Posts: 247
From: St. Louis, Missouri USA
Registered: Dec 2009
posted November 23, 2013 06:50 PM
This is one of the most innovative (in production not a protype) vehicles I have seen in a long time.... www.organictransit.com
My concern would be, since it weighs only 150 lbs pounds...what would prevent someone with a pick up truck just lifting it off the parking lot, and driving off?
Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
posted November 24, 2013 04:45 AM
It actually has a lot of the same problems as the Segway: too large and fast to operate on the sidewalk, too small and slow to operate in urban vehicular traffic. The Segway hasn't been the success they hoped because of this: neat idea but limited environments where it is usable. Its best chance to be useful is places where there are streets that are closed to cars and trucks, but not reserved for pedestrians only: a fraction of a fraction.
The strength of bicycles is that they are small enough to zip through the cracks (even when they shouldn't...). In places like midtown Mannhattan it's often the fastest way to get where you're going.
-------------------- All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...
Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
posted November 24, 2013 03:53 PM
Yes,
One of the things Segway has looked into to increase their sales is develop models capable of rough country usage, for example they have some that are set up as a golf cart for one. The poor fellow was experiencing some ambitious off-roading when he had his accident.
I work at a place that would actually be a fairly decent candidate for these. It's a 2500 acre campus with miles of semi-private low speed roads and pretty careful driving (If you get a ticket, you get to discuss it with your boss...and then maybe his boss.). If you hang it far enough over the edge, you can be fired!
We have hundreds of bikes running around, and so far one Segway.
-------------------- All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...
posted November 24, 2013 04:34 PM
On a slightly related topic, check out this weeks New Yorker magazine for the motoring future - the car that drives itself. It ain't too far away.
Posts: 543
From: Herne Bay, Kent. U.K.
Registered: Oct 2011
posted November 24, 2013 04:49 PM
Michael, If it is computer controlled, its likely to get taken over by hackers and cause even more accidents than humans do!!! Ken Finch.
Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
posted November 24, 2013 05:18 PM
I've seen that. It's a very interesting technology because of what it can do.
-People without driver's liscenses will be able to go out and buy a car and use it. -You can stagger out of the bar at 3AM, tell the thing to take you home and endanger nobody. -You can pick up your cell phone, call for a taxi, sit down in a car with no steering wheel and no pedals and go where you want without finding out how bad some stranger's driving is. -You can drive to the airport, take out your bags and just send the car home.
Dangerous to trust driving to technology? Absolutely!
-Maybe almost as dangerous as trusting it to people!
-------------------- All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...