Just my two cents...

[terryp]

While I'm happy to see that INC has issued a response to the Globe editorials (latest The Last Mile), I think they might be taken more seriously if they would run their statements by an editor first.

---

We thank the Boston Globe for the opportunity to continue a public dialogue about the appropriate use of Segway PTs in Boston. We want to make it perfectly clear: Allan Danley, proprietor of Boston Gliders, is not an employee nor representative of Segway Inc. either as an authorized dealer nor tour operator. either, or / neither, nor

Segway Inc. has long supported efforts to have its product properly regulated, thus ensuring its safe usage on public ways. In fact, since 2001 Segway Inc. has supported efforts within the Massachusetts Legislature to properly regulate Segway PTs, as the majority of U.S. states do, while also providing for local government control.

Throughout the world, Segway PTs are being used in commercial applications, such as neighborhood policing, and by individuals for commuting.

commercially, such as in neighborhood policing to personally for commuting to work.

The fact that people are turning to the zero emissions Segway PT over gas-powered vehicles is encouraging. As well, thousands of people each year visit Authorized Segway Tour providers, ensuring that both they and the operator are meeting the highest safety standards and abiding by all applicable state and local laws. It sounds like they're saying that it's the thousands of tour customers that are ensuring proper use and safety.

Segway Inc. welcomes the opportunity for further dialogue with state and city officials, and community and neighborhood groups to insure so is it ensure or insure? proper and appropriate usage of the Segway PT.

[KSagal]

Wordsmithing aside, I understand why the manufacturer might want to distance themselves from this individual, in the event that the individual is found guilty of something…

But they could also have stated simply that environments like the north end of Boston are not at all inappropriate for segways… They could go on to state that while there may be some complaints from some neighbors, there are also endorsements. (Somehow that was not mentioned)

Further investigation may prove that no laws were broken, no persons damaged, and nothing but ignorant fear of change and fear of the unknown are what is being erroneously portrayed as ‘danger’ to someone…

I have been on record to say that to declare that a segway is safe in all circumstances is ludicrous. I could take off the top of my lean steer frame and whack you with it to prove my point.

At the same time, as a former Boston West end resident, and frequent traveler to the north end, I do not see how properly operated segways are any more dangerous to the pedestrians there than what is currently on the sidewalks in that neighborhood. I have personally been bumped into by guys with hand carts, stepped on by fat guys, and rammed by women brandishing baby strollers like a ninja with a bad attitude… And all this was when I was a normal shoe leather pedestrian…

Forget the segway for a minute. Try jogging past Mikes on some Saturday afternoon or evening. In one block’s travel on foot, trying to jog at 5 or 6 mph, you would be unlikely to survive, be successful in maintaining speed, or even travel the route without at least some negative encounter… Walking it will yield the same negative or near negative encounters…

That is the way it is in any city… There are far more positive encounters than negative, but they are always there… And someone will be offended by the logo on your ball cap, and someone else will be offended by your music, and on an on… So, don’t let it stop you… There are wonderful things to encounter as well, and to dwell on the complainers here is no different than to dwell on them any where else… Unproductive…

If this small business owner has to fight his battle alone, that too is unfair… If he is a good neighbor, and honestly tries to minimize the inconvenience to the neighbors, yet breaks no law, and hurts no one, he should be helped… He is bringing tourists to Boston, who all eat, and sleep someplace. They have to park their gas guzzling SUVs somewhere so he can show them a greener path… They have to buy all the crapola at Fanuel hall, and Back Bay and all the other local shops… I am sure those vendors who are benefiting from his efforts are not complaining…

So, do not be so sure to vilify this guy… If he is a bad guy (I don’t personally know him) then roast him… But from all I have read, he doesn’t look like one to me…

Remember, the most substantial complaint anyone could muster is that he LEGALLY parks his van where neighbors can see it and it annoys them… Wow!

[gbrandwood]

While I'm happy to see that INC has issued a response to the Globe editorials (latest The Last Mile), I think they might be taken more seriously if they would run their statements by an editor first.Why do you think that they would be taken more seriously if their statements were run by an editor first? You have pointed out a few simple mistakes but essentially the point of view they are expressing is very clear to me. And, whilst SPG is important, communication is about much more.

[mgalliani]

Why do you think that they would be taken more seriously if their statements were run by an editor first? You have pointed out a few simple mistakes but essentially the point of view they are expressing is very clear to me. And, whilst SPG is important, communication is about much more.

As an individual I would agree with you but writing a public response representing a corporation I would not want anyone questioning my command of the written word. Right or wrong your intelligence is sometimes judged by your command of your language. Employing an editor would be a simple fix.

[Isidore]

While I agree with Gareth that the meaning is clear, and that that is the main point, I also feel that sloppy writing creates an image of sloppy thinking. That is not a message we want to see from Inc right now....

[gbrandwood]

Sloppiness should be avoided wherever possible but come on, this was a blog post, not a marketing brochure. Some Internet communications can be slightly less formal - can't they? I'd prefer to have accurate points of view/insights made available quickly - rather than word perfect (possibly stifled) thoughts.

[wwhopper]

As he, and a couple of his employees are members of this board. Alan has interacted with many of our members at the SegwayFesT in Indianapolis in 2008. He was also at the Segway dealer training seminar in Bedford in September 2008.

I also find it interesting that this is the same person and company who also had a bad interaction with the Key West Florida community over similar issues last winter.

Alan is a businessman, not unlike other Segway businessman that we have in the industry. He pushes the envelope, and in many cases has to because of the negative image that the Segway has.

Here in DC, Segways were fine until one of the local dealer/tour operators began overwhelming the sidewalks with Segway Tours, causing issues with pedestrians. Now ALL (non-disabled use) Segways are banned from downtown sidewalks, and the tours now have to take to the streets to operate their tours.

Sadly no one is working together on these issues, and that is where the problem really is!

Back on the topic of this thread, I am very surprised that Segway did not edit their response better, they are very careful about those things. Maybe things or people are changing at Inc.

[MaddFinn]

"Back on the topic of this thread, I am very surprised that Segway did not edit their response better, they are very careful about those things. Maybe things or people are changing at Inc. "

The PR person and VP of Communications are no longer with Segway, could be the reason the published response was not up to par.

[SegGliders]

Well as you know INC is what it is and nothing more!

They can try to make it anyway they want. The truth is we a 2 neighbors that are haters. Segway came to the hearing the other day with Segway of Northern New England and made it worse for them selves basically made it worse for everyone by saying they never did safety tests! Their PR person was a joke. He had to ask other people for answers to easy questions and then kept flip flopping.

Sometimes you just need to say no!

Imagine we have completed 8k tours in 2009 and no safety issues yet there could be some day, that is there complaint? The best is Northern New England claiming that they do tours? when lets say never.

Or even better is how mad they got because "I'm the face of Segway" boy do they really hate me! Thats what happens when you are doing national events all the time.. Most times I'm doing what they should be doing..

Don't worry we will be here for a long long time.. And opening a new location next week right next to Norther New England boy do they hate that! But don't worry soon we will be coming to a town near you...

We will be launching our Franchise program this year, what a great deal I can create a concept with their product..., another thing they should have done..

I liked when they testified I was not an Authorized Dealer or Tour Operator.. and that there are only 40 authorized tour operators.. They carefully left out you can only be a tour operator if you are a dealer.. Since just like I stated in 2008 I'm going national for a reason..

I will continue to do whats right for our growth.. weather that be Seg Signs, Polo, Adventures, or creating products.

I have done in 2 years what most have only thought of..

people can go on Universal Studios, trains, and malls due to the work I have done. So smoke that..

I hope everyone has a great 2010 come by anytime you are always welcome at anyone of our locations.

Peace love and green jelo,,

[KSagal]

Again, I don't want to be too embroiled in this, but the 'PR' person referred to in the previous post from Segway was not their 'PR' person...

The man spoken about was the same man who was their government liaison, the man who personally saw to it that some 44+ states enacted positive segway legislation in less than 5 years... A feat that I don't think has ever been done before or since...

The reason he was conferring with others, is that Segway corporate was recently sold, and he was conferring with the new management... It was not at all unlike the way most deliberate responses representing a company are made... He did not speak 'off the cuff' but rather represented the company well, as was his charge.

There was also a document that was distributed by the tour company that deals with DRAFT, whom I believe were brought into the hearing in an effort to diffuse and confuse the commission into thinking that this tour has some endorsement from them... I do not know that they do...

I was there. I would not be comfortable accepting the position presented in the previous post as accurate. I understand that they do not feel supported by segway corporate, but at the same time, they are damaging the brand, and causing tremendous damage to the segway community and its acceptance in Boston...

[polo_pro]

The new "he who shall not be named", eh? What will our resident outcast in NYC think now? Can he step up his rhetoric and retake his title? 8^) 8^) 8^)

ps - FYI, this person is making just as big an impression in the polo community. If he does succeed in having a 14 team tournament next month (or even if he only has half the number of teams play), then he'll likely eclipse the big annual tournament, the Woz Cup 2010, in terms of participants at least.

[Tarkus]

Well as you know INC is what it is and nothing more!

They can try to make it anyway they want. The truth is we a 2 neighbors that are haters. Segway came to the hearing the other day with Segway of Northern New England and made it worse for them selves basically made it worse for everyone by saying they never did safety tests! Their PR person was a joke. He had to ask other people for answers to easy questions and then kept flip flopping.

Sometimes you just need to say no!

Imagine we have completed 8k tours in 2009 and no safety issues yet there could be some day, that is there complaint? The best is Northern New England claiming that they do tours? when lets say never.

Or even better is how mad they got because "I'm the face of Segway" boy do they really hate me! Thats what happens when you are doing national events all the time.. Most times I'm doing what they should be doing..

Don't worry we will be here for a long long time.. And opening a new location next week right next to Norther New England boy do they hate that! But don't worry soon we will be coming to a town near you...

We will be launching our Franchise program this year, what a great deal I can create a concept with their product..., another thing they should have done..

I liked when they testified I was not an Authorized Dealer or Tour Operator.. and that there are only 40 authorized tour operators.. They carefully left out you can only be a tour operator if you are a dealer.. Since just like I stated in 2008 I'm going national for a reason..

I will continue to do whats right for our growth.. weather that be Seg Signs, Polo, Adventures, or creating products.

I have done in 2 years what most have only thought of..

people can go on Universal Studios, trains, and malls due to the work I have done. So smoke that..

I hope everyone has a great 2010 come by anytime you are always welcome at anyone of our locations.

Peace love and green jelo,,

As much as I tried to resist posting I simply cannot let this go by.

More in two years than most of thought of! Trains, malls ,Universal Studios you'd have to be kidding me. I don't recall seeing you nor hearing from you well battles were being fought with Simon malls, general growth properties etal.

Let's start with Universal Studios. I can tell you without question that the first Segways in universal studios were allowed in do to work of volunteers with DRAFT . I can say that with perfect confidence as I, along with other draft volunteers were people that start of the dialog at universal.

I have the correspondence from those meetings in early 2005 and nowhere do I see where you were involved. As a matter of fact part of our conversation was that universal had no policy concerning segway and anyone with a segway was allowed in.

It's that way no longer and it is because of tour groups setting up shop in the parking lot and bringing their tours in. I can also say that what perfect confidence as I had a conversation with their compliance department less than six months ago and was told that the policy was changed to only allow all persons with disabilities. The reason was tour groups.

As for planes and trains I just have to laugh. Most of that work was done long before I ever set foot on a segway and that was in early 2004 and I personally know the people who made that possible and you sir were not one of them.

As I recall your the gentleman who tried to run tours in Key West trying to use the assumption that anyone that cant walk around the island was disabled.

Sir you are a charlatan. You're only concern is to line your own pockets with cash.

The emperor has no clothes and you of been exposed. I find it absolutely of offensive that you would get on a public web site and make such fallacious claims. It's a slap in the face to those who actually did the work for no other purpose but to allow access for persons with disabilities. If it's also a slap in the face to every person with a disability that fights the good fight everyday to gain acceptance of the segway as a mobility device. Many of them can be found here on this website and im sure that they are as offended by your comments as I.

These are the facts you sir are living in a dream world.

AMAC

[SegGliders]

well i had to.

wow get bent until oct 2008 you could not bring the segway pt on universal with getting some kind of pre approval today with my working directly with the park and staff you can show up and have no issues at the gate. Thats funny we still glide there.

Yes we make money boat loads of it, does that bother you?

I find it more insane you assume im not disabled...


So today when i was in Simon Mall and they still declare they have no policy you mean you did that? Soloman Pond Mall, Marlboro Mass.. Thanks.. How about Centro Mall? MBTA? no not them either ok you did it all? no i know you did not since I have had to deal with property owners and managers transit managers..

I have never said i did it all or anything near that I have stated I have done more in 2 years than most! Especially in Boston. In Orlando is that why the oversight commitee continued to call me to help out the downtown ambassadors, you know who sits and chairs that commitee? a well know guy at universal studios...Ask Mt. Dora they still compaign since i had to service thier machines.. oh please dont take my contract... oh no.. same thing with rentals at the orlando convention center we do twice what they do. How about service in the area is there a reason why other tour companies look to me for help? equipment? repairs?


kisses..

[SegGliders]

you will see I stated this packet was developed by our attorneys and cited work from serveral sources! Including facts from DRAFT and a UK based company.

The PR guy wanted to check? WOW would have thought would be done before..

[KSagal]

you will see I stated this packet was developed by our attorneys and cited work from serveral sources! Including facts from DRAFT and a UK based company.

The PR guy wanted to check? WOW would have thought would be done before..

I was there. You can spin others, but no need to try to spin me. I know what happened, and what was said and done...

[Tarkus]

well i had to.

wow get bent until oct 2008 you could not bring the segway pt on universal with getting some kind of pre approval today with my working directly with the park and staff you can show up and have no issues at the gate. Thats funny we still glide there.

Yes we make money boat loads of it, does that bother you?

I find it more insane you assume im not disabled...


So today when i was in Simon Mall and they still declare they have no policy you mean you did that? Soloman Pond Mall, Marlboro Mass.. Thanks.. How about Centro Mall? MBTA? no not them either ok you did it all? no i know you did not since I have had to deal with property owners and managers transit managers..

I have never said i did it all or anything near that I have stated I have done more in 2 years than most! Especially in Boston. In Orlando is that why the oversight commitee continued to call me to help out the downtown ambassadors, you know who sits and chairs that commitee? a well know guy at universal studios...Ask Mt. Dora they still compaign since i had to service thier machines.. oh please dont take my contract... oh no.. same thing with rentals at the orlando convention center we do twice what they do. How about service in the area is there a reason why other tour companies look to me for help? equipment? repairs?


kisses..

All of the above is a load. From Universal to Simon Malls. This is where you don't get it.

I find it more insane you assume im not disabled...
How convenient. Strange you never mentioned that before.

" So today when i was in Simon Mall and they still declare they have no policy you mean you did that?" If you were not talking with corporate than you proved nothing. Simon has a written Policy, call the corporate offices.

And I don't know your well known guy at Universal but he better have a talk with their Director of Guest Services as they still say "No Segways for AB'S"

You have a problem with the truth. Are you now claiming that you do the service work for Segway of Central Florida ?

I would assume with that boatload of money you make you will make a contribution to DRAFT as most of your argument is made using their resources, not to mention your disability...

I'll watch for your name to show as a benefactor.

[SegGliders]

Ask Mt. Dora they still compaign since i had to service thier machines.. oh please dont take my contract... oh no.. same thing with rentals at the orlando convention center we do twice what they do. How about service in the area is there a reason why other tour companies look to me for help? equipment? repairs?

Wow i guess the ill send you the shipping labels from local cities to my offices for battery repairs, tires, and parts..


just glide away i hear the filling of another glass of hatorade.

[SegGliders]

I was there. You can spin others, but no need to try to spin me. I know what happened, and what was said and done...

Karl maybe you where just to cought up in talking with NNE, 2 packets one with our logo with our info and studies handed out and one with out our logo and stated compiled info from several sources including companies and organizations about the segway. More to provide info on breaking, turning, speed, carbon foot print.

Greg was telling me you have an interest in Adventure Glides out of Lowell, and the principal of that business use to work for NNE?

Like any hearing information can be twisted to make it look ugly or positive. Dont take kindness for weekness.\


Good Night
"Face of Segway" as described by Segway Inc. Boy will they regret that?

Should i change my screen name to that?

how about the company name?

Face of Segway TM Looks pretty good?

[KSagal]

...
Greg was telling me you have an interest in Adventure Glides out of Lowell, and the principal of that business use to work for NNE?

Like any hearing information can be twisted to make it look ugly or positive. Dont take kindness for weekness.\

...

Nice question. I know lots of people with segways and segway businesses. I have no interest, not financial nor otherwise with them. I have been to your office in the North End more often than to any office of Adventure Glides... By the same logic that you made that last allegation, then I must therefore have an interest in your business as well.

I do not know the history of anyone at Adventure Glides, nor their affiliations.

I have tried to be fair and stay out of this fight. I have offered both positive and negative observations about this whole situation.