Have you been walked into yet?

[Boom Boom Man]

Friday Night is Gide Nite for us around here. We went to Bethesda MD which is a hopin place on a nice summer night. Crossing at a crosswalk, some woman purposely tried to walk into one of our gliders. Trying to make it look like they were not paying attention to where they were going. She wanted attention of the glider so she cleared her throat to get it. She did not stop or step away, she got closer and closer! Fellow glider excused himself and moved away. But I can see this can be a tactic that could be used to cause a segway/pedestrian event.

Be aware of it! Though no contact was made - it was an obvious attempt at causing an accident.

[wwhopper]

That fellow glider was me - and it was unsettling to hear this woman clearing her throat in my ear and not seeing her until I had to turn my head - and she was right on top of me. Imagine someone in your right rear blind spot.

Then we ran into the biker with an attitude who told us to get off the trail - it was for bikes and walkers not motorized vehicles, and he was getting the police! Which he did not but repeatedly came to bug us. He was trying to start something, so we did our best to ignore him. Kinky got on him verbally, and he was not ready for a well spoken woman of short stature on a Segway - So he left us alone after he saw we were not being scared away by his efforts.

Will W Hopper,IFDA
Washington, DC, USA

[mzokc]

I was in Bricktown tonight, a real busy place, especially with tonight's balmy 74 degrees and perfect nighttime humidity (summer nights are great!)

All was fine, until crossing the sidewalk at a parking lot. A car was waiting to exit, so it was safe to glide behind the vehicle. Yet, another car started toward the back of the waiting car. He didn't see me, or thought to scare me, and came close - but stopped in time while I stepped off the HT in case I needed to dodge the car. The Segway can be replaced, I would rather not be hit!

All turned out fine and there was no yelling or any conversation. But it does wake one up to the fact that it is better to wait and make sure the driver approaching sees you first. Have a great weekend, my Friday night could not have been more pleasant.

Mark

[ChinaMan]

Me thinks you too sensative Boom Boom. Perhaps lady was only clearing throat. I have bad sinus and sometime do that.

Maybe I glide with you sometime and you feel more at ease, not so scared.

ChinaMan

[Ninja]

It's not even a full moon but they are coming out of the woodwork. On my daily glide to the post office I saw them cutting a guy out of an MG after being creamed by a van. I was already rattled after that. I took the long way back to avoid all the police, fire, rescue vehicles. I stopped at a stoplight waiting for the walk light. There was no curb cutout on my side so I lowered the HT down in PA mode. I didn't want to do a curb drop because of the heavy traffic and unusually high curb. Right as I was putting it back into balance mode the car that had been waiting to turn right comes forward stops and blows the horn at me. Startled I moved backwards towards the curb and they go right in front of me completing their turn. So if I had been on foot would they have done the same thing ? I think not. So my question is what justifies such behavior just because we are on our Segs ?

Aloha,
Randy >:o)
http://alohasegway.com
"Increase the Peace"

[wwhopper]

On the too sensitive part - maybe - but it is better to be "too" than not at all - As pedestrian saftey is a very big issue in the DC suburbs, cars are often running folks over in the cross walk, we need to be sensitive to those around us. All the while giving the best image of the Segway as we can.

I heard her clear her throat at least twice and when I turned to look at her she was right there and had a very unfriendly face on - and was directly looking at me. The small group of us may have been too much for her. She could have had a bad day - and I was in her way, or she was late - I will give her the benefit of the doubt. Boom Boom Man was behind me, and he saw it from a different perspective - and saw her "working" me. Thankfully I was in front of the group of pedestrians and I just moved ahead quicker and out of the way of this woman.

This is just something that we should be all aware of. There are those out there who do not accept change - and think the Segway is a bad thing. We all of course try to show it off in a good light.

Will W Hopper,IFDA
Washington, DC, USA

[thepaintballguy]

I have had that trouble to. Sometimes when I'm crossing at a cross walk, people will walk right down the middle of it and running me out of the crosswalk area. This has happened a lot. So what I do now is when ever I see people at the other side of the cross walk, I will stop at the corner of the street and wait for them to get out of the cross walk before I even go. This works ok since the Segway will get accross the street faster then walking so I don't have to worry about missing the light.

ThePaintballGuy

Come rent a Segway At Fun-Transport!!!
www.fun-transport.com

[Brooster]

Well, it may be a reluctance to accept change, or just unbridled jealousy ... I'm not sure which is the overriding factor. And then there are those who all of the sudden are so "concerned" about the level of exercise that we're getting. Give me a break ... It's funny how no one has ever yelled at me when I was in my car and told me that I should be walking or riding a bike, or has yelled at me in my car and said, "you're gonna get fat!" I heard that one last night.

We just have to be vigilant and shake this stuff off the best we can. I've really been thinking about this, trying to figure out why people feel like they need to express their unsolicited negative opinions, and it all keeps coming back to the fact that we have something that they don't.

When the "Ginger/IT" book proposal leak first came out in early 2001, it was rumored that this "world-changing" product was going to cost about $2,000, and it got a lot of people excited. But the price as we know, is a long way from $2,000. I think some people feel angry about this ... like they were somehow cheated and excluded. Add to this the fact that the economy is in bad shape, which even further precludes a lot of otherwise-interested people from experiencing the exciting "new thing." Add it all up, and you have the recipe for jealousy and hostility. I think that's what we're seeing.

All we can do is try to "rise above it" ... be as courteous as possible, do the best we can at "ignoring" this childish behavior, and go on being the best ambassadors we can be. As time goes on and as the economy improves, more and more people will be able to participate in this technology. And with increased sales, maybe someday the price can come down to make it more accessible to the masses. I really do think that time is on our side. Hang tough. :)

Brooster

[ChinaMan]

I think people are just concern to see us approach fast. They have same reaction to bike go by really fast. No one is jelouse of us. I think we get same to be treated as people or kids on little foot scooters and skateboards.
What you think and agree?
ChinaMan

[pam]

Chinaman,
That's not my experience.
pam

[wwhopper]

I agree - on the approaching fast - I always watch out for people heading towards me - especially on the curb cuts - everyone want to use them, as opposed to steping off the curb. You can see their body language when they see you on the HT, they freeze up. I always slow to a crawl when there are people in close proximity. And use a little bit of speed when no one is nearby.

Jealousy - I don't think - change is what they see, and are afraid of. Remember in the late 70's people said who would have a computer in their home? And only the very few had phones in their cars.... Times they are a changing!

Will W Hopper,IFDA
Washington, DC, USA

[GlideMaster]

I think everyone is right, it's a little bit of everything.

<center>http://www.geocities.co.jp/Athlete/1267/gif/segway.gif</center>

[toybuilder]

I think a part of this is that motorists are not used to seeing Segways and don't know how to react. One thing that we as Segway riders DON'T do as regular pedestrians is move our arms and legs as we walk. The movement of our hands and feet provide a subtle but important cue to our intentions -- and it's a cue that they're used to seeing. Until Segways become commonplace, most drivers won't know what to look for!

Also, we (on our Segways) tend to go into intersections through curb cuts, instead of going directly in the direction that we want to cross. That might, again, throw a little bit of confusion to the motorists.

http://www.pasadenasegway.org/
A bicycle in 1897 cost $25 ($2,200 today adjusted for inflation).
A Ford Model-T cost $850 in 1908 ($75,000 today adjusted for inflation).
(Can anyone point me to historical prices of horses?)

[Brooster]

I'll stick by my "jealousy" theory. How many times do you ride past someone and hear, "Oh, that is so cool, I want one of those"? How many times do people ask you how much it costs? Why do you think they ask you how much it costs? A) To verify what they've already heard. And/or more likely, B) Because they really would like to have one. If they didn't want one, they probably wouldn't care enough to ask a total stranger.

Brooster

[stevew]

Here in Belmont I'm usually forced to wait until there are no cars in site before entering the crosswalk. Cars just whiz by! I don't know if they don't realize I'm a pedestrian by law or just rude. As to encounters with peds, first of all there aren't many of them mostly everyone's in cars. Otherwise I move at a crawl, keep my distance and let the ped have the right of way. So far no rude encounters with peds. Have had a few rude 'what's wrong with walking' comments all from people firmly planted on there tushes in cars!

[Brooster]

Yeah, I had a man scream at the top of his lungs, "You, JACKASS!" I ignored him, so he screamed again, this time louder and even more infuriated ... "LEARN how to WALK!" I ignored him again. Where was he? Sitting in his car, in bumper-to-bumper traffic. I just Segged on ...

Brooster

[Brooster]

So who was the "jackass?" :D

Often times people see us, not realizing that we're several miles from home.

I have to say, here in Chicago, it's the minority of times that I go out on my Seg that I don't receive at least one negative comment. It's something I'm prepared for every time I take the Seg out the door. It gets old, but it sure as hell isn't gonna stop me. The tons of positive comments and occasional "thumbs up" from people help make it all worthwhile. :)

Brooster

[Dog-Bone]

I think we are being too sensative. I get comments when riding my bike. It is because we are being different, it is new and strange to some so they make comments and quite often there comments are inappropriate. How is this experience any different than comments that are thrown at minorities - gays, blacks. jews, whatever?!
DB

[Brooster]

Very different. This is a transportation device, not a personal characteristic.

Brooster

[gravelpup]

On my first (and, so far, only) Segway ride, someone yelled "Boo" at me while passing me in a car, on a narrow one-way street, right when I was trying to carefully negotiate around a parked car. Had I gotten too spooked and hit the parked car (or worse, the moving one), I'm sure someone would have tried to blame me for the incident. It's not the Segways that are dangerous...

[stevew]

This isn't unique to Segwaying. If you've done much cycling this is guaranteed to happen. People feel so brave and invulnerable in their cars they have no problem hurling insults and other debris at you knowing they can speed off and never have to deal with you again!

[emanresu]

Gee, if you add "I" to HT it spells "HIT". Maybe people are just trying to follow directions...

[terryp]

Segway - The character builder

Practicing Safe Segs in Seattle

[Mr_Laurenzano]

This thread was nice to read. I wonder if any others are having these kind of problems.

peace is a oneway street, with no crossroads and no deadends

[kagudesu]

Weird. I've only had my HT for less than a week and have not had any negative feedback (other than an HR issue at work, but that's another story).

However, today I buzzed over to the bank. While at the ATM (I felt like I was in the Segway video), I noticed a guy of "large stature" get out of his truck. He came over to me and said "What is that, a wheelchair for people who don't need wheelchairs?" Before I could even look at him, he walked off saying "That's the laziest thing I've seen".

Of course, he doesn't know the whole story about how I gave up my SUV for the HT and I was 3 miles from home. I'd love to see him lug his fat butt 3 miles to the bank. Not to mention his big truck that he had just parked...

Only one person, and it was perhaps a misunderstanding on his part. It will fall off my presently forming Segway thick skin. I wanted to snap back at him, but the counseling I have found on these boards has tempered my reactions.

Cheers,

Andrew Crow

You own a Segway, now buy a Macintosh.

[BruceWright]

Yep, it's best to smile and glide on past. The more fun it looks like you're having, the more it really burns them.

I've noted before that people's negative comments have more to do with their own situation than yours. It's the overweight guy who says you won't get exercize. It's the lady eating her oversized cheese omlette who makes a comment about the health of YOUR heart. It's the guy in the truck who says you're lazy.

Many many more people "get it" than don't. And it's worth it to see their smiles. It's really great when someone like that gets told off by the other bystanders who get it. Then all you have to do is smile and glide.

-Bruce Wright

Segway: Vehicle of Dream

[Mr_Laurenzano]

Angered idividuals do use flowery flabosity in day to day life. 99% of the time I seek out the smile in a crowd long befor I give the frown a second chance.
I hear things said as I pass on my segway that disturb me and sometimes I wonder if they really know what they are saying or if they are just reguritating something they saw on TV last night that hit home. Either way, I roll on by.
A man at a coffe shop today said to me with big'ol cigar sticking out of his mouth...
"The county is going to give one of those vehicals to every homeless person on the street." ~~~Three homeless people were in the back ground sharing a cigarettes~~~ I was floored for a second... "...What??? I said. " and then it sank in...
If the homeless in this community could use the HT to get to work or find somewhere to go mabey it just might work. When you stand on the HT it does make you feel a little bit better. You seem to have the ability to "Walk away from a situation" ~~~Hummm? ~~~~~
A segway was bought for 3550.00 today on Ebay ~~~Humm ~~~
So when they look at you and say Blaa just keep rolling and give a bum a chance.

peace is a oneway street, with no crossroads and no deadends

[KSagal]

This is an interesting topic.

While reading, I couldn't help but wonder if many of the contributors of these comments had ever been out in public before. Most of the comments that have been complained about here are common, every day rants from small minded people.

As I have lived my life, I have tended toward the path less traveled, and have therefore been the recipient of many of these mindless comments.

I taught skydiving for years, and many thought it was an exciting or foolish thing, and the positively excited often commented. The negatively excited ALWAYS commented.

I have a wonderfull family with a wife and two small children. I also have two large dogs, both with great and gentle personalities. When the family walks, I am often regailed with witless comments of the dangers of big dogs and children. I tend to shy away from advice from idiots.

My examples could go on for ever. Don't let your life be defined by the small minds that you encounter. Educate those who are foolish enough to speak from ignorance, and disregard those who speak from stupidity, or jelousy.

Remember, "Ignorance is fleeting, Stupidity is forever!"



Karl Ian Sagal

[ronzul]

quote:kagudesu...
However, today I buzzed over to the bank. While at the ATM (I felt like I was in the Segway video), I noticed a guy of "large stature" get out of his truck. He came over to me and said "What is that, a wheelchair for people who don't need wheelchairs?" Before I could even look at him, he walked off saying "That's the laziest thing I've seen".

Of course, he doesn't know the whole story about how I gave up my SUV for the HT and I was 3 miles from home. I'd love to see him lug his fat butt 3 miles to the bank. Not to mention his big truck that he had just parked...
I've had a few "lazy" comments, a couple with some venom to them. At first, I tried to ignore them even though they hurt as I have mobility limitations. Sal encouraged me to stand up for myself.

Since then I've received two further lazy comments. The first was from a lady sitting eating lunch with her friends at a cafe. I turned around, and went back and talk to them about the Segway. At some point in the conversation, I explained that I have mobility limitations, and use the Segway instead of a wheelchair. She immediately apologised, and I was touched that a stranger would care.

The second time it was from a jogger shouting at me as he was travelling in the opposite direction. I came to a quick decision that I wasn't bothered turning around and trying to catch up to someone travelling at maximum speed on yellow key.

I guess it always boils down to this... you can express your truth, and either the other person will understand, or the other person will still be derogatory. So it is a risk. None of us, especially those of us who are sensitive to other people's comments, want to be on the receiving end of derogatory remarks. Even less so after expressing yourself. But maybe it makes you feel better that you tried to make someone else understand.

In your situation, maybe it depends on whether or not you felt physically threatened by the person's large size and demeanour. But you are a Segway LLC success story... selling your SUV to buy a Segway is an amazing story, and unless you feel threatened by another person, you have every reason to feel proud of using a Segway.

quote:BruceWright
I've noted before that people's negative comments have more to do with their own situation than yours.
I agree... if 99% of people are curious, fascinated, excited and positive, and 1% are negative, it says more about them. You are the same, the machine is the same, everything is the same, the only variable is the nature of the person making the comment.

---
Who said that you shouldn't get carried away on your Segway?

[cereal]

I have had my I-Series for a month now and love it. I ride it 5.5 miles each way to work and it still is an absolute blast every time I step onto the platform. I ride on the side walk and always give pedestrians the right of way. I have had a couple of “lazy” comments and now that I am reflecting on the incidents, these negative comments were from people I would expect to yell out at the world because, well, they need to vent somewhere and simply do not take responsibility for their actions.

But let’s turn this thread around and look at the positive things our little machines do for our surroundings. I have had many times put smiles on other faces with the HT. I love to hear “Oh look at that….” Or “Oh my gawd… there’s one of those things on TV….” I immediately stop and talk with them and offer a demo. I do ride through a somewhat low-income apartment complex on my way to work and I must say, from time to time, I do encounter individuals that look like they should be featured on a Rap Video or America’s most wanted. Out of all these scary encounters, I have received nothing but positive feedback from these guys. Such as “What tha *@#( is that??? – That’s the Bomb!!!” I have been pulled over by HPD because the officers could not figure out how I was balancing on the machine. Every time they see the machine and if they do take me up on the demo ride, they always reply – “You made my day”. The positives simply outweigh the negatives.

Please remember when we hear these negative comments; blow them off – You’ll make someone else’s day right around the corner….


Glide on my friends….

-David

[BruceWright]

On your Rap Video comment, I had a similar experience.

I was in my neighborhood and I saw a man at the gas station who looked like a singer from an 80's heavy metal/glam band like Poison or Whitesnake. He was wearing snake-leather pants, and an aligator jacket, etc etc. A complete character. He seemed like a total dangerous freak, but he was SUPER excited about the Segway. He wound up inviting me to some record-company party, and he told me there'd be women and liquor there. Heheh.

Crazy!

-Bruce Wright

Segway: Vehicle of Dream

[kagudesu]

I had a guy drive by me last night. He quickly parked, then ran back to me before I crossed the street, He was so excited to see a Segway in person. We talked for a bit about range and balance. He wasn;t aware that Brookstone was now sellign them but said he was going to go check them out. I was going to offer a demo, but it was late and we both had places to be.

That's the first time anyone went THAT out of there way to talk to me about it. It was a really cool epxerience.

Cheers,

Andrew Crow

You own a Segway, now buy a Macintosh.

[Private Pile]

I'm approaching my 11th month as a segway rider in Los Angeles. I don't know how many miles I've put on it, or how many smiles I've seen -- I lost count to both a long time ago. I've had one negative comment in 11 months, and it was from an old guy in a mercedes trying to turn his car right into a crosswalk when I was already in the intersection. Everyone else has been great. "How do you like it?" is the number one question I get. My answer is always "It's great. Better than I ever thought." I've had mixed feelings over the year about whether or not to stop every time someone yells "Hey, what is that???" and finally decided to take it on a case by case basis. Anyway, almost a year and still loving every glide!

[Sal]

-"It's Fan-freakin'-tastic!"
-"A lot"
-"It uses dynamic stabilization.... gyroscopes"
-"F-U" *and I give the driver(s) my favorite finger.*
-"I never have to worry about parking."
-"I already know how to walk, but, you see I'm 2 miles from home"
-"Thanks for your comment, but I don't think it's me who could use the exercize."

The above are often used answers to some common questions/comments.

Hope others can use them as a reference. LOL

-Sal

Think Different
www.apple.com

Answers that Matter
www.lilly.com

[Boom Boom Man]

The majority of the comments we get when out gliding are postive and most people just want to know about them (those same 5 questions over and over again.) But on the odd occasion SOMEONE has to tell YOU how WRONG YOU are! We feel better, by not driving short distances, not having to deal with parking, getting out in the fresh air and seeing things and people up close. And yes we do get exersize, try pushing with the power off or lifting one, or just the downhill skiing activity of the weight transfer when going around corners. In the past year we have learned to smile and give a friendly wave, no matter the comment!

[mrat]

I have to say that after over a year, nothing phases me much anymore. I have had most of the same experiences. They start going away with the more exposure you give people that your using the HT to transport yourself. I also notice that I get less reaction to using the "e" versus the "i". I think it has to do with the perception that your about to do some work with it. Most of the folks around here, have seen where the Segway is being put to work, and have that impression of "e" as being "at work", therefore don't bother me. It takes time for people to accept something different, thankfully I think most of the people around me are there.

-mr