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Segways Roll Over Chicago
lpangelrob2 writes "It looks like someone in Chicago finally found a use for Dean Kamen's Segways. The Chicago Sun Times is reporting that a three hour tour of Chicago's lakefront will be guided by Segways traveling on Chicago's sidewalks at 5mph. The cost of the tour is $65, and an instructional class and helmet is provided -- just in case."
It was a few months ago we had a news story down here about a company giving Segway tours of Sarasota, with full support of City Hall.
666-607: 6th floor apartment of the beast
Finally, I can promote my business and not be off topic...
We have been renting the Segway HT for 6 months now in the La Jolla / San Diego area... We also provide training and a helmet to all riders and to date have not had a single incident.
It is interesting though the reaction we get from the disabled community. While the majority of people who encounter the units see them as a marvel, the Disabled community is split in their view of the units.
Those with minor to severe mobility issues LOVE the units. They see them as a viable alternative to a wheelchair and a way to increase their mobility.
However, those who are confined to a chair, and those who are blind and deaf are strongly opposed to the units being on the sidewalks.
They are afraid that they will be hit by the units and see them as a danger, even though NOONE, in this area at least, has been hit by the units.
To further increase their safety, we also limit the units to 6 miles per hour.
The Code Ninja is swift with his tool, precise in his delivery, and deadly accurate in his execution.
consider the cost of ownership of a ten passenger van versus the cost of ten segways. The segways win compared to the cost of a new van.
What?
Segway Human Transporter (HT) I Series
Price: $4,495.00
X 10: $44,950.00
2004 Chevrolet Express 2500 15 Passenger Van
MSRP: $26,175.00
According to This site, an estimated cost per mile for the segway is 18 cents per mile, with battery purchases included. Multiply that by 10 people, and you have a cost of $1.80 per mile.
According to Edmunds.com, the cost per mile on the Chevrolet van is $0.66 per mile.
I wont argue with the fact that segways have better access, but it's just not true that they are cheaper in any way, whatsoever.
Please read the URL's I referenced. Edmunds.com's "COST PER MILE" estimate takes gas prices into account. Even if they didn't, at 15 mpg, the van would cost an extra 13 cents per mile to operate. That bumps it up to $0.80 cents per mile- still less than half as much.