Segway recall!!!

[Karen M.]

Hallelulah!

--Karen M.


Recall Sidetracks Segway Scooters

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2003

(CBS/AP) The maker of the Segway Human Transporter has agreed to
recall the motorized scooters because riders have been injured falling
off when its batteries are low.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall Friday,
saying that three people had been injured. One suffered a head wound
and needed stitches.

"Under certain operating conditions, particularly when the batteries
are near the end of charge, some Segway HTs may not deliver enough
power, allowing the rider to fall," the CPSC warned. "This can happen
if the rider speeds up abruptly, encounters an obstacle, or continues
to ride after receiving a low-battery alert."

The Manchester, N.H.-based company has sold about 6,000 of the
scooters so far. The recall involves all Segway HT i167 ("i Series")
models sold to consumers. Two models sold in test markets — the e167
and p133 models — are also being recalled. Customers can call
877-889-9020 for information on getting a free upgrade.

"Riders are reminded that, even after the software upgrade,
appropriate operating techniques as described in Segway HT user
materials are essential to safety," the CPSC warned. ....

[S. Anderson]

"Karen M." > wrote in message
om...
> Hallelulah!
>
> --Karen M.
>
>
> Recall Sidetracks Segway Scooters
>
> WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2003
>
> (CBS/AP) The maker of the Segway Human Transporter has agreed to

<<snip..>>

> materials are essential to safety," the CPSC warned. ....

I find this somewhat interesting because this is the first time I've seen a
number as to how many units have been manufactured (not necessarily sold..).
I'm impressed they've made 6000..I thought 600 would be a more likely
number. I wonder what percentage were paid for?

Cheers,

Scott..

[GRL]

Even if all 6,000 were paid for, that's nothing. This is the kind of
technology toy ( or a clever solution to a virtually non-existent problem,
as I like to think of it) with plenty of hype behind it, that there are
plenty of affluent people eager to buy when it first comes out.

On the other hand, someone saw a profile of their operation/factory on TV
and said it looked so small, that they may be production-limited.



- GRL

"It's good to want things."

Steve Barr (philosopher, poet, humorist, chemist,
Visual Basic programmer)
"S. Anderson" > wrote in message
...
> "Karen M." > wrote in message
> om...
> > Hallelulah!
> >
> > --Karen M.
> >
> >
> > Recall Sidetracks Segway Scooters
> >
> > WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2003
> >
> > (CBS/AP) The maker of the Segway Human Transporter has agreed to
>
> <<snip..>>
>
> > materials are essential to safety," the CPSC warned. ....
>
> I find this somewhat interesting because this is the first time I've seen
a
> number as to how many units have been manufactured (not necessarily
sold..).
> I'm impressed they've made 6000..I thought 600 would be a more likely
> number. I wonder what percentage were paid for?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Scott..
>
>

[Raptor]

GRL wrote:
> Even if all 6,000 were paid for, that's nothing. This is the kind of
> technology toy ( or a clever solution to a virtually non-existent problem,
> as I like to think of it) with plenty of hype behind it, that there are
> plenty of affluent people eager to buy when it first comes out.
>
> On the other hand, someone saw a profile of their operation/factory on TV
> and said it looked so small, that they may be production-limited.
>
>
>
> - GRL

We've got a company here that rents them. I happened to be riding by
when they were out doing a little tourist trip with a group. I asked
the salesman what advantage they had over a bike. He initially
answered, "Nothing," but in ensuing discussion we realized that Segways
are good for those not in shape, and for commuters who don't want to
change/shower. You can ride one in a suit and not get it all sweaty.

More power to 'em. Electricity is cleaner than ICEs in certain
important ways. Replacing half the cars on city streets with Segways
(or bikes) would be a good thing.

--
--
Lynn Wallace http://www.xmission.com/~lawall
"I'm not proud. We really haven't done everything we could to protect
our customers. Our products just aren't engineered for security."
--Microsoft VP in charge of Windows OS Development, Brian Valentine.

[Rich Clark]

"Raptor" > wrote in message ...

> More power to 'em. Electricity is cleaner than ICEs in certain
> important ways. Replacing half the cars on city streets with Segways
> (or bikes) would be a good thing.

But they won't replace cars. They will replace walking. If wildly
successful, they might make a dent in public transportation (taxis for
cross-town errands, etc.).

RichC

[B a r r y B u r k e J r .]

On Sat, 27 Sep 2003 13:18:53 -0400, "Rich Clark"
> wrote:
>But they won't replace cars. They will replace walking. If wildly
>successful, they might make a dent in public transportation (taxis for
>cross-town errands, etc.).


I could see them as very useful for the USPS, in large factories, mall
security, etc...

Barry

[Bill Z.]

B a r r y B u r k e J r . > writes:

> On Sat, 27 Sep 2003 13:18:53 -0400, "Rich Clark"
> > wrote:
> >But they won't replace cars. They will replace walking. If wildly
> >successful, they might make a dent in public transportation (taxis for
> >cross-town errands, etc.).
>
>
> I could see them as very useful for the USPS, in large factories, mall
> security, etc...
>
> Barry

The post office is testing them for mail delivery in San Francisco,
particularly on hilly routes. The mail bags are mounted on the
vehicle. I've read that Segway also plans to have an attachment
to allow it to haul an 80 lb load (this is probably some sort of
trailer, I would guess.)


--
My real name backwards: nemuaZ lliB

[VERNON LEVY]

> More power to 'em. Electricity is cleaner than ICEs in certain
> important ways. Replacing half the cars on city streets with Segways
> (or bikes) would be a good thing.
>

Have you taken into account the environmental impact of electricity
generation - don't the power stations 'export' their pollutants whereas cars
keep theirs local?

[Raptor]

VERNON LEVY wrote:
>>More power to 'em. Electricity is cleaner than ICEs in certain
>>important ways. Replacing half the cars on city streets with Segways
>>(or bikes) would be a good thing.
>>
>
>
> Have you taken into account the environmental impact of electricity
> generation - don't the power stations 'export' their pollutants whereas cars
> keep theirs local?

Yes, that's why I qualified my assertion. One advantage of power plants
is that they concentrate their pollution, making it more manageable.

--
--
Lynn Wallace http://www.xmission.com/~lawall
"I'm not proud. We really haven't done everything we could to protect
our customers. Our products just aren't engineered for security."
--Microsoft VP in charge of Windows OS Development, Brian Valentine.

[jmk]

I thought that San Francisco had passed an ordinance banning Segways from
Sidewalks. Perhaps I am mistaken?


<<SNIP>>

> The post office is testing them for mail delivery in San Francisco,
> particularly on hilly routes. The mail bags are mounted on the
> vehicle. I've read that Segway also plans to have an attachment
> to allow it to haul an 80 lb load (this is probably some sort of
> trailer, I would guess.)
>




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[David Kerber]

In article >,
says...
>
> > More power to 'em. Electricity is cleaner than ICEs in certain
> > important ways. Replacing half the cars on city streets with Segways
> > (or bikes) would be a good thing.
> >
>
> Have you taken into account the environmental impact of electricity
> generation - don't the power stations 'export' their pollutants whereas cars
> keep theirs local?

The overall efficiency of energy conversion can be higher in a well-
designed electric vehicle than in ICE's because of the latter's poor
thermal efficiency. When combined with the sophisiticated emissions-
reducing equipment in a commercial power plant, higher efficiency
typically (not always, of course) means fewer total emissions.

--
Dave Kerber
Fight spam: remove the ns_ from the return address before replying!

REAL programmers write self-modifying code.

[Bald Headed John Kane]

On Fri, 26 Sep 2003 12:52:16 -0700, Karen M. wrote:

> Hallelulah!
>
> --Karen M.
>
>
> Recall Sidetracks Segway Scooters
>
> WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2003
>
> (CBS/AP) The maker of the Segway Human Transporter has agreed to recall
> the motorized scooters because riders have been injured falling off when
> its batteries are low.
>
> The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall Friday, saying
> that three people had been injured. One suffered a head wound and needed
> stitches.
>
> "Under certain operating conditions, particularly when the batteries are
> near the end of charge, some Segway HTs may not deliver enough power,
> allowing the rider to fall," the CPSC warned. "This can happen if the
> rider speeds up abruptly, encounters an obstacle, or continues to ride
> after receiving a low-battery alert."
>
> The Manchester, N.H.-based company has sold about 6,000 of the scooters so
> far. The recall involves all Segway HT i167 ("i Series") models sold to
> consumers. Two models sold in test markets — the e167 and p133 models —
> are also being recalled. Customers can call 877-889-9020 for information
> on getting a free upgrade.
>
> "Riders are reminded that, even after the software upgrade, appropriate
> operating techniques as described in Segway HT user materials are
> essential to safety," the CPSC warned. ....


My favorite bicycle quote:


--
To attack the pedals may be strenuous over the short run, but it is an
expression of trust in one's own powers, for with the bicycle everything
depends on the self.
~Wolfgang Sachs
--
That's what I love about the bicycle.