Segway Stumbles in Europe (Wired Article)

[verbl800]

From Wired Magazine:


http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,61632,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_1

[Neelix]

Why does it matter? Segway isn't even selling over there yet!

-------------------------
Fear not, for even though I come from the Forbidden City, I surely do not agree with the rules.
Chris Knight

[Deviant]

According to the article, an electric vehicle of less than 3.7mph is allowed on sidewalks in the EU. So if someone has walking endurance issues, they should still be advantaged by a Segway - all they need to do is get a 3.5mph limiting key (make themselves, or buy from me or someone else)

I would much rather see someone on a Segway than pushing a walker. I believe the HT is much safer, as well as being more versatile where ramps are available. IMO, if people used them for this purpose, Segway legal acceptance in other forms would be accelerated.

[dexter]

>>but only at maximum speed of 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) per hour, about the speed of an average pedestrian. However, going that slow on a Segway, which can travel at speeds up to 12.5 miles per hour, seems to defeat its purpose.

I've been trying to push the idea that although that is one legitimate view of the Segway, that is not the only one. And by thinking of it only as a way to travel "faster" it minimizes the one thing that is the hardest to grasp for non-users: Many other types of devices loose their functionality when not used to travel "faster". When your bike speed was limited to 3.7mph it becomes difficult to maintain balance, so if you can't ride it faster than that, there is no point in using it. In circumstances where the Segway is limited to pedestrian speed it does not lose or diminish any of its functionality it still balances the same way, is controlled as easily, and, actually, still is as much fun to ride if you are going slow or even stopped.

Other devices that retain their functionality at slow speeds (such as "traditional" scooters) do so by having a large footprint with reduces their functionality in other areas, i.e. maneuverability and ability to fit most places where a pedestrian can.

It is very hard to be a non-glider and really understand how well the Seg fits into pedestrian traffic, even at slow speeds and under crowded conditions. It doesn't fit any "model" of current device that people know. Hopefully as time goes on more and more people will come to understand the capabilities of the Segway.

Dave C.
me: www.idexter.com
work: www.idealjacobs.com
play: www.nyline.org

[dhugger]

Something I don't understand is why they think it would be so hard to get approved in Europe. Are vehicle laws in Europe that much different from the United States? The way I see it, laws would/could probably be passed like they were here, on a state/regional basis. Many states have classified the HT as a pedestrian. What singe person has the right to say this can't and probably won't happen? If you recall, DK took his HT to London & everyone loved it. He even took his machine in the taxis with him. I think the person who wrote the article needs to do a bit more research... yes, some cites have put some big-time limits on the HT's use... but what percentage of the country is that? I'd think it'd be pretty small. And I'm sure the HT has brought out more smiles than any other "vehicle" out there today.

-Derek Hugger-

[dgbint]

On the topic of speed limiting ??
I think that there is a logical problem here.

Compare this to motor vehicles.
Your average car can achieve say 100 mph.

Point 1
What would happen if the driver drove at max-speed ?
What would the authorities do ?
What would the driver expect if he /she drove at max-speed regardless of the conditions ?
Now apply the same thought processes to an HT.

Point 2
There are road speed limit signs all over the place.
Drivers are expected to adhere to those rules and ( may be ) punished if they fail.
You don't have a mechanic come over to your car and change the engine chip to limit you to the current speed limit, every time you pass a new speed sign.
Now apply the same thought processes to an HT.

Point 3
Auto makers sometimes include speeding warning devices, so that drivers don't inadverdently go faster than they intend.
Maybe this would be a good feature fot HT-2.
The HT knows the current speed, and if there were some convenient means of setting 'please-warn-me-speed' then the HT could easily sound a little warning tone/note/melody.

I say, put the responsibility for proper use on the driver/rider not on the machine.

Michael

[Novato]

I think this is just another step in Europe's quest to become completely irrelevant.

[coracoideus]

Oh, i love it to be irrelevant...

Dennis

[Deviant]

Dennis, I doubt that Novato was making a personal attack. I am sure the statement was directed negatively against the government. The U.S. has the same problem with the governments of San Francisco and the like. Those that insist on making change difficult should be destined to fall behind.

Hopefully there will be massive uprisings amongst the citizens who demand their rights to advancements, even though some changes might be harmful.

As for the "don't limit machines, limit people" argument, I agree with that as well. I often state that 100mph cars are allowed in 10mph school zones. However, sometimes battles can be more easily won by going with the flow instead of against it. Merely complaining rarely solves problems.

[coracoideus]

O.K.
BTW: I don´t care about not having the legal permission to run my segway here in germany.No one cares.Our local police smiles when they see me...
The only problem is, that segway isn´t selling here. It took me over three months to get this lovely machine.
No warranty, no service...
If they had a official dealer, there would be a large number of sales. And government would acccept it.
For example:Mountain bikes without lights have no permission on official roads. But who cares? There are too much of them.You´ll never get any problem.

Dennis

[jum]

Well, you might be lucky. I am in Hannover, Germany and the police here does not like it. They stopped me once in August for driving a motor vehicle without insurance, but the case was closed because of a to small value. The closing letter did contain a warning if they will catch me again that it will not be simply closed. I will wait and see what happens next spring, currently it is to cold for me.