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Segways Roll Over Chicago

Posted by michael on from the modern-day-palanquin dept.

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."

5 of 286 comments (clear)

  1. They've been doing this in Paris for over a year. by flanksteak · · Score: 3, Interesting
    I saw people touring Paris last year on a bunch of these. One of the tourists almost pulled a GW onto the pavement, but the guide showed them how to properly mount the Segway before they tried again. If you're going to Paris, Nice, or New Orleans anytime soon, check out City Segway Tours.

    Here in Seattle I've also seen the people who collect the change out of parking meters using Segways to move up and down the sidewalks.

    I guess Kamen is managing to sell these things, but not as many as was originally hoped.

  2. Re:From the just in case link... by AKAImBatman · · Score: 3, Interesting

    A lot of the Police here in Chicago are now on Segways. Perhaps their Segway couldn't keep up with his overclocked/turbocharged Segway? ;-)

    Seriously though. Segways may not sound fast, but when you see them in real life, you realize just how fast they really are. They can maintain the speed of a brisk run and quickly maneuver around obstacles. Someone on foot would have trouble keeping up and would run out of breath long before the Segway ran out of a charge.

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  3. Minneapolis by Judg3 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Minneapolis does this to on their "Magical History Tour"

    Travel back in time on a Magical History Tour(TM)! Ride a Segway as you enjoy the history of the Minneapolis Riverfront area from 10,000 BC to present without breaking a sweat. Let the Segway do the work as you cover several miles accompanied by a professional guide

    Of course, this one costs $70

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  4. Next thing you know Portland, OR will by Marxist+Hacker+42 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Be painting Segways Yellow- and leaving them around town for just anybody to use who wants to look stupid, just like the Yellow Bike Project

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    SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
  5. Re:Makes some sense by timeOday · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Plus it's a lakefront tour, surely it would be more fun out in the open air rather than in a van.

    Bikes could work, but only for cyclists. I run regularly but definitely don't have the butt callouses to sit on a bike seat for 3 hours.

    Walking would be nice, but you couldn't go as far in 3 hours, and besides nobody would pay you $60 to let them walk for 3 hours.

    Besides being a great attention-getter, I have to admit the Segway actually makes some sense here!