract, etc. That's also the person who handles complaints about building services, modification requests, etc. Let's call him "Mr. X".

If possible, demonstrate to your boss and "Mr. X" how a Segway works, etc. etc. And why you are using it (it's a green way to get to work). And of course why you want to walk it to your office.

Suggest to Mr. X that one issue is that, if you're required to park it in the bike rack, somebody (like the building management) might be responsible if your $5,000 machine goes missing. Just something to think about.

This should result in Mr. X talking to building management, and you getting permission.

Of course, if you're employed by the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co., that's a slightly different situation - but "ask your boss for support" is still the path most likely to succeed.

[driley]

But hand trucks and rolling suitcases are not analogous to an individual employee's personal transportation choice.

Hand trucks are and rolling suitcases are part of "doing business". The boss may be very attached to their rolling suitcase and their UPS deliveries, so I would not be inclined to take the stance that if these are allowed, so should my Segway.

[driley]

Wrigley building? Then your company is renting space from them. Your company is their customer.

Ask your boss to help you find out who in your company handles relations with the building manager. Of course, explain to your boss why you want to know, and ask permission to talk to the person who handles the rental contract, etc. That's also the person who handles complaints about building services, modification requests, etc. Let's call him "Mr. X".

If possible, demonstrate to your boss and "Mr. X" how a Segway works, etc. etc. And why you are using it (it's a green way to get to work). And of course why you want to walk it to your office.

Suggest to Mr. X that one issue is that, if you're required to park it in the bike rack, somebody (like the building management) might be responsible if your $5,000 machine goes missing. Just something to think about.

This should result in Mr. X talking to building management, and you getting permission.

Of course, if you're employed by the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co., that's a slightly different situation - but "ask your boss for support" is still the path most likely to succeed.

I agree, asking your boss is the best approach. They can work it back through the appropriate channels if they support the idea.

[Isidore]

I park in my building, but in a storage area in the basement. Is that a solution that would work for you? The stumbling block I come up against in my own mind is: What would happen if everyone Segwayed to work? There wouldn't be much room for anything else in the office space- a seg takes up as much room as a filing cabinet and that costs someone money.

[drmarty]

driley

How pleasant to have your mostly negative approach. This is not very helpful to the topic of how to help get the building to allow the Segway in. Your last comment may reflect a ray of help, tho.

Chicago

The other issue that should be broached while addressing getting the Segway in the building is that your company, the building owners, and everyone should be trying to get people out of cars and using alternative transportation, like the Segway.

Yes we want to reduce our consumption of oil but no you cannot do something so obvious as not drive to work. How narrow minded and how typical of the ignorance that surrounds Segways. I am sure they will come back and say "Well if we let you in then we have to let anybody who rides a scooter to work in." Which is of course not true. But wait it will be coming. I do not know about Illinois but in California we are pedestrians and are legal on sidewalks. Electric scooters are not.

Good luck in the fight.

[driley]

[QUOTE=drmarty;144433]driley

How pleasant to have your mostly negative approach. This is not very helpful to the topic of how to help get the building to allow the Segway in. QUOTE]

Just trying to be realistic. I can understand businesses or building managers not wanting Segways inside. It is simply a matter of storage space and figuring out why Segways should be allowed if bicycles are not. If they allow bicycles in, then no problem.

I worked on a floor with about 50 people and there was maybe space to park one or two Segways at most. Often the elevator had too many people on it to get in with the Segway.

Devin

[shep]

driley
Yes we want to reduce our consumption of oil but no you cannot do something so obvious as not drive to work.


I don't get it. How does not letting someone park their commute vehicle inside a building imply they don't want you to commute with it at all? Sounds to me as though they are just saying use whatever you want to get to work, just park it outside. How is that unreasonable?

[KSagal]

Logic may work, and there have been some reasonable possible avenues for you to try to get your seg in.

Some here have offered their opinion sides with those who would deny access.

One real consideration you may or may not want to mentions is that segways are a real curiosity, and if your machine is in a public area, and someone gets on it and hurts themself, the building that made you park it there may be liable. Segways are a much larger target than bikes or cars, because cars can lock, and everyone knows how bikes work.

If all else fails, volunteer to go to the donut shop on your way into work. Buy your way in...

[bentbiker]

I don't get it. How does not letting someone park their commute vehicle inside a building imply they don't want you to commute with it at all? Sounds to me as though they are just saying use whatever you want to get to work, just park it outside. How is that unreasonable?

I think you fail to see the problem because you fail to consider the EPAMD classification (at least in your state, CA). You have twice now referred to it as a "vehicle" (once in a previous post to Segsby). But it is not a vehicle, and is therefore NOT subject to the same laws covering vehicles (non-EPAMDs). We don't do ourselves any favor by calling it a vehicle, and INC insists that we should never use that terminology. It is an EPAMD -- an assistive device.

I feel the building management people have every right to restrict activities that endanger people or property. I don't do either on my Segway. I realize not everyone understands that when I'm standing on a moving platform, so I readily acquiesce to their request that I walk my unit. I think Gareth is correct in that I'm less of a nuisance (and safer) riding that walking it, but I will concede that battle.

Devin, similarly, doesn't understand the difference between a bicycle and an EPAMD. Although, frankly, I think I should be able to bring my bike into my office as well, if my company management allows it. He also thinks that building management should be able to decide that my company doesn't have room in the office for my Segway. That is none of their business.

Finally, you say you don't understand how Marty can say that forcing someone to leave their Segway out on the street to be "investigated" by passersby, would serve to discourage Segway users from using them to commute. You must have an entirely different feeling about your Seg than I. There is no way I would leave my unit sitting out on the street every day, all day, in Chicago.

[behindblueeyes]

Who would be liable for the injury if I was able to park my Seg in the office and Sally trips over it and hurts herself? Just a thought.

[JohnM]

I think you fail to see the problem because you fail to consider the EPAMD classification (at least in your state, CA). You have twice now referred to it as a "vehicle" (once in a previous post to Segsby). But it is not a vehicle, and is therefore NOT subject to the vehicle code. We don't do ourselves any favor by calling it a vehicle, and INC insists that we should never use that terminology. It is an EPAMD -- an assistive device.

John, I suggest you review your California EPAMD laws. If you have any difficulty finding them, here's a hint: They can be found in the California Vehicle Code.

[bentbiker]

Who would be liable for the injury if I was able to park my Seg in the office and Sally trips over it and hurts herself? Just a thought.
If the office manager approved it, he might be on the hotseat, but that is not the question being asked. If Sally worked for a different company than me and tripped over the Seg in the elevator, you may have an action against the building management, but everybody knows Sally is a klutz and we can't protect everybody from themselves. Would you disallow canes over which people can trip? Disallow high heel shoes which can catch on lots of things? This is the same old argument that the municipalities use when they ban a Segway. Easier to ban it than do a risk/benefit analysis.

The analysis could be as simple as, "How many reports have there been nationally of Sallys having tripped over Segways being taken to someone's office? On the other hand, is their any reason to believe we might be better off reducing our dependence on foreign oil.

[shep]

Sorry, I don't buy it and I still don't get it. I am sure my opinion will not be popular but it sure seems to me as though there is a feeling of a great deal of entitlement among those that post here. Because I have a Segway I do not believe it entitles me to any special treatment. As much as I'd like to say "yeah, I know you have these rules, but they don't apply to me, because I'm special, I have a Segway..."

If an establishment of any kind (business, personal residence, place or worship, etc.) has a rule such that, while inside, one may not wear shoes (or, if you insist, assistive mobility devices), should I feel entitled wear my shoes simply because I have them and/or I believe the rule is without foundation? Am I even more entitled if the shoes are expensive or if I don't feel like leaving them where others may "investigate" them?

I know, it's the American way...just keep suing 'em until they buckle...

See, I told you this will not be a popular view...

[dale@thecoys.net]

Who would be liable for the injury if I was able to park my Seg in the office and Sally trips over it and hurts herself? Just a thought.

Same situation if Sally parks her purse on the floor and Dave trips over it.

Or if Dave parks his briefcase on the floor, and Sally trips over it.

[DCTenor1]

I just had this conversation today with my boss at work. I don't have my Segway yet, but I will next week. For several days, I have been talking about it with coworkers, all of whom agree that the powers that be will NEVER let me bring it up to the office and park it here. When I asked why, I got the standard uninformed responses: Liability issues -- the building could be responsible if you roll over someone's foot. And there's a nice marble floor in the lobby that they won't want scuffed or cracked. Etc. etc. (I tried to tell them that rolling over someone's foot hurts less than stepping on someone's foot with my whole body weight, and that it won't scuff the floor, but they didn't listen.) Also last week, I asked the building security guard who mans the front desk, "What would you do if you saw someone ride in here on a Segway?" Her response: Tell them they can't bring that in here. Why? asked I. Her: Because it's dangerous! They might hurt someone!

Anyway, at the end of today, I went into my boss' office and had the following conversation:

Matt: "Do you know what a Segway is?"
Boss: "Sure! There was that story today in the paper about how all the DC police officers are getting them." (Okay, good start...)
Matt: "Yeah! They're awesome. Well, um, I'm getting one next week."
Boss: (Shaking head, silent chuckle.)
Matt: "You know, I plan to ride it to and from work. And... you know, it's a very expensive piece of machinery, and I really don't want to lock it up in the bike rack next to the building......."
Boss: (Nodding) "Of course, I understand. I don't think there will be a problem with you storing it down in the parking garage during the day."
Matt: "Really?"
Boss: "Yeah, we'll talk to building management next week and get you a garage pass. It'll be fine."
Matt: "Great!"

So, that's it. I was expecting the worst, planning for it (I was prepared to purchase a couple different locks for the bike rack outside), and then I was pleasantly surprised. And I told the security guard downstairs that my boss was going to let me park it in the garage, and I would have it next week. She, along with everyone I have mentioned it to (pretty much the whole legal department), is very eager to try it out for themselves!

So I'll park it in the garage. No worries about theft or exposing it to the elements. I won't be able to plug it in at my desk, but with a three-mile commute, I won't need to worry about the battery. All in all, a good situation. And when building management gets used to seeing the Segway (and possibly has a go on it), I'm sure I'll eventually be able to take it up to my office with me if I press the issue. But by that point, I'll probably be so used to parking it in the garage, that it won't be a big deal anymore.

:)

Matt

PS - This is my very first post at SegwayChat! I am a member of DC SEG, and Will Hopper is almost singlehandedly responsible for converting me from a walker to a glider. Kudos to him. And it's good to meet you all!

[Desert_Seg]

driley

How pleasant to have your mostly negative approach. This is not very helpful to the topic of how to help get the building to allow the Segway in.

How is his post negative. It is realistic and very applicable.

...The other issue that should be broached while addressing getting the Segway in the building is that your company, the building owners, and everyone should be trying to get people out of cars and using alternative transportation, like the Segway.

Yes we want to reduce our consumption of oil but no you cannot do something so obvious as not drive to work. How narrow minded and how typical of the ignorance that surrounds Segways.

And the building is not supporting this? It's a stretch to say that they aren't when all they allow is a user to glide up to their building and park outside. They could be as green as can be and still not allow the Segway inside.

...I am sure they will come back and say "Well if we let you in then we have to let anybody who rides a scooter to work in." Which is of course not true. But wait it will be coming. I do not know about Illinois but in California we are pedestrians and are legal on sidewalks. Electric scooters are not.

Of course that is a concern. It doesn't matter if Electric Scooters are allowed on the sidewalk or not.

...But it is not a vehicle, and is therefore NOT subject to the vehicle code.

Huh? If the regulations that apply to it are published under the state's vehicular codes (as it is in most, if not all, states) then the item in question is classified as a vehicle, even if it is called an EPAMD and, in some cases, can walk on two legs (in some states pedestrians are in the vehicle code also).

... I feel the building management people have every right to restrict activities that endanger people or property.

They have the duty to restrict activities that MIGHT endanger people or property. They also have the right (within legal bounds) to ban anything they don't want in their building, including the Segway.

...Although, frankly, I think I should be able to bring my bike into my office as well, if my company management allows it.

It doesn't matter if your company says you can bring in your bike (or Segway). The only thing that matters is what the building management company wants, and in this case they don't (currently) want the Segway.

Who would be liable for the injury if I was able to park my Seg in the office and Sally trips over it and hurts herself? Just a thought.

Oh, everybody would get sued. The owner, the company he / she worked for, the building management firm, the building owner....all of them would be added to the suit and the courts and juries would decide who was liable and for how much.

The analysis could be as simple as, "How many reports have there been nationally of Sallys having tripped over Segways being taken to someone's office? On the other hand, is their any reason to believe we might be better off reducing our dependence on foreign oil.

No bearing at all in a risk / benefit analysis. After all, one Segway glider, or even 1,000 Segway gliders will only make a small dent. However, imagine 1,000 Segway gliders at the Wrigley building trying to get in and park at their desks. This may not be a what you want to think of (or you may say it isn't possible) but that is exactly what the management firm and owner have to think of.

Finally, more and more I see posters who believe it is their innate right to glide anywhere. Why do we think we are entitled to glide wherever we want, whenever we want? What happened to being good ambassadors, what happened to trying to understand the systems and work within them? Just 'cause we own a Segway doesn't give us special rights.

Steven

[bentbiker]

Sorry, I don't buy it and I still don't get it. I am sure my opinion will not be popular but it sure seems to me as though there is a feeling of a great deal of entitlement among those that post here. Because I have a Segway I do not believe it entitles me to any special treatment. As much as I'd like to say "yeah, I know you have these rules, but they don't apply to me, because I'm special, I have a Segway..."

If an establishment of any kind (business, personal residence, place or worship, etc.) has a rule such that, while inside, one may not wear shoes (or, if you insist, assistive mobility devices), should I feel entitled wear my shoes simply because I have them and/or I believe the rule is without foundation? Am I even more entitled if the shoes are expensive or if I don't feel like leaving them where others may "investigate" them?

I know, it's the American way...just keep suing 'em until they buckle...

See, I told you this will not be a popular view...
Shep,

I don't think anybody thus far in this thread has suggested suing the building's management. I'm not sure anybody believes the building owners don't have the RIGHT to ban wheeled vehicles in their building, but they shouldn't be allowed because of a lack of understanding to discriminate between people using similar assistive devices (not all EPAMDs). We are merely suggesting ways to make them aware that the vast majority of states have given special status to these devices.

As for entitlement, you may not have asked for it, but the CA legislature has decided that the value of green EPAMDs is sufficient to give them their own classification -- that of a pedestrian -- because (as the law states) "The Legislature is adding this article as part of its program
to promote the use of no-emission transportation."

So, like it or not, we are entitled to treatment differently than vehicles, including bicycles. If you are riding your Segway on a sidewalk, you yourself are claiming that entitlement.

What most people are saying on this subject is that if every new device is banned because it is feared it COULD potentially cause a problem, we will pass up a real opportunity to solve some really serious problems. Your analogy doesn't work because whether a great number of people wear shoes or not doesn't affect the whole planet -- finding and supporting greener transportation does, and building owners should be persuaded to encourage rather than stifle those solutions.

[ryan_walters]

Wow, Desert_seg has 8 quotes in 1 post. :)

Some people boost their post count by posting each quote separately.

[Sharkie]

Yes, and some even post one word replies just to boost their post counts too!

Jim

Ooops, almost forgot the post! :-)
I do agree that some of us are getting a little carried away with the "entitlement" thing. Yes, you have a Segway, and it doesn't use gas, but that doesn't necessarily give you more rights. I don't think too many companies would let you park a motorcycle at your desk, and yet that's greener than a car in most situations. Why would you then DEMAND that you be allowed to bring your Segway to your desk. I do feel that safe and secure parking should be provided, but that could vary wildly with different expectations.

Jim

[Desert_Seg]

Yes, and some even post one word replies just to boost their post counts too!

--- True --- :)

[driley]

... Devin, similarly, doesn't understand the difference between a bicycle and an EPAMD. Although, frankly, I think I should be able to bring my bike into my office as well, if my company management allows it. He also thinks that building management should be able to decide that my company doesn't have room in the office for my Segway. That is none of their business.



I know perfectly well the difference between a bicycle and an EPAMD. It really has nothing to do with private property though. EPAMD or bike, it is still simply your mode of transportation. I think that somehow people seem to think that because someone riding an EPAMD in certain areas are treated as pedestrians in the vehicle code, that these machines are somehow supposed to be allowed anywhere people can walk. The fact is that this is not really acceptable to many businesses though, whether or not anyone here feels as though it should be allowed. I think in all states with laws addressing EPAMDs, Cities have had the option of not even allowing them on the sidewalks.

EPAMD is simply a term used to classify a class of machines. In Pasadena they have recently updated the signs on some of the sidewalks in the busier sections of town. They used to say “No bicycles or skateboards”. Now they say “No bicycles, Skateboards or EPAMDs”. There are bigger issues than being able to park your Segway in a downtown office building.

Why do people seem to think that these machines should be allowed into the place that you work? Fine, if you ask and they say ok, great! If they say no, fine. Work places have rules. Most office buildings are optimized for workspace productivity and do not have personal transportation storage areas.

My position is that Segway owners should tread lightly when trying to gain access. The device itself is still a public oddity and acceptance on private property is not as common as we would like. My opinion is that office buildings are not going to be the most accepting environments. And even if you are the only one in a building of 5000 people, setting precedence does matter.

Devin

[driley]

...
Finally, more and more I see posters who believe it is their innate right to glide anywhere. Why do we think we are entitled to glide wherever we want, whenever we want? What happened to being good ambassadors, what happened to trying to understand the systems and work within them? Just 'cause we own a Segway doesn't give us special rights.

Steven

Yes, we need to be ambassadors! I try to be one each and every time that I glide. Not to sell Segways but to help with the chance of their becoming accepted by the mainstream.

Even the basics are important, such as being cognoscente of how we glide. Giving pedestrians plenty of room and the right of way. Making sure to slow when passing pedestrians. Not speeding closely past doors when gliding down the sidewalk. Not weaving excessively through pedestrians when the sidewalk is crowded. Personally, I think in most instances, it is also best to park the Seg outside before entering most businesses.

Devin

[bentbiker]

Yes, you have a Segway, and it doesn't use gas, but that doesn't necessarily give you more rights.


Jim, it does in most states. Don't know whether Calgary allows you on the sidewalks or not.
Why would you then DEMAND that you be allowed to bring your Segway to your desk.I don't know. I don't see where anybody suggested doing that. I like your idea of safe and secure parking as an alternative, but I'm not sure what that would be short of a large locker. The building management's recommendation of using the public bike rack would evidently not work for you any more than "chicago" (the original posting ID, not the city).


They also have the right (within legal bounds) to ban anything they don't want in their building, including the Segway.When you start a statement with, "They also have the right (within legal bounds) . . ." it is pretty hard to argue with anything that follows. But it is academic; you have taken things totally out of context and inferred that somebody is suggesting forcing the building to allow the Segway in. All I've seen is recommendations on how to initiate a dialogue, the route via which that dialogue might be initiated, and a few suggestions that Segways shouldn't be allowed in buildings.

Oh yeah, I edited the wording on a Segway not being covered by the vehicle code to reflect what I meant -- that the Segway in CA is not regulated by the same requirements as bikes and cars. I will not accept that a 2-legged pedestrian suddenly becomes a vehicle just because the vehicle code regulates his action in some way. Likewise, I will abide by INC's position that a Segway should not be referred to as a "vehicle".

[Sal]

Sal, can you post your e-mail here for all to see?

I'm not going back into work on a beautiful Saturday! :D

The email is nothing special. It is merely polite and informative regarding the Segway, how Indiana (where I live) views the device, and how harmless it is. It doesn't hurt to mention that you're bring green by not taking the car. Furthermore I also mention that because I take the Segway, I am doing my part to alleviate the severe parking spot shortage at the building where I work.

Lastly, I put it bluntly: The segway is an expensive device which takes up no more room than a large rolling suitase, and fits neatly under my corner desk. I do not want it out of my sight for obvious reasons. The powers that be can come to my work area and look at it and ask me any questions regarding the device, but if they did their own independent research they will find that competent use is absolutely harmless to both people and property.

Good Luck! We're all cheering you on.

_________
As to those who counter with asking whey I might think I'm more entitled to park the Segway inside by my cube: the Segway fosters a different mindset about commuting. The device should not be bound by the established norms. The device was designed specifically to be fo direct point to point transport, and I we should all - regardless of ability - use it as such.

I would consider the workplace to be a different kind of private property than a mall. I HAVE to go to work to put food on the table, and to contribute to the success of the company I work for. Hence, some consideration should be made to a novel device.

Please don't begin to compare Segways to bicycles in this regard. They may do essentially the same things (transport a person from point A to point B), but they are vastly different in conceptual integration in to human life.

So if and when I ride my bike to work, I will happily lock it outside. But when I glide to work, I expect to bring it in and park it at my desk. Period.

I'm a pretty easy going guy, but when it comes to certain established "rules of etiquette," I think progress is good.

Remember the quote from 10mph?

"Progress is the enemy of tradition, tradition is the enemy of progress."

-Sal

[SEGsby]

Luckilly, I'm allowed to park Herbie in my cubicle at the Studio. He sits on a 10 lbs dumbell to keep him upright (I lift weights at work when I'm bored, doing loooong test renders), and park him backwards under the desk so that the charge port is facing the wall. Only the CS sticks out, saving a lot of room.

Bikes have reciently been requested to not be stored / parked indoors on the facility campus, so I got some initial nasty looks from bikers at work; but that eventually went away. I told them "Sure, it has wheels, but it's not a bike..."

The only stipulation is that I can't *RIDE* Herbie indoors. This isn't because of safety concerns (I was told), but that when I've gone past the big glass conference room doors, everyone in meetings stops and looks, then talks about Segways instead of reason they're in meetings. Pushing Herbie like a lawnmower, was deemed far less distracting.

And that's a reasonable compromise I'm willing to make. I think the people there understand the problems of not being able to safely monitor a Seg that's powered down and locked up, out of the owner's sight. Fools can't resist jumping on one, apparently thinking it will somehow magically balance them. And that would be a poor assumption to make...

SEGsby

[Jet]

My employer allows me to keep the Segway in my office but will not allow me to keep my bike inside. I am sure if/when Segways become more popular, they will also be required to be kept outside.

There was a one building I have encounted which did not allow Segways/Bicycles inside. No big deal in my mind. I do not presume to have universal access.

[SEGsby]

That's a great point.

I still worry about what people do to a Seg that's locked to the bike rack and powered down. Lots of people's inner child seems to come out and they just have to try to stand on it, without understanding the consequences, let alone the issue of not asking first.

SEGsby

My employer allows me to keep the Segway in my office but will not allow me to keep my bike inside. I am sure if/when Segways become more popular, they will also be required to be kept outside.

There was a one building I have encounted which did not allow Segways/Bicycles inside. No big deal in my mind. I do not presume to have universal access.

[Jet]

That's a great point.

I still worry about what people do to a Seg that's locked to the bike rack and powered down. Lots of people's inner child seems to come out and they just have to try to stand on it, without understanding the consequences, let alone the issue of not asking first.

SEGsby

I still have a Gen 1 cover under my desk at work - no idea if it fits at Gen 2 yet.

[PeteInLongBeach]

Well, because someone in another one of our offices started bringing his electric scooter inside to his desk, there is a new company policy being circulated that now forbids any type of vehicle (including bikes) from being brought into any of our office buildings (except for the disabled).

I would only occasionally bring the i180 in to charge it before leaving on weekend trips in the RV, but that will no longer be possible. This presents a problem, since it was my only means of charging it for the weekends. I'm going to see if I can keep it charged with an inverter off the 12V system while I'm driving, but I don't know if that will be enough to keep up with my usage.

So, I might be in the market for an off-board charger in the near future...

[driley]

Well, because someone in another one of our offices started bringing his electric scooter inside to his desk, there is a new company policy being circulated that now forbids any type of vehicle (including bikes) from being brought into any of our office buildings (except for the disabled).

I would only occasionally bring the i180 in to charge it before leaving on weekend trips in the RV, but that will no longer be possible. This presents a problem, since it was my only means of charging it for the weekends. I'm going to see if I can keep it charged with an inverter off the 12V system while I'm driving, but I don't know if that will be enough to keep up with my usage.

So, I might be in the market for an off-board charger in the near future...

Pete,

I charge my Segway with an inverter while traveling with an RV. Actually, the Segway is in the back of our Jeep being towed by the motorhome and I have an inverter in the Jeep to charge it. Works fine so far.

I am sure that the battery in the Jeep would discharge if it were not for the fact we have a connection from the motorhome battery to the Jeep battery to keep that from happening.

Devin

[KSagal]

Devin,

Do you have a trailer for the seg? If you do, does it have it's own power source for lights, etc.?

I just love the creativity, and I like the idea of the motorhome powering the Jeep, the Jeep powering the inverter, the inverter powering the segway, and ...

I just did not want that train to end...

[driley]

Devin,

Do you have a trailer for the seg? If you do, does it have it's own power source for lights, etc.?

I just love the creativity, and I like the idea of the motorhome powering the Jeep, the Jeep powering the inverter, the inverter powering the segway, and ...

I just did not want that train to end...

Karl,

No trailer for the Segway. I just keep it in the back of the Jeep.

What is really neat is that we have 4 130 watt solar panels on the motorhome and often camp in remote areas without electrical hookups. I then charge the segway from the motorhomes built-in inverter and battery bank. So my Segway is sometimes powered purely from the sun. I still find that amazing.

I guess we are officially off topic now though :)

Devin

[dale@thecoys.net]

Well, because someone in another one of our offices started bringing his electric scooter inside to his desk, there is a new company policy being circulated that now forbids any type of vehicle (including bikes) from being brought into any of our office buildings (except for the disabled).

I would only occasionally bring the i180 in to charge it before leaving on weekend trips in the RV, but that will no longer be possible. This presents a problem, since it was my only means of charging it for the weekends. I'm going to see if I can keep it charged with an inverter off the 12V system while I'm driving, but I don't know if that will be enough to keep up with my usage.

So, I might be in the market for an off-board charger in the near future...

Question: had you previously asked (through your boss) for permission to bring your Segway to your desk?

Note: I appreciate that it's easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission, but the downside is that if you don't have permission then....

[PeteInLongBeach]

Question: had you previously asked (through your boss) for permission to bring your Segway to your desk?

Note: I appreciate that it's easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission, but the downside is that if you don't have permission then....

Yes, I cleared it with management and facilities a long time ago. But this is not coming from them, it's coming from corporate, so they are obligated to follow through.

[chicago]

Thanks for the help and ideas.

Well, I had my talk with the building some good and some bad. No on the Segway up to my office. The reasoning is no bikes or vehicles inside. They did say I could bring the Segway up to my office if I was disabled.( I did print and show pictures, specifications, eco-friendly and IL laws) Not all bad, we did find an area in the basement that I can use to park the Segway. It was interesting after my talk with the manager of the building I walked down to the basement with the head of security who said they would see what could be done so I can just keep the Segway in my office...

Dave