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Anyone Here Ever Ride/Drive a Segway PT?

zipperzap
Today Gale and I were eating lunch, down in PB, next to the boardwalk,
and we saw some Segway PT (two wheels) - http://www.segway.com/products/
- rentals go rolling by - probably 6-7 in an hour. It's the first time
I've ever seen one up close - usually they are on sidewalks and I'm
driving by - and I was wondering if anyone here has ever had the
opportunity to give one a whirl. Is it worth a few bucks to rent (I
have no idea what the rate is) ? Easy to drive? Recommend it ...
or pass?
[:D]
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Comments

30 comments

Date Votes
  • SuburbanNoize
    no idea but the cops in downtown st. pete ride around on them giving parking tickets.
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  • zipperzap
    I'm amazed, nobody I know - sent out mass mailing when I got home today -
    has ever ridden/touched one. You'd think, by now, there'd be a couple, at
    least!
    [8D]
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  • ripley16
    Seen the cops in Union Station, D.C. on them, right on the train platforms. They demonstrated amazing manuverability in the rushing crowds. Never rode one though.[:(]
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  • MVP
    I have seen them in convention centers and think they are obnoxious in a crowd.
    They reminded me of the Canadian cops on horses barging through the crowds.
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  • LKB3rd
    The town one over has a company doing historic tours on them. Sorry i have never ridden one though. I did read some of their literature and they give you a quick lesson on how to drive them in the parking lot, then head out for the tour. I think it covers several miles all through the areas near the town center.
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  • zipperzap
    THAT would be a hoot!

    Thanks!
    [8D]
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  • HandgunHTR52
    Wife and I did the Epcot tour at Disney on them. They give you a half hour class and then you tour the park on them before it opens. It was pretty fun, but they won't let you do anything crazy on them.
    They are really easy to drive.
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  • sig232
    The wife has told me that at one of the Intel Company Events the CEO Andy Grove came tooling out onto the stage on one! Created quite a stir!

    I was on one of my recent trips and I saw them for rent. Neither my wife or myself can recall where it was. Maybe Hawaii.

    They look like a hoot to ride!
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  • hk-91
    they bought one for the forman's at my work to get around on. they have some departments so spread out the the formans are constantly walking around making sure every one is working. poor guys had to come out of there air conditioned office make a half hour walk every two hours. when i asked my forman what they cost he told me the price tag was on the box and it was around 5000. but they do 12.5 miles an hour
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  • Txs
    I know a guy who has a couple and I've played around on them some. They're an unusual experience and as goofy as they look are actually pretty cool to ride. They're very simple to operate and you can actually be good to go after just a few minutes orientation.

    Within a short time it's almost as if you just think where you want to move and you'll glide that way. Instead of the leaning I expected it actually takes only a slight shifting of weight to different parts of your feet to control them.

    Their method of operation is pretty interesting and will undoubtedly have other applications down the road. They're already marketing wheelchairs using this technology that can climb stairs.

    I'd say give it a shot.
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  • Captplaid
    I have to say it's a case of poor marketing. Maybe the guy is making fists full of money, but I they the Segway runs the risk of becoming an irrelevant novelty. Maybe I just prefer Henry Ford's brand of marketing.
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  • LaidbackDan
    I would pay to see them participate in a demolition derby.
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  • Captplaid
    quote:Originally posted by LaidbackDan
    I would pay to see them participate in a demolition derby.


    Now that's an idea!!! Perhaps more fun than watching a electric wheelchair racing. Can we mount jousting poles on the Segway?
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  • zipperzap
    I knew it! ... sooner or later!

    Thanks clowns!
    [:o)]
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  • allen griggs
    I saw a brief report on them on tv the other day. Said they made a big splash when they first came out, but, today they are a big flop.
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  • gjshaw
    I get to ride one about every day. They are super easy to run and will go about anywhere. They are making a off road version now with knoby tires, a golfers one with a bag attached. There are basicly two models, one that will stand on its own if you get off and one that you have to lean it agenst something if you get off. There is 3 speeds on most of them. The key looks like a watch battey and there is 3 different colors. You hold it agenst the mating part on the handle bars and depending on which color you choose, you can go very slow or up to 35 mph. I have worn out 3 sets of tires on mine. They are strong enough to pull a pallet jack loaded and will go up a 45degree incline and turn around half way up and go back down. So far the only problem that I have found is that they don't like to go down over curbs, they go up over fine but going down over a curb is really bad. If the wheels do not touch the ground for a split second , it stops on a dime. I did end up on my nose the first time going down over a curb on Main St. in the Magic Kingdom at night. Yes, I work at Disney at night and we had access to them about 6 months before the public knew anything about them. We were his test grounds. We rode them in the tunnel under the magic kingdom at night and after the park closed for the day and the guests were gone we would bring them out to play. Don't go in water over 12 in. deep, they don't like that.
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  • Permanently deleted user
    Yep. Was at the National Sheriff's Association Conference in Salt Lake about a month ago and one of the vendors had them. I rode around for awhile on one. It was easy to fide and fun to boot.

    Of course, it does fall under the "Moped Theory", just like extra large or homely women....."They are fun to ride, but you don't want your friends to see you do it".[:o)]
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  • spryor
    quote:Originally posted by Txs
    I know a guy who has a couple and I've played around on them some. They're an unusual experience and as goofy as they look are actually pretty cool to ride. They're very simple to operate and you can actually be good to go after just a few minutes orientation.

    Within a short time it's almost as if you just think where you want to move and you'll glide that way. Instead of the leaning I expected it actually takes only a slight shifting of weight to different parts of your feet to control them.

    Their method of operation is pretty interesting and will undoubtedly have other applications down the road. They're already marketing wheelchairs using this technology that can climb stairs.

    I'd say give it a shot.
    Yeah, i've seen the video of some chairs using this technology..even stand up chairs. Pretty neat, and would like to see one in person.
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  • spanielsells
    I have enough trouble with coordination while walking down the street on my own. I don't need any help finding new and unique ways to injure myself.
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  • gjshaw
    When we were in Pigion forge at the Apple Barn this spring we saw a man in one of the new wheelchairs. It looked like a 4 wheel electric wheelchair then he made it stand up on two wheels and balance so he could reach something on the top shelf. He rode it around the store on the two wheels so it didn't take up so much room. IT didn't look bad, like it was ready to tip over or anything. It looked real steady.
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  • jonk
    I never got the point. If indoors or in a crowd, just walk. If outdoors and going any distance, uhm, there's this thing called a bicycle- maybe you've heard of it? Far cheaper, healthier, more reliable, etc., etc....
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  • zipperzap
    quote:jonk:

    I never got the point.

    Obviously.

    You're ignoring the ........... 'cool factor!'

    Some guns, cars, ladies are just plain, cool.

    Hard to define - but - if it weren't for the
    cool factor ... life'd be healthier and BORING!
    [:D]
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  • Marc1301
    I have used one several times at one of my industrial customers place.
    Simple to use, and move at a pretty good clip.
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  • Colonel Plink
    Just looking at film of people riding Segways, I gotta say...

    They look ridiculous.

    If I ever caught myself on a Segway, I'd have to drag myself off of it and kick my own ass just on General Principle.

    Then set it on fire.
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  • allen griggs
    Of course, it does fall under the "Moped Theory", just like extra large or homely women....."They are fun to ride, but you don't want your friends to see you do it".

    That is funny as hell.
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  • yawarakai
    I was at a robotic event a couple years ago and Dean Kamen came out riding one of those. I had a volley ball that the robots had been tossing around and dean signed it for me.
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  • Colonel Plink
    quote:Originally posted by jonk
    I never got the point. If indoors or in a crowd, just walk. If outdoors and going any distance, uhm, there's this thing called a bicycle- maybe you've heard of it? Far cheaper, healthier, more reliable, etc., etc....


    And, unless you're wearing neon-colored spandex, you won't have an overwhelming urge to drag yourself off of a bicycle and kick your own ass on General Principle.

    Then set it on fire.
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  • Txs
    quote:Originally posted by allen griggs
    I saw a brief report on them on tv the other day. Said they made a big splash when they first came out, but, today they are a big flop.A big issue effecting them was all the little cheap electric scooters that came out at about the same time. These were big with kids and they became a problem on sidewalks and streets. This led to lots of localities passing ordinances with definitions that also happened to fit Segways.
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  • spryor
    quote:Originally posted by gjshaw
    When we were in Pigion forge at the Apple Barn this spring we saw a man in one of the new wheelchairs. It looked like a 4 wheel electric wheelchair then he made it stand up on two wheels and balance so he could reach something on the top shelf. He rode it around the store on the two wheels so it didn't take up so much room. IT didn't look bad, like it was ready to tip over or anything. It looked real steady.
    Yeah, they looked really stable on the video too. I guess this is accomplished with gyros, but still somewhat baffling. Sure would like to see one in action..in person.
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  • zipperzap
    I'm sure it has GOT to be alien back engineering technology.
    [:o)]
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