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Segway scooters banned in SF
SF Gate ^ | 11/25/02

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]

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.


(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: changedaworld; friscosucks; howcanthisb; kspacyon60minutes; libsvsreality; paradiselost; segway; usayawannarevolution; utopia
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To: B Knotts

61 posted on 11/26/2002 7:40:39 PM PST by BraveMan
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To: Billy_bob_bob
Next thing you know five lawyers are giving the bastard their business cards and then you end up in court being sued for everything you own.

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?

62 posted on 11/26/2002 7:53:36 PM PST by Objective Reality
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To: Diddle E. Squat
Up to 17 MPH on the sidewalk seems dangerously fast to me & 17 MPH in the street is too slow. I think they would be fun to ride. I hope I get to try one.
63 posted on 11/26/2002 7:57:14 PM PST by Ditter
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To: Willie Green
Yes, I believe it was. It was an ABC production.
64 posted on 11/26/2002 8:02:41 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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To: spodefly
Those are great!
65 posted on 11/26/2002 8:03:37 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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To: 69ConvertibleFirebird
Oooh,you're soooo right! I'm gonna stand back and watch what happens to you for this remark.......(but I do agree with you!!!)
66 posted on 11/26/2002 8:13:52 PM PST by giznort
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Comment #67 Removed by Moderator

To: Diddle E. Squat; nhoward14; Objective Reality; B Knotts
nhoward14: "The problem I see with the Segway is the speed. 17 mph is more than 5 times the normal walking speed of humans. ...I put Segways in a similar class to the bicycle."

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!"

---------------------------------------------------------

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!!!)

68 posted on 11/26/2002 8:42:32 PM PST by TXnMA
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To: Diddle E. Squat
Who'd buy a Segway for $5,000 anyhow - when you can buy a cheap used (or even new) moped) that will get you around at least as fast for 1/10 of that?
69 posted on 11/26/2002 8:49:37 PM PST by glc1173@aol.com
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To: Diddle E. Squat
They forgot to mention their concern for the safety of their maggot infested bums who express their appreciation for the "homeless" checks by defecating/urinating/vomiting all over the sidewalks. Yup, ban the Segway while placating human filth. The San Francisco Way!
70 posted on 11/26/2002 9:00:08 PM PST by gueroloco
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To: Bob Mc
Soon as the SF gay community figures out that two boys can ride at the same time, it will get approved.
71 posted on 11/26/2002 9:10:44 PM PST by HardStarboard
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To: spodefly
LOL!
72 posted on 11/26/2002 9:26:22 PM PST by Paul Atreides
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To: DoughtyOne
How do you ban a Segway when people who can stand can't walk the distances it will take them? Just because an international symbol exists, it doesn't mean that other folks don't have problems, and need other remedies other than a wheelchair?

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.

73 posted on 11/26/2002 11:54:29 PM PST by BearCub
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To: TXnMA
Most W. Euro cities have these lanes too.
74 posted on 11/27/2002 12:19:26 AM PST by Stavka2
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To: glc1173@aol.com
Who'd buy a Segway for $5,000 anyhow - when you can buy a cheap used (or even new) moped) that will get you around at least as fast for 1/10 of that?

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.

75 posted on 11/27/2002 12:45:10 AM PST by Norman Arbuthnot
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To: DoughtyOne
Yes, I believe it was. It was an ABC production.

(((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.

76 posted on 11/27/2002 7:35:43 AM PST by Willie Green
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To: 69ConvertibleFirebird
Actually, they key to getting the Segway approved for use in Gay Francisco is to get influential members of the homosexual community to endorse it. Or, market it as as a kind of proletarian "mini-mover for the masses" and make it popular at Berzerkely across the Bay, first.

There has been a marketing failure here. That's all.

77 posted on 11/27/2002 7:40:49 AM PST by Kevin Curry
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To: DoughtyOne
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?

That sounds like so much trouble. Couldn't we just look for three sixes in the serial number?

78 posted on 11/27/2002 7:41:41 AM PST by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
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To: moyden
Which do liberals despise more - change or freedom?

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.

79 posted on 11/27/2002 7:45:06 AM PST by r9etb
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To: Diddle E. Squat
I'm in L.A. but my friend in Santa Monica bought one ... they are banned on the sidewalk (which is where Segway wants them) but okay on the street. Another problem ... where do you park them? Do you chain them to a post so that someone can't lift it onto another vehicle? They do start with a key but that is no guarantee against theft as anyone can tell you who has had a car stolen.
80 posted on 11/27/2002 7:45:56 AM PST by BunnySlippers
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