Average Speed - Poll

[Florida Ever-Glides]

Out of curiosity, what is the average speed you ride your HT on sidewalks? Let me know with: no pedestrians, a few sparce pedestrians, and many people spread out on the sidewalks.

Do you ride on one side or the other, or no particular position?

Do you exercise the right of way, share it, or give it to the pedestrian?

Is most of your stopping slow and gradual or 'power stops' on the sidewalk?

Have you ever hit a pedestrian, accidentially or otherwise?

What percentage of public responses are positive? And negitive?

I am looking at the behavior of Segway riders when interacting with pedestrians.

I would appreciate a response from every chat member so I can have a large enough sample to decipher specific information.

Thanks everyone...

Tom Jacobson
http://www.floridaever-glides.com

[Neelix]

From top to bottom:

10 mph, 6 mph, <3 mph

No.

It depends on the situation. If it is a narrow stretch of sidewalk and a pedestrian is heading toward me I will do my best to move into a driveway in order to let them pass. If it is a wide stretch of sidewalk there is ample room for both of us to maneuver so I act as if I am another pedestrian moving in the opposite direction as the person.

Gradual stops.

No.

99% positive.

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

[defenbaugh]

No pedestrians-fast. Few-their speed. Many-their speed.

Right Side.

Give right of way at all times.

Gradual stops unless showing off to friends and family.

Nobody hit yet.

1 negative response zillions positive.

My habits may change when the Segway is accepted by all and all understand it to be as controllable as it really is. It still amazes me the people that don't understand the controllability of this thing.

Ron

[rdunn]

the average speed you ride your HT on sidewalks? Let me know with:
- no pedestrians = near full speed (10- 12+ mph)
- a few sparce pedestrians = slower to very slow (1-6, depends on how close they are)
- and many people spread out on the sidewalks. = stop to 6 mph

In no particular position, but mostly on right.

Give right of way to the pedestrian

Stopping is slow and gradual in almost all cases

Have you ever hit a pedestrian - No

What percentage of public responses are:
positive = 67%
neutral = 30%
slightly negative = 2.5%
very negative = 0.5%

Roger Dunn

[MagiMike]

Out of curiosity, what is the average speed you ride your HT on sidewalks? Let me know with: no pedestrians, a few sparce pedestrians, and many people spread out on the sidewalks.

No pedestrians =7-8 miles per hour depending on condition of the sidewalk If any pedestrians - their speed

Do you ride on one side or the other, or no particular position?
No Particular position

Do you exercise the right of way, share it, or give it to the pedestrian? - I try to give it but some people will jump off the sidewalk 100 feet before I get to them - I also slow down to walking pace at least 150 feet before I get to them
Is most of your stopping slow and gradual or 'power stops' on the sidewalk? Gradual

Have you ever hit a pedestrian, accidentially or otherwise?
NO

What percentage of public responses are positive? And negitive?
95 % Positive, 1 % Negative and 4% ignore me like I'm not even there.

Mike in Houston TX.
Careful that Segway will make you fat
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/10/10_8_5.gif

[mattk]

I never ride to fast on the sidewalk since you never know who will step out on to the sidewalk.

I depending on my battery I will typicaly do gradual stops unless Its an emergency.

I give the right of way all the time.

Never hit anyone or anything

-MattK

[legpain]

My response:

What speed? I’m balls out ALL THE TIME!

Position? That sidewalk is all MINE! Get out of MY way!

Stopping? Who stops??? Unless that person I’ve hit is REALLY big do I stop!

Hit anyone? Hell, I’ve hit so many I have a rubber stamp to count them up!

Don’t give a damn about what the public thinks!

Hope you had a good laugh over the above? I really take great pains to comfort the other peds. I ALWAYS give them the right-of-way. I ALWAYS go slow around ALL peds. Stops are as needed from very slow to emergency ped stops. No, I’ve NEVER hit anyone! People have come close to hitting me and I’ve been able to stop and back up in time. I’ve had numerous positives, 90%, and few negatives, 10%, mostly from those that REALLY want one but could NEVER afford one.

John

[Hauptagon]

quote:Originally posted by Florida Ever-Glides

Out of curiosity, what is the average speed you ride your HT on sidewalks? Let me know with: no pedestrians, a few sparce pedestrians, and many people spread out on the sidewalks.

Do you ride on one side or the other, or no particular position?

Do you exercise the right of way, share it, or give it to the pedestrian?

Is most of your stopping slow and gradual or 'power stops' on the sidewalk?

Have you ever hit a pedestrian, accidentially or otherwise?

What percentage of public responses are positive? And negitive?

I am looking at the behavior of Segway riders when interacting with pedestrians.

I would appreciate a response from every chat member so I can have a large enough sample to decipher specific information.

Thanks everyone...

Tom Jacobson
http://www.floridaever-glides.com


No peds: 10 mph for long trips, for short trips full speed (not into the speed limiter at all). I try to be as batter-life consious as possible.

Sparse peds: I slow to around 5-7 mph when passing and frequently go off to the side (on to the grass) well before passing to give room.

Dense peds: walking speed.

If noone's around, I'll take up the sidewalk. Otherwise -- right side.

I always give pedestrians the right away, but I'll frequently encounter people who insist I go first to see the segway pass.

I always stop slowly (precious battery life).

I've never hit a pedestrian.

I'd say I impressions are about 95% positive.

-Justin

"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams." -From Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

[Ground Loop]

I really do ride full-speed almost all the time. Heaven knows it takes long enough to get to work at 13mph. There are few pedestrians here. When approaching one from behind, I creep up very slowly at their speed, say hello and let them pick a side, then I pass.

When crossing in opposite directions, I come nearly to a complete stop, pull to the right and wait for them to pass. It's rare enough that it's never a problem.

Responses from pedestrians have been mixed. Most are neutral, and I'd guess the rest are half/have positive/negative. This seems more negative than most people have reported. The self-righteous joggers tend to be the most caustic. Breeders with strollers would be second. Those two groups make up most of the pedestrian traffic here. I don't give demos any more, so I make a point to keep moving and answer any questions while riding away.

I've never hit anyone or come close. I'm actually more worried about accidentally miscalculating and dropping my right wheel off the curb, causing a tumble into oncoming traffic. That's my nightmare.

I have no shortage of battery range, so I ride the speed limiter, make quick stops, and spend crosswalk time riding up and down curb slopes. :)

[Sal]

Tom,

My average speed is about 6-9MPH usually when gliding for fun, but when going to and from work, I have to say I hit limiter often. On sidewalks, I never speed at all..I'm about walking speed, or slightly faster. When I'm gliding with a friend in the wee hours of the AM when noone is around, though, we are a bit more speedy, but always cautious. I always give pedestrians the right of way, and pull over to the right to let oncomers pass.

It all depends on the situation, but I have noticed that I habitually glide on the right.

In my book, the person on foot (because we are pedestrians too) always has the right of way.

Since I don't glide fast on the sidewalks, my stoppings are gradual. As Groundloop stated, I also, have NEVER come close to hitting anyone. My greatest fear is a wandering child that appears from around a corner, or from a building entrance in front of me.

Never come close to an accident with another human while I'm on a Segway.

I would say over 70% of the responses I get are positive, the rest are split between neutral and negative. And the negatives are getting fewer and fewer as time passes by.

-Sal

Think Different / Answers that Matter
www.apple.com / www.lilly.com

[KSagal]

I would seem to me that the envronment that we glide in should be included. An urban setting is very different from a rural one.

I glide at mostly full speed whenever I can. I live and glide in a sleepy suburb of Boston.

I glide on the sidewalk whenever I can, but many roads here don't have them. When in the road, always on the right.

On Sidewalks, I am often alone, and at 12+mph. When approaching shoe peds, I come on them fairly close from the rear, then anounce myself by voice most of the time, then pass on the grass next to sidewalk.

When comming on shoe peds from head on, they usually get off sidewalk before I can come any where near. I glide close enough for conversation and tell them it was unnecesary. I often then pass them again on the grass away from them so they are regaining the sidewalk as I am passing them.

I have never hit anyone, but did embarass myself while gliding past the open glass doors of a hardware store, in a stripmall, and speaking to the gawkers inside, barely clipped a lawn wagon thing on the sidewalk. Nothing fell or stopped, just some noise, but embarassing just the same.

I ride generally conservatively but fast. I stop appropriately to the reason to stop. Power is not my first consideration, safety in the situation is.

A fair percentage of people in my town of 22,000 know me as I am in town government and have a local tv show. The response to me going by is far more positive than anything else. Some of the negatives might also be political detractors as I am not at all a member of the clique that runs this town. There are still some that give me the puzzled look, and I still do demo's on a regular basis, though not as many as when it was new.

You could follow me for days and never see me create a nusance on the segway or have a negative encounter. The few less than positives that I have encountered have always been of the yell and drive away variety. No one of substance has ever voiced a concern.



Karl Ian Sagal

Each road you travel should be just a bit better for having had you pass.

[stevew]

My neighborhood is mostly sans sidewalks, so I ride at full speed, as far right as practical and with a helmet, as a sane cyclist would. On the occasional sidewalk I ride a little slower, maybe 8 mph, but always based on seeing a clear path ahead with no hazards like driveways, doorways, etc. With peds, always slow to walking speed or stop completely until they pass. Have never come close to hitting a ped. Lateley mostly get no reaction but still occasionaly the 'nerd' or 'lazy' comment, but mostly positive.

[teekay]

My speed ranges from "DC to Light" give or take a tick or to!

I ride safe, and respect everything around me. I show off, and glide with ease, why not, I'am on a Segway!

My behavior has earned me a 110% positive responce.

I have tried to run down some Tourists, but they are to quick!

Why do they call it "Tourist Season" if we can't shoot um?

No hit's so far to report!

Tom, I respect myself, my machine, and all others!

Happy deciphering......

:) Tim

[woodenapple]

Full speed on deserted sidewalks. With sparse peds my speed and actions are like that of someone walking slightly faster than everyone else. Around lots of peds I go their speed.

I ride in the middle of the sidewalk if it is deserted. If there is someone else on the sidewalk I take whichever side they are not taking, which is usually the right. But if I am going by doors that might open or blind corners I stay on the side away from the door and slow down even if no peds are around.

A couple of downtown blocks on my daily commute usually have plenty of pedestrians, so while going walking speed I usually take my helmet off and hang it from the handlebars for that portion of my glide. I go right through a couple of busy sidewalk cafes in the shadow of the FL Capitol Bldg almost daily at lunch. People seem less concerned around me when I don't have a helmet on.

I always yield to peds and try to move as far out of their way as possible before they get tempted to move out of the way.

I stop gradually.

I have never bumped anyone, even in shoulder to shoulder crowds, or when someone stops suddenly in front of me or moves in an unexpected way around me.

99.5% positive responses.

Rodney

[panderso]

I am with everyone else...very courteous driver going out my way to be very pleasant to people. The only time I get somewhat rowdy is if they give me grief about either the price or the fact that I don't get exercise when gliding. If no people are around, I go as fast as I can.

[mzokc]

Sidewalk speed in downtown Oklahoma City:
No pedestrians: 12.5 if sidewalk is smooth.
Few pedestrians or defective sidewalk: 8 mph or slower.
Many pedestrians: Walking speed.
Extremely jammed conditions: I sometimes walk with the HT.

I ride as far as possible from a pedestrian. Since most sidewalks are empty, I ride toward the center.

I always give the pedestrian the right of way whenever possible. Most of the time I switch to gliding on the street to avoid the pedestrian and demonstrate the HT flexiblity.

I can't remember hitting anyone, however some folks enjoying a demo have run over my foot.

98% positive. 2% negative (overall comments.) Pedestrians normally get out of my way, but I inform them that they have the right of way. On the TAFB trails I glide off the trail and slow or stop for most everyone. I am able to pass on the grass when gliding on those trails!

Mark

[Fan Of Segway]

quote:Originally posted by Florida Ever-Glides

Out of curiosity, what is the average speed you ride your HT on sidewalks? Let me know with: no pedestrians, a few sparce pedestrians, and many people spread out on the sidewalks.Full out
Slightly faster than the speed they are going
I haven't encountered the last (not a lot of pedestrians where I glide)quote:Do you ride on one side or the other, or no particular position?No particular position, unless there is someone else on the sidewalkquote:Do you exercise the right of way, share it, or give it to the pedestrian?Always yield/give right of way, even to bicycles (which are supposed to be on the street)

quote:Is most of your stopping slow and gradual or 'power stops' on the sidewalk?Around people, or expected obstacles, slow/gradual. However, in response to traffic I find myself having to do some power stops.

quote:Have you ever hit a pedestrian, accidentially or otherwise?Never (over a year of gliding now)

quote:What percentage of public responses are positive? And negitive?I would say 95% positive. The negatives are always drivebys - "nice wheels, a%#@$@#", "faggot!!", etc (and I get positive drivebys as well - usually "Segway!!!", "Whoooo!" or some form of "Check that out!"). Every person who actually stops and talks to me has had a positive response.

[black777]

Speed (Open): 12.5 mph
Speed (Slight): 6-8 mph weaving, but being considerate and careful.
Speed (heavy): 1-2 mph stay in line with walkers and travel at their speed. Never moving in and out as it may be considered rude.

Disposition: Curteous and alwasy give others the right of way.

Stopping: Gradual. Abrupt stop when something comes out at me or cute girl walks by.

Pedestrian Collisions: 0

Percentages: 60% Positive, 30% Neutral, 5% Cloying (Jealous), 5% or less Negative

---------
Black

[KSagal]

One thing that is starting to drive me nuts. When aproaching a shoe bound ped head on, on a sidewalk that is mostly empty, they often, especially if women, get off the sidewalk 100 yards or more in front of me. This drives me crazy, as I would, and do, gladly give them right of way. I ususlly drive off sidewalk onto grass or into road when needed.

It gets to me when they do it so early that I don't have the opportunity to even make yelling voice contact.

Lately, I head into the grass as soon as eye contact is made, even if it means a few hundred feet of weeds in my spinning hubcaps...

Does anyone else experience this?

Karl Ian Sagal

Each road you travel should be just a bit better for having had you pass.

[woodenapple]

Karl - It happens to me all the time. Even if they step off the sidewalk before I have a chance, I glide off anyway and then they usually step back onto the sidewalk. I'll bet the mere act of seeing me turn off is their first clue that the Segway can actually work in grass, or that I can maneuver it onto the road.

If someone's first encounter with a Segway is seeing one coming at them on a sidewalk, no matter how slowly, I'll bet their initial reaction is that there is no way we could have very good control and that we might not even be able to turn the thing!

Rodney

[Murray Fisher]

Yes, I run into the same thing. I glide through the Whitman College Campus a lot and can SEE a long ways ahead usually. Students and others will get off the sidewalk WAY ahead of actually meeting them. Sometimes I go off into the grass anyway. In going across the street at an intersection, I always hold back and stay on the sidewalk and even LOOK the other way, so all cars will cross in front of me before I cross, however most times cars will stop anyway and wait for me. Yesterday I was "walking" (on the Seg)alongside our pretty 18 year old grandaughter as she walked home from our place and traffic stopped in all directions to let us both go across the street! Of course I am not kidding myself as to WHO they were waiting for!!

quote:Originally posted by KSagal

One thing that is starting to drive me nuts. When aproaching a shoe bound ped head on, on a sidewalk that is mostly empty, they often, especially if women, get off the sidewalk 100 yards or more in front of me. This drives me crazy, as I would, and do, gladly give them right of way. I usually drive off sidewalk onto grass or into road when needed.

It gets to me when they do it so early that I don't have the opportunity to even make yelling voice contact.

Lately, I head into the grass as soon as eye contact is made, even if it means a few hundred feet of weeds in my spinning hubcaps...

Does anyone else experience this?

Karl Ian Sagal

Each road you travel should be just a bit better for having had you pass.


Murray Fisher

[yop]

Instead of quoting speeds in MPH, why not use minutes/mile? At full speed, a Seg can do a 4:48 mile. Somehow that sounds both faster AND safer than 12.5 mph.