can't compete with bikes yet
on
This is IT?
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· Score: 1
Could a bicycle do the same thing? Yes, but not nearly as well. First, bicycles are not as stable as this thing apperantly is. Secondly, if it works as described, bicycles don't deal with crowded sidewalks as well as this thing does. This is because a bicycle has to be moving to be stable. So if you have to stop to deal with traffic, you have to get off the seat and stand, which isn't very comfortable or convenient. Bicycles also don't deal well with sandy or slippery terrain, and you're farther off the ground, so falls will hurt a lot more. With this thing, at worse it starts to tip forward or backwards and you can just step off.
Also, because it's not as big or bulky as a bicycle, most people will probably be able to just bring the thing in with them when they arrive at their destinations. In my case, I work on campus, so I could just bring the thing into my office and leave it there until its needed. And it apperantly has an access key, so if you stole it you'd have to rip out the electronics and replace them in order to use it again.
It may be true that it can deal with slow moving sidewalk traffic better than a bike, but is it worth $2500 more to do this? In order for the Segway to revolutionize travel within major cities, it is going to have to do some major cost cutting.
A bike is cheaper, lighter, and can go faster. It can also deal with mud, dirt, and grass a lot better. I don't think anyone will be taking the Segway offroading anytime soon. And if your bike does break, there are repair shops everywhere, and aren't that expensive compared to the repair costs for a state of the art, computerized, gyroscoped scooter.
The Segway is safer and smaller, but twice as heavy. Stairs are going to be a issue for it, as it is too heavy for some people to lug up (or down) a flight of stairs. I would also worry about security if I had one of these. It may not work without the keycard, but will that stop someone who doesn't know that from ripping it off? It looks flashy and expensive, and that just screams "Steal me".
I think cost and weight have to be cut before it can be said to compete directly with bikes.
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It may be true that it can deal with slow moving sidewalk traffic better than a bike, but is it worth $2500 more to do this? In order for the Segway to revolutionize travel within major cities, it is going to have to do some major cost cutting.
A bike is cheaper, lighter, and can go faster. It can also deal with mud, dirt, and grass a lot better. I don't think anyone will be taking the Segway offroading anytime soon. And if your bike does break, there are repair shops everywhere, and aren't that expensive compared to the repair costs for a state of the art, computerized, gyroscoped scooter.
The Segway is safer and smaller, but twice as heavy. Stairs are going to be a issue for it, as it is too heavy for some people to lug up (or down) a flight of stairs. I would also worry about security if I had one of these. It may not work without the keycard, but will that stop someone who doesn't know that from ripping it off? It looks flashy and expensive, and that just screams "Steal me". I think cost and weight have to be cut before it can be said to compete directly with bikes.