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Why Do I Keep Hearing the Safety Dance in My Head?
by
Robert Farago
(IC: employee)
Published: April 7th, 2009
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Robert Farago
More by Robert Farago
Published April 7th, 2009 12:05 PM
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I use a bicycle for transportation regularly, and while I love cycling, and while many people could commute and otherwise use bikes for transportation, it's nice to arrive at your destination dry from weather and sweat. Electric bicycles don't make much sense because whatever benefit you get from the power assist, you end up lugging around all that weight. Still, the appeal of regenerative braking, downhills and shock absorbers is worth pursuing. Frankly, it's clever engineering and a less stupid concept than that Ford Airstream monstrosity. As no_slushbox pointed out, Toyota's done a similar concept and I think Honda's done so as well.
it's cool how it balances, but like someone said above, isn't it easier, and probably cheaper to invest in an electric scooter? or even a tuned golf cart? they have them in hummer shape these days, so the GM touch is still there....
What this boils down to is this question: What is a cheap,practical, ecologically friendly mode of individual transportation in crowded cities? What value does the Segway technology bring to the equation? Why it is better to balance on two side-by-side wheels that a front-rear two-wheel arrangement, or, given the width of the vehicle, why is it better to use two wheels instead of four? Couldn't a golf cart perform all of the same functions that this thing does? What are the specific advantages of this thing? That's the question for which I can't seem to find an answer.
"What would keep GM & Segway from...selling the whole idea to Mr. Tata??" Mr. Tata being a reasonably bright individual, for one.