Backstory: A natural Segway ...

My morning starts with my 5-year-old son and I gliding about a half mile to school - he often rides in a bicycle cart attached to the Segway.... It is really a nice time we enjoy together that will hopefully be a fond memory he looks back on when he's older.

From the school I continue on my way to the office which is about 2 miles away. Along the way oftentimes people will stop to ask questions about the Segway and how it works.... Most people are especially interested when I tell them I've not purchased any gasoline since late April.

Some mornings I will make a 'pit stop' along the way.... I've never run into a store owner who didn't enjoy seeing me come in on the Segway and I've never been turned away from an establishment because of it.

On our way to school in early April I lost my balance.... I'm certain it was operator error and not some kind of equipment malfunction.... I thought I had broken my arm in the process of breaking a fender, popping a tire, bending my cargo bag frame and sheering off my left turning grip.

Fortunately for me, I purchased Segway Insurance from Progressive a few weeks before and both the damage to my Segway and my arm were covered.

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Tim Kanaley, Washington, D.C.
Project manager with the Department of the Treasury, Financial Management Service

I am a member of a group of owners called DC SEG (DC Segway Enthusiasts Group) and we ... get together for "group glides" - just a fun and social event.

I don't know about a "movement," but certainly the desire to have an alternative way of getting around is gaining popularity.

Being an early adopter I definitely feel a part of a special group. I know that in 20 years when HTs [human transporters] are all over the place, I will be able to say I owned one of the very first ones.

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Pam Costa, Sunnyvale, Calif.
Pricing analyst, Apple

Well, [my husband] bought his first, and I honestly thought he was a little nutty for spending so much on a "gadget." But, after playing around with it ... I decided I had to have one for myself. That "Segway Smile" is sure addictive.

I'm a California wimp, so honestly during the rainier or colder times of the year, I don't use my Segway as much. [My husband] will ride rain or shine, he's a big brave man. That being said, now that the weather is warmer, it is a lot of fun to start riding my Segway again.

What are your hopes for the Segway in the long run?

From a big-picture perspective, I'm not sure about how widely adopted the Segway can become in the US unless there are some major changes in urban planning. However, my hope is that it continues to grow in popularity, and widespread acceptance as an alternative form of transportation. For us, it makes having one car a no-brainer, which offers a lot of savings. We are the quintessential "one-car, two-Segway family."

From a product perspective, I'd like to see more intuitive steering mechanisms that aren't as sensitive to tire pressure. Right now, if one of my tires is low, it turns that way all the time. Additionally, models for children would be really nice for Segway owners who want to enjoy riding their Segways as a family.

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Jon Rutherford, Seat Pleasant, Maryland
Technology Mentor, Patriots Technology Training Center

Though the device does a great job at balancing and movement, there is a need to be vigilant when gliding because of road and pavement quality. Also, because there are no shock absorbers, I really have to actively survey where I'm traveling because there could be un-expected obstacles - tree limbs, flower boxes, and the like that could really make my day, if you know what I mean.

I would want the policy makers to realize that tax breaks for Segways is a smart way to help the environment and [provide] easily accessible transportation on all the roadways.

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