[grobdriver]

The company hired lobbying firms but has made no contributions to any public officials or candidates

Here was their error. They didn't buy, or even attempt to buy any "public officials".

[DWSUWF]

"...Here was their error. They didn't buy, or even attempt to buy any "public officials"..."

DUH!

This was as classic a bribe scenario as has ever existed.

The naïveté of the Segway management team here is breathtaking.

Fire them and replace them with people who understand that so called public officials are very rarely 'unbribable', in one currency or another.

[no-s]

made no contributions to any public officials or candidates

That's the company spokesman. I think he's making a point. About San Francisco's government. Obliquely, perhaps.

[Reeses]

Another reason they don't like the Segway in SF is the $5,000 price. Jealously is the fuel behind leftist politics. If they see someone on the sidewalk with a $5,000 Segway they will be overcome with envy.

People on bikes, skateboards, and rollerblades are already on SF sidewalks. I've never seen anyone get a ticket. All it takes is one person to buy a Segway and jealously will take over. It will be a very hot seller in SF. A major downside to Segway though is they will get sued in SF, for the magic number of $10 million, for every accident that happens involving a Segway.