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I never said there weren't valid applications. I see the primary weakness of the Segway as being in competition with scooters but being sold at used car prices.

If you want a powered scooter go here: http://urbanscooters.com/index.php?af1=google
That's what Segway is in competition with, and that's what it's losing to. There's tons of different models out there all based around the push scooter frame, all much cheaper than Segway. Also all much lower tech, but geewhiz tech is really only cool for the first hour or two you own something, after then it's a question of usability and practicality.

The price will only come down if it sells well enough for them to make it in bulk. When it was unveiled it was projected to sell at $3000, now it's listing on Amazon at $4995, it's obviously not selling in bulk and with good reason, there are scooters on the market that are lighter, less bulky, faster, and go further on a charge for $300 to $500. All that technical geewhiz isn't providing a compelling reason to spend 10 times as much on something that, from a practicle perspective, isn't as useful a product.

Oh, I know all about those scooters. I think you're comparing apples and oranges though. You have to balance the scooters, and they are not really "friendly" to older people or folks with health problems...MS say. Segways are much more oriented to that market.

Another point of difference is the wheels. The small wheels on the scooters are easily turned with even small irregularities. The result could be a thrown rider or collision with a pedestrian.

Segways really strong point though is the reaction. A scooter has to be driven, while a Segway operates to very small inputs from the rider, almost as if it was reading your mind. You "wish" it to go forward and it does. Because of that a Segway will intermix with pedestrian traffic much better. That is why I believe Segways should be allowed on sidewalks in most areas.

Sadly here in PA we can't even ride the scooters on the sidewalk (legally). They have to be licensed and insured as motor vehicles and run in traffic on the street. We don't see too many of them, LOL.

On the other hand I could see a Segway blending in much easier with no need for all the red tape.

As to the cost I'm actually beginning to think it's pretty much OK. At 100-500 bucks kidz are more likely to grab a scooter and careen carelessly through pedestrian traffic. However the cost of a Segway pretty much rules out - but admittedly does not eliminate - a simlar situation. Scooters are more for kidz, Segways are more for adults.

prisoner6

The price will only come down if it sells well enough for them to make it in bulk.

Looking ahead 10 years, the price will come down when they're made in China. The only really expensive component is the battery. Everything else could be knocked out for under a hundred dollars. Cheap fuel cells would make it doable.