Segway scooters banned in SF

SF Gate ^ | 11/25/02

[Diddle E. Squat]

11-25) 21:32 PST -- San Francisco supervisors today banned the use of the Segway Scooter on city sidewalks, agreeing with senior advocates that the new technology poses a threat to the old, the young, and the disabled.

"It's a really big gizmo," said Supervisor Chris Daly, who sponsored the legislation. "You kind of lean on it and it takes off." He said he watched as one user trying it out failed to navigate with the small platform device and crashed into a wall.

[Diddle E. Squat]

So much for the liberal utopian's dream of vanquishing the auto with the Segway.

[moyden]

Which do liberals despise more - change or freedom?

[Chancellor Palpatine]

This is the only thing they did that was ever smart. Those damn things will be a nuisance as opposed to a blessing.

[Larry Lucido]

To true liberals, anything more than walking is destructive to the environment. Biking is grudgingly accepted, and public transportation is an allowable evil so long as folks are disarmed and packaged like sardines. Exceptions to all the above exist for liberal politicians and entertainers.

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

Major marketing error on the scooter manufacturer's part. If the scooters could have anal sex with each other they would be mandatory in San Fran...

[B Knotts]

She said the scooters, technically known as the electric personal assistive mobility devices, would not be affordable to seniors at several thousand dollars apiece.

Here's the real problem. It's the SUV of the sidewalk.

[bigfootbob]

Who woulda thunk this could happen in Liberal Mecca, SF. They lobbied Olympia hard and got approval to use these things on the sidewalks in this State. Can't wait until the lawsuits start happening, (not).

[Cyber Liberty]

Too late. The marketplace already banned the pesky things.

[DoughtyOne]

This is so narrowminded. Are wheelchairs going to be outlawed as well? I hate to break it to these supervisors, but folks with circulation problems who are otherwise healthy, but can't walk long distances, will be helped greatly by the Segway.

I can walk just fine on level ground. When that level ground turns into the slightest upgrade, say two to six degrees, it wears me out to walk any distance at all. My blood pools in my lower legs. There's nothing I can do about it. I have been looking forward to picking up a Segway.

This outright hostility toward the thing has me scratching my head. What the hell is it about the thing that drives some of you folks so damned battey?

Say do you folks think we could give the thing a test? Let's say we throw it in a pond with a fifty pound weight tied to it, and if it floats it isn't a witch. Okay?

[B Knotts]

"We're going to have to rethink cities!"

[kylaka]

They don't call theselves "progressives" for nuthin'.

[caisson71]

.."crashed into a wall", my goodness, they do that in SF while WALKING. Now, if the city PAID for it, that would make it more acceptable. But, than again, banging into a wall in SF might be considered safe sex.

[Fzob]

She said the scooters, technically known as the electric personal assistive mobility devices, would not be affordable to seniors at several thousand dollars apiece.

They must pull these statistics out the their arses. Who said seniors can't afford them. Seniors are pretty likely to have the cash if (that's a big if) they wanted to buy a Segway.

[Fiddlstix]

Which do liberals despise more - change or freedom?

Very Good Question!

[Young Rhino]

Some enterprising conservative reporter should ask Pelosi for her view on this issue: she can't win if she takes a side.

As for SF, what can one say? Segways are illegal, but homeless panhandlers and "art" involving gerbils and habitrails are perfectly acceptable occupants of the same sidewalks.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Actually I think the Segway has great value for those who have trouble walking. I posted the article because of the irony of the same liberal yahoos who once were claiming the Segway would eliminate the "evil auto" are now going too far the other way to ban its use.

[Bob Mc]

"This outright hostility toward the thing has me scratching my head."

I have often wondered the same thing. I suspect it's the same hostility that was exhibited at the automobile's invention (not that I think the Segway will gain as much acceptance as the auto).

Some people are either afraid of or just plain hate CHANGE! Or maybe because the initial costs are so high, people think only the rich can afford one, so for some it is a class envy of sorts.

I think these high tech thingys are facinating!

[Alouette]

It's the SUV of the sidewalk.

*ding* *ding* *ding*

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner.

[nhoward14]

How do you ban wheelchairs when the reason people have them is because they cannot stand or walk? Standing appears to be mandatory with the Segway.

Also, last I checked, the universal symbol for handicapped is a person in a wheelchair.

[Gritty]

Which do liberals despise more - change or freedom?

Both.

Like all Luddites, entrepreneurial progress and freedoms that give people an individual choice are anethema.

Government collectivism is the only thing that counts for the masses, but not for them as they consider themselves a step above, the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.