News Story compares FrankT to Madonna!

[cosmo]

Congrats on the article Frank! I believe Wayne aka "SegwayLongIsland" is also quoted...

The Globe and Mail- Great scoot, man: Two-wheeled wonder bowls over Big Apple (http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030315.usegw0315/BNStory/International
)

quote:
"Frank Tropea probably has some idea of what it's like to be Madonna. When he travels through the streets of New York, people stop what they're doing and point in amazement. Middle-aged businessmen become giddy with glee, slap open their cellphones and call their buddies to tell them what they've seen. Bewildered souls approach humbly and ask if they can touch him..."

http://www.globeandmail.com/archives/RTGAM/images/20030315/usegw0315/0315segway.jpg

-cosmo-

[pam]

Great article. And Frank looks sooooo distinguished. <G> Azeeza needs one! Can you imagine the kind of attention two at a time will get? <G>
Pam

[pkradd]

A real "material guy" I'd say!

[Karamozov]

OK, was that photo staged? If Segway does change transportation, this photo will be a classic. Look at the guy with the bike in the back. Priceless !!!!

"Any town that doesn't have sidewalks doesn't love its children."
- Margaret Mead

[mzokc]

The article is excellent! Way to go Frank!

The SF sidewalk ban would be more interesting if reporters would investigate why Tom Ammiano speaks out against the Segway. Could it be that Mayor Willie Brown supports it and Ammiano lost to Brown in the election for mayor? Whatever the reason, politics is getting in the way of progress.

Mark Z in OKC

[Brooster]

Loooooking Gooooood Mr. Frank!

Brooster

[clm]

Looking good, Frank!

Here is a recent Sacramento article with the more common scare headline. In fact they published it twice:

"Electric scooters stir fears on safety"
Segway touts device as transportation option; seniors voice worries.
By Nancy Weaver Teichert -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 a.m. PST Wednesday, March 12, 2003
http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/traffic/story/6259551p-7213705c.html


"California seniors dread sharing sidewalks with Segways"
By NANCY WEAVER TEICHERT, Sacramento Bee
Published 10:23 a.m. PST Thursday, March 13, 2003
http://www.sacbee.com/24hour/healthscience/story/805673p-5734297c.html

The article says little to support the headlines.

I am also amused how reporters are compelled to tie in some angle that is totally irrelevant. For Frank's story it was fear of terrorism. For the Sacramento article it was 1950 vintage Cadillacs! Go figure.

[BruceWright]

"Grandma gets in that Honda, she's dead."

What a quote. Oh brother. No wonder we're choking in smog. ...Get granny the oldest, heavyest chunk of iron around. BULL PUCKEY.

Get her a modern car with crumple-zones, a safety cage, anti-lock brakes and front and side air-bags, you morons! Then maybe Granny will live and not take out other folks at the same time!

-Bruce Wright

Segway: Vehicle of Dream

[ftropea]

Thanks everyone!

Quick point about the article.. my Canadian friends tell me the "Globe and Mail" is one of Canada's biggest papers. Between the print and online editions, the readership is well over one million. More impressions!!!

Pam: Yes, Azeeza really needs/wants her own Seg. We constantly argue about who's turn it is to ride.. She always wins!

pkradd: Don't get me started ;)

Karamozov: No, it definitely wasn't a staged photo. The photographer just kept snapping photos... so I guess this was one of the better ones. At different points during the shoot, I had many more people surrounding me. I think I was heading back to the office in this particular shot...

Mzokc: Yes, I think with time - reporters will slowly reveal the SF supervisor's motives.. the sidewalk ban has less to do with concerns about public safety and more to do with their personal attitudes towards the product and company. They're so obvious :)

Brooster: Thanks man :)

Clm: I think every Seg owner should head over to their local senior's group/organization and explain the technology.. and how it can improve their quality of life. From my experience, seniors welcome the tech when it's explained to them.. and when it isn't, and they have to make heads or tails of it on their own, they're inclined to be against it.

Bruce: I've always been amazed how a city like SF which is so obviously overrun with automobiles isn't the biggest proponent of transportation alternatives like the Segway HT. I'd keep on Segging there and show the SF public what Segs are really all about.

Regards,

Frank A. Tropea
[/sc] Admin - "Keep your wheels on the ground!" - Contact Me (segwaychat@segwaychat.com)

[BruceWright]

Frank,

Nice expression on your face. With your starched collar, the only things missing from the image is that you should be wearing a top hat and examining a butterfly through a monocle.

How long before we see THAT cartoon?

-Bruce Wright

Segway: Vehicle of Dream

[ftropea]

Bruce: I probably smiled in 80% of the photos.. but they decided to go with my serious dead pan expression.. :-D

Thanks to NoCan (my man) who scanned and emailed me the article from the print version of the paper:

http://www.segwaychat.com/images/globe-tropea1.jpg


Ummm, I didn't know I had a serious side... ;)

http://www.segwaychat.com/images/globe-paper-photo.jpg



Regards,

Frank A. Tropea
[/sc] Admin - "Keep your wheels on the ground!" - Contact Me (segwaychat@segwaychat.com)

[Stan671]

Fantastic! Frank!

Between pt and ft, we have an East Coast vs West Coast race for the most positive news placements. <grin>

It is also good to show you all dressed up going to work. This shows it is not a toy for rich teenagers. It can be a legitimate business tool.

I also like the bicyclist in the backround. He had to stop and get off his bike in order to watch. I was just at the Cub Scouts Pinewood Derby District Races. I stood still on my Segway in the middle of the crowd of adults and kids and rode around the gymnasium for about 2 hours without every getting off the Segway HT.

Stan Dobrowski

[pt]

i think everyone is doing great, there have been so many positive stories and news broadcasts. keep up all the efforts and passions in the ways you feel help the most folks, it really does make a big difference. how often can you help the introduction of a new form of transportation, it's pretty special and exciting.

but um-- the west is the best ;-]

cheers,
pt

http://www.bookofseg.com

[ftropea]

quote:Originally posted by pt

i think everyone is doing great, there have been so many positive stories and news broadcasts. keep up all the efforts and passions in the ways you feel help the most folks, it really does make a big difference. how often can you help the introduction of a new form of transportation, it's pretty special and exciting.

but um-- the west is the best ;-]

cheers,
pt

http://www.bookofseg.com


I agree 100%!! East coast.. :-D


Regards,

Frank A. Tropea
[/sc] Admin - "Keep your wheels on the ground!" - Contact Me (segwaychat@segwaychat.com)

[2totango]

I don't know pt..."the west is best". What were they called in the old days? Fraidy-cats. Is that term becoming synonymous with California? Except for our brave HT souls, of course.

[toybuilder]

You look great in that picture. There's a certain Superman cape-like effect going on too because of the angle of the picture!

BTW, your face reminds me of my high school friend, Peter. I'll have to look him up, put him on my HT, and post it up as the Frank Imposter photo! :)

http://www.pasadenasegway.com

Do not let yourself be forced into doing anything before you are ready.
— Wilbur Wright

[Linc2000]

Hey Frank! If there were a picture worth a thousand words this is it! Excellent! Lincoln [8D]

<center> http://www.wwwebhosting.com/tm3wwwlogo.gif</center>

[opti6600]

I'll be sure to get a photo when mine shows up of me in my suit. Nothing like an Italian suit and a Segway for one heck of an effect, hehe. There shall be plenty of photos of myself, and probably the rest of my school, on a Segway to come (I'm sure the folks at the LLC will just love that one...at least half of the photos will be people under 16...)! Unique to say the least, as usual.

I think I need to go to sleep.
-Jordan

[RobbW]

http://www.viewaskew.com/gallery/images/va/kevwaltsct.jpg

Separated at birth??

RobbW

P.S. Congrats on the article!! ;)

[pdantic]

OK, I guess when I finally order my HT I'll have to put on my tux and glide around the Denver Performing Arts Center to beat this buttoned-down look! [:P] Congrats on the great publicity, Frank!

Steve
The Joy of Segs: http://www.joyofsegs.com

[ftropea]

You know... that actually does look a little like me. Scary! :]

Regards,

Frank A. Tropea
[/sc] Admin - "Keep your wheels on the ground!" - Contact Me (segwaychat@segwaychat.com)

[Linc2000]

"They" say everyone has a double. [8)] [8)] Lincoln [8D]

<center> http://www.wwwebhosting.com/tm3wwwlogo.gif</center>