potential new segway owner: questions

[rtp5121]

hi y'all! I just tried out a segway for the first time this week, and I was amazed with the machine. I'm thinkin' I might buy one to get around campus (college), but I have a few quick questions, and I would appreciate ANY comments or answers, as the asking price of a segway is a huge hunk of change for a soon-to-be college graduate:
1. If there are any forumers who use the segway to get around a college campus, please share your experiences, problems, how it's helped, etc.
2. The city I go to school in rains a lot and has STEEP hills. How much of a hassle is it to ride in the rain in general and do y'all have any tips on how to stay dry during a rainy glide?
3. Besides being so much fun, what are the qualities and benefits of the segway that y'all find most useful or like the most?
4. What problems in general do y'all find in ridin' your segways?

sorry for the lengthy note, I would appreciate fast responses as I think I'm fixin' to buy one! have fun!

[KSagal]

For the steep hills I would suggest an "I". I use Extra traction tires (ETT) from segway and suggest that with hill climbing in the rain you might want the same.

I have ridden in the rain often, and the seg is pretty water tight. I have problems only with the lights and accessories that I have added.

The biggest problem with riding in the rain is the being in the rain. Most of us do not spend that much time in the rain, if we can help it. If you can find a way to be comfortable walking in the rain, you will be fine on the seg. This usually includes the proper clothes, but also a good attitude helps a great deal.

Have fun. It's all good!

Karl Ian Sagal

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

[Segway City]

1. - Several campus folks use them are regulars here, expect good info from them to follow. An excellent place to see "real world" campus integration is here: http://segway.iit.edu/

2. - We've got lots of steep hills here, no problems in handling them. Watch that the first hills you ride when leaving are uphill, as excessive regenerative charging on a "full tank" has caused some folks to experience odd behaviour until the top-off is consumed. I personally don't ride in the rain, I find it cold and unpleasant, and my experience as an electronic technician makes it hard to believe water won't hurt it (despite repeated proof to the contrary).

3. - Provides a higher "linger" factor: you're more apt to wander and explore while gliding with a heightened perception. Provides an "approachable" quality that attracts conversations with people who you''d never otherwise have met, many of them absolutely fascinating. Gets you out more, rather than sitting in an auto, you get a breeze and sunlight. So many more, many specific and personal to the individual's reference and not understood until you are an owner.

4. - Access is sometimes a hassle, as many "in charge" have to be educated before access is granted. Too visible at times, sometimes you have to expend extra effort to escape the inquisitive public to enjoy a private glide time. That also has a guilt factor attached to it for the people who are helpful to their own detriment and who provide demos ad nauseum. Storage at some restaurants and venues can be tricky, you don't want to just park it anywhere for fear someone will just "step on for a moment" and bust it and/or them.

You'll enjoy it, without a doubt, but be ready for the smart guys who will fling cliche's and spout trash talk at you. That's what a campus is for: the ignorant to become wisened, and you'll have to get used to hearing the cr@p, then approaching and educating the source with a demo. It'll make you a stronger person and them a bit brighter. And you just may make a few facinating friends along the way.

Good luck to you!

[dejaposter]

Hey,

In response to your quetions about practical Segway use, here are my thoughts. Keep in mind that I have treated the last month and a half since I got my Segway as a big test, to determine if it really is useful here (New York City) and elsewhere for everyday things. Also, I've kept an eye out for public reactions to the machine...

First off, this thing is really useful, at least here. I make a point to treat it like a vehicle, however fun. It is not a toy, as some will try to tell you. It is realiable, sturdy, no pollution and doesn't require much maintance (tire pressure it all really). By vehicle standards that is a home run. I don't take the Subway ever now, go to work on it (2 miles), errands (especially crosstown) and my girlfriend rides on it with me (she rides in front of me) when we go out to restuarants. I would have loved to have this thing two years ago at my 'hilly' college.

Keep in mind that people react very differently to these things. This was a suprise to me, because I had always thought they looked cool, were useful, and would love to own one. Some people are not comfortable with what a Segway means ('Jetsons-like' comes to mind) to their view of the world. So the reactions from others has become as facinating to me as this new form of transportation. Many are mind blown when they see you, others smile. I've noticed that black dudes in the city love Segways, as do black women. Old people love it, my grandma jumped on when I took it to her. Occationally some college age kids from NYU will snicker, but that shouldn't stop you.

I love going to work on it, first because it is such a great way to get around New York, and also because you feel like a celebrity on it. But keep in mind that this is only a vehicle - albiet really fun.

[Hauptagon]

rtp5121,

I use mine everyday to get around campus and town... you'd think the segway was made specifically for colleges. If you get one, you will not be disappointed!

With almost no parking on a campus that stretches across several miles, I don't know what I'd do without it. For one, it's faster than a car... between walking out to the car, getting through the traffic, finding a parking space, and walking to the building, the segway's in fact much faster, also being that I can take the most direct route. And not having to pay for insurance or fuel is just beautiful.

As someone already said, I would look into how the staff is going to react to it... But of course, you really won't truly know how people will react unless you ride it around. I haven't personally had any problems... I just ride it into whatever building I'm going into, and park it outside the classroom. It takes up so little room, no one cares.

As long as you get an I-series, I wouldn't worry at ALL about the hills... the segway can take the steepest of paved hills and is great off-road, too. If you ask me, the extra-traction tires are unnecessary for what you'll be doing, considering how much more they cost... unless you'll be riding through sand or loose dirt or snow. I know the extra traction tires are great, but I don't even use them and my segway rarely touches dry ground -- you see, I attent university in North Dakota, so all my riding is done on at least some amount of snow, and I get around just fine with the stock tires.

I think the only big difference between walking in the rain and riding a segway in it is that the segway moves at running speed, and that's fast enough for the rain to blow into your face. The fix for that is simple: wear a baseball cap and position the visor low, with the hood of your jacket over the cap.

It's great not having to worry about getting to class on time, but as Segway City said, you'll find that alot of people are curious about the segway and want to ask questions, which will slow down your travels... but on a campus, that will stop in time. For the first couple months with the segway at university, I was getting stopped by bystanders many times daily because of curiosity... but now, everyone's seen it and are used to it, and I VERY rarely get asked any questions while on campus... I miss it, actually. The student population here is 13,000, so if you compare that number to however many students you have at your school, you should get an idea of how long it will take for people to get used to it. Don't get me wrong, though, it's fun showing it to strangers and letting them ride it (whether you want to be that generous with something so expensive is up to you, of course, but I like to let as many try it as possible so we'll have more people in this world that are somewhat knowledgeable about it).

-Justin

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

[tpkanaley]

quote:Originally posted by rtp5121

re:
2. The city I go to school in rains a lot and has STEEP hills. How much of a hassle is it to ride in the rain in general and do y'all have any tips on how to stay dry during a rainy glide?


Hey there, you must go to school in Ithaca, NY! *smile* If so, however, beware, Cornell does not allow Segway use on campus. Apparently until NYState gives it the okay, Cornell is going to remain in the dark ages. So stupid, its the perfect place for it.

Tim
Cornell '91

[joelkfla]

quote:Originally posted by tpkanaley

quote:Originally posted by rtp5121

re:
2. The city I go to school in rains a lot and has STEEP hills. How much of a hassle is it to ride in the rain in general and do y'all have any tips on how to stay dry during a rainy glide?


Hey there, you must go to school in Ithaca, NY! *smile* If so, however, beware, Cornell does not allow Segway use on campus. Apparently until NYState gives it the okay, Cornell is going to remain in the dark ages. So stupid, its the perfect place for it.

Tim
Cornell '91

Can't let the freshmen get out of climbing the Hill at 8 a.m.!

I remember it SNOWING more than raining. :)

[pam]

I work at a college, use it daily to get to work (unless the temp falls below 40) but the rain doesn't faze me. I wear a poncho and use a piece of 3" clear tape over the display and keyport. Sometimes I drape my poncho over the handlebars. Just be sure not to catch it in your hands, or you will affect your ability to stop by leaning back. I go in my building and up the elevator. I've done this for 2 years. I plug in at work.
Pam

[tpkanaley]

quote:Originally posted by joelkfla

quote:Originally posted by tpkanaley

quote:Originally posted by rtp5121

re:
2. The city I go to school in rains a lot and has STEEP hills. How much of a hassle is it to ride in the rain in general and do y'all have any tips on how to stay dry during a rainy glide?


Hey there, you must go to school in Ithaca, NY! *smile* If so, however, beware, Cornell does not allow Segway use on campus. Apparently until NYState gives it the okay, Cornell is going to remain in the dark ages. So stupid, its the perfect place for it.

Tim
Cornell '91

Can't let the freshmen get out of climbing the Hill at 8 a.m.!

I remember it SNOWING more than raining. :)


Hey Joel...too true.

I am looking forward to brining my Segway up to Ithaca one of these days and tackling libe slope.