Filed under: New York Auto Show, Trends, Etc., Tech
Segway finds no green in New York Auto Show
The founder of SegwayNYNY, Itsi Atkins, reviewed the New York Auto show and found it lacking
in any advancements in alternative transportation. According to PR Wire, Atkins saw nothing that indicated the
automakers had developed technologies to reduce oil use. Instead, he found the "...the war of the sound waves with
Sirius vs. XM. Each company was trying to out spend advertising dollars to impress the ears of the drivers."
Atkins stated the real head-turner at the show was the P model Segway which drew attention not only from
in-the-know New Yorkers, but from Hummer buyers as well. For the record, no one from Autoblog saw a Segway on the floor during the press preview days.
See here for Segway's foray at the show last week.
[Source: PR Web via eMediaWire]
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
WillDaThrill 7:14PM (4/21/2006)
Look bloggers, they tried to feed us eye candy to renig on last weeks comments.
Take notice of the plump-ness. Some things don't change.
Treadmill(2 fatties) - Segway = path to hotness.
I'm such an asshole. LMAO!
Reply
syadasti 7:32PM (4/21/2006)
Maybe because Segways are overhyped BS and they cause pollution when charging them (the electricity comes from somewhere you know?)
Stick with the cheap proven bicycle used by billions the world over.
Thousand of communities already have alternative transportation programs using bicycles. The Segway does not offer anything signficant advantages over the bicycle besides hype.
Reply
syadasti 7:34PM (4/21/2006)
Maybe because Segways are overhyped BS and they cause pollution when charging them (the electricity comes from somewhere you know?)
Stick with the cheap proven bicycle used by billions the world over.
Thousand of communities already have alternative transportation programs using bicycles. The Segway does not offer any signficant advantages over the bicycle besides hype.
Reply
syadasti 7:36PM (4/21/2006)
Maybe because Segways are overhyped BS and they cause pollution when charging them (the electricity comes from somewhere you know?)
Stick with the cheap proven bicycle used by billions the world over.
Thousand of communities already have alternative transportation programs using bicycles. The Segway does not offer any significant advantage over the bicycle besides hype.
Reply
A_B 7:49PM (4/21/2006)
If they're good enough for GOB, they're good enough for me!
But seriously, I was at the NY autoshow today and in front, by the avenue, there was a woman riding one that had an enormous Saturn poster wrapped around the front. It looked like she was on a horseless chariot.
She was just doing laps out front. I thought it looked a lot more "sophisticated" than if she had two billboards hanging from the front and back or waving a sign around.
Reply
Clinton Blackburn 7:59PM (4/21/2006)
Oh how I miss Gob and the rest of the Bluth family from "Arrested Development."
Reply
Chris 8:13PM (4/21/2006)
Horseless chariot... that's how they should have marketed it. The Segways need a wraparound sheet on its front side.
Especially with those large ladies riding on them.
Reply
Foink 8:20PM (4/21/2006)
It is impossible to ride a Segway and not look like a complete dork.
Reply
Robert 8:41PM (4/21/2006)
I could have used a Segway with a cattle catcher out front to navigate the crowd around the Ford Super Chief. Im definitely on the green side commuting by bicycle and having just attended a discussion on hybrid vehicles at Virginia Tech, but theres something about a truck the size of a house that inspires. At least its flex fuel as if that makes much difference. People are going to have to face the hard fact that gasoline will never be dirt cheap again excluding a collapse of foreign economies that somehow leaves us untouched. Im with Syadasti that a bicycle functions better then a Segway in the vast majority of situations. A Honda Fit, VW TDI, or Camry Hybrid though will do the job just as well as the average car while mitigating increasing fuel prices. I think E85 will come more into play with expanded infrastructure and a switch to something more practical than corn cobs (LiveGreenGoYellow exists more for the benefit of the corn lobby). Id love to have models in little black dresses zipping around on Segways in ever town, but I dont think were going to see it, even in the oddity that is NYC.
Reply
That One Person 9:16PM (4/21/2006)
Those things are such a waste of money...
Reply
John B 10:42PM (4/21/2006)
The Segway is an answer in search of a question. If you want practicality and cost efficiency, try this solution. It costs a fraction of the the Segway and does everything the Seqway does - it can also function strictly as a bicycle if desired. I tried one last week and it works.
http://www.bionx.ca/
Reply
segwaynyny 10:01AM (4/22/2006)
"The Segway does not offer any significant advantage over the bicycle besides hype"
Except an intelligent way to move around the City without you skinny spandex ass sticking up above your shallow head.
Reply
Mad Scientist Matt 12:07PM (4/22/2006)
Well, Honda, Suzuki, and BMW certainly do build a lot of alternative transportation vehicles as it is. But why would they bring a motorcycle or scooter to a car show?
Reply
MikeW 1:07PM (4/22/2006)
Do you come with the segway?
For $5000 (lithium battery one) it should
Reply
Richard Warren 2:06PM (4/22/2006)
#11 Thanks for the link, looks pretty cool, I like it.
Reply
Justyn 9:06AM (4/23/2006)
There are several of these used by the security guards in the Millenia Mall in Orlando, FL. I get a kick out of seeing these "security guards" riding around on these things. Reminds me of Cartman on Southpark, "respect my authori-tie." Yep, complete dorks....
Reply
Chris 9:42AM (4/23/2006)
I think people who use and ride Segways don't really care if anyone thinks of them as dorks, and I noted the tenor in many posts are superficial comments, its all about being cool huh!? That's ultra-dorky if you ask me. I rode Segways a few times, actually on some trails too, and it was exhilirating to say the least. You can ride a bike 10 miles, but you'll be worn out, the Segway makes it easier. The real crux of the most was that there was no real advancements in fuel savings, but the Segway saves physical energy and operates with the ingenious Sterling Motor. Maybe if you actuall drove one, and could actually afford one, you'd think less about being a dork, and more about actually contruting, rather than sit you lazy asses behing the computer all day insulting people.
Reply
Justyn 6:06PM (4/23/2006)
Nope, still dorky. :)
Reply
syadasti 9:05PM (4/23/2006)
A bicycle is a proven mature solution - KISS, one of the most efficient machines invented by man.
If you really want to be part of the obesity problem of America, like Itsi Atkins, founder of SegwayNYNY, just get a bicycle with an electric motor like pointed out above.
Any way you slice a Segway is just a fad...
Reply