Posted on 11/26/2002 5:02:00 PM PST by Diddle E. Squat
Edited on 04/13/2004 2:41:27 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
Yeah, that's another excellent point. Are the operators going to be required to have liability insurance? Are they actually going to allow them to operate on the sidewalks without it? Because, I'm sorry, I know it's frowned upon in conservative circles in general, and I'm not looking to get rich off of some damned Mississippi jury or what-have-you, but if I'm out enjoying an ice cream with my cute little three-year-old daugther, strolling our way to the zoo, and some idiot a**hole yuppie on a Segway, a cell phone and the sidewalk runs her down and kills her, I'm not only suing him bankrupt, I'm going to do my best to get him prosecuted for criminally neglegent homicide - if, in fact, I don't strangle him to death with his own tie on the spot.
What? I should be looking after my kid? Uh, I was. I was holding her hand. We were walking on the sidewalk. How exactly is it my fault? Oh, I see - we should've been on a Segway too. Great.
As far as I'm concerned, if people want to ride the things, fine. Couldn't care less, and I'm sure they'll serve all manner of useful purposes. But I think they should be required to use the bike lanes - and if these don't exist, then I guess it's up to Segway Inc., and their ridership, to make them happen. Of course, that's much more expensive and difficult than just appropriating the sidewalks, though, isn't it, Segway?
Objective Reality: "I will go on-record as saying the Segway is a really bad idea, at least with regard to sidewalks.
So we wind up with Force = 116 * (20 squared) = 46400 Newtons, I think. What does that equal? A sledgehammer swung full-strength by a lumberjack?"
B Knotts: "We're going to have to rethink cities!"
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IF the Segway and other 'personal transporters' become prevalent, we will face a need to accommodate the class of transportation whose speed and mass falls between that of the auto and the pedestrian.
So, "We're going to have to rethink cities!"
But -- it has already been done!
Over twenty-five years ago, Taipei, Taiwan, established special travel lanes for the 'personal transport' class of vehicles, such as bicycles, motorized bikes, mopeds, etc. The rightmost (closest to the curb) lane in the street is striped off, clearly marked (with white diamonds) and is strictly reserved for 'bike/Segway class' of vehicles. IIRC, the lane (which is deliberately made too narrow for an auto) is called (pardon my poor phonetics here) something like "Matsu-Dao".
In the small photo above, you can see what would be the 'Segway lane' just to the right of the curb. (BTW, Taiwan traffic drives on the right, just as we do here in the U.S.)
TXnMA (No Longer!!!)
If I were you (and had a little time to blow on a lawsuit), I'd get my doc to prescribe a Segway. Then I'd go buy one and roll all over SF sidewalks, daring the city to write me a ticket for using my medical device.
I think that there will be plenty of people who are very willing to pay 5K for a Segway. After all, we don't seem to have a shortage of people wilIing to pay 50K plus for a car. I have not operated a Segway myself, but I have seen them in operation in person on two occasions and I was very impressed. The technology that the Segway employs represents a large leap over something like a scooter. The Segway is much more flexible than a scooter because it can operate in many areas, such as indoors or on a college campus, that you would never use a scooter. I think the Segway is going to be a big hit, especially if they bring the price down to the 3K area. It may take a couple of years, but I think the Segway will eventually develop a large group of users and fans.
(((sigh)))
And there I was, trying to take a semi-humorous jab at Disney,
and it turns out to be right on target.
I feel sorry for today's kids,
All the wonderous technology that's available for make entertaining and educational films,
and Hollywood wastes it spewing out garbage.
There has been a marketing failure here. That's all.
That sounds like so much trouble. Couldn't we just look for three sixes in the serial number?
The ruling was to keep segways off the sidewalks. These things don't belong on sidewalks, anymore than bicycles do. They're big and fast. People will get seriously hurt by them.
The SF council did the right thing.
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