All Segway scooters recalled

theski · Post by **theski** » 2003-09-26 03:39pm

http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/4120783.html

WASHINGTON -- 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.

The recall involves about 6,000 of the single-rider, two-wheeled scooters that can travel up to 12 mph. The scooter uses gyroscopes to keep it upright, making it less likely to fall or be knocked over.

But the CPSC said that scooters being operated with low battery power may not have enough power to remain upright, causing the rider to fall.

Well back to the drawing boards........

Post by **fgalkin** » 2003-09-26 03:45pm

I've seen a few Segways in NYC. They actually looked quite cool.

I've theoretized that if I owned one, I would be able to use it to get to college and back, without walking a single step:
1) Use it to move around my apartment.
2) Take the elevator down to the lobby.
3) Take it to Port Imperial
4) Get on a ferry to NYC.
5) Once in NYC go up to 68 St and Lexington Avenue.
6) Use elvevators to move around the campus.

The ultimate lazy man device.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

darthdavid · Post by **darthdavid** » 2003-09-26 03:50pm

But you'd still be standing up the whole time.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-09-26 04:02pm

The Segway is the most disappointing invention ever.

The Cleric · Post by **The Cleric** » 2003-09-26 04:06pm

I thought they were cool looking. Impractical, but cool.

aphexmonster · Post by **aphexmonster** » 2003-09-26 04:18pm

ill take a good ol' skateboard thankyou very much ... its funny that people fall down and hurt themselves all the time on those but nobody recalls a skateboard.

SAMAS · Post by **SAMAS** » 2003-09-26 04:30pm

HemlockGrey wrote:The Segway is the most disappointing invention ever.

Yeah, that was some dumb SHT...

YT300000 · Post by **YT300000** » 2003-09-26 04:32pm

http://www.velonews.com/images/news/1721.1724.f.jpg

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2003-09-26 04:42pm

Screw Segway we want rocket-pack.

StimNeuro · Post by **StimNeuro** » 2003-09-26 05:53pm

Wasn't Segway advertised as 'It' and was so hyped up that it was supposed to change the way we live?

Darth Garden Gnome · Post by **Darth Garden Gnome** » 2003-09-26 05:58pm

Still, you can't blame it on the company that people are driving around on low-powered vehicles. It's like a medical IV: if you're trusting your life to it, you damn well better make sure it's charged.

Crazy Goji · Post by **Crazy Goji** » 2003-09-26 06:02pm

Montcalm wrote:Screw Segway we want rocket-pack.

Exactly. People don't want to stand up riding some crazy-assed scooter, they want to fly.

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2003-09-26 06:46pm

The Segway is pretty much impractical. If you're too fat and lazy to walk around yourself, then you're probably too heavy to ride it.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2003-09-26 06:59pm

While I don't care much for the Segway, out of 6000 segways out there they've only had three injuries with no fatalties? That makes them safe than cars!

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2003-09-26 07:04pm

Gil Hamilton wrote:While I don't care much for the Segway, out of 6000 segways out there they've only had three injuries with no fatalties? That makes them safe than cars!

I think its like for the lawn dart,one accident and everything is pulled off the market.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-09-26 07:09pm

Gil Hamilton wrote:While I don't care much for the Segway, out of 6000 segways out there they've only had three injuries with no fatalties? That makes them safe than cars!

Most deaths and injuries with cars are the result of driver error or a collision, not a flaw in the product.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2003-09-26 07:10pm

StimNeuro wrote:Wasn't Segway advertised as 'It' and was so hyped up that it was supposed to change the way we live?

I don't think it was really advertised much at all, considering how much they cost and how firmly inside the "rich man's toy" niche it is.

The Segway's inventor is the one that personally thinks it has such revolutionary potential.

Personally, I think kind of neat, but I remember watching The Tonight Show about a year and a half ago and Jay Leno was just nuts about them.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2003-09-26 07:14pm

Montcalm wrote:
Gil Hamilton wrote:While I don't care much for the Segway, out of 6000 segways out there they've only had three injuries with no fatalties? That makes them safe than cars!
I think its like for the lawn dart,one accident and everything is pulled off the market.

Lawn Darts had more than one accident attributed to them, and you have to admit that throwing giant metal darts that are actually sharp around probably wasn't the best idea for a family game. And lawn darts weren't just taken off the market: they're nationally banned by law.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2003-09-26 07:16pm

Sea Skimmer wrote:Most deaths and injuries with cars are the result of driver error or a collision, not a flaw in the product.

It's not a flaw with the product. It says that it becomes unsafe when the battery runs out of power. This is like saying that a car becomes unsafe when it runs out of gas.

Besides, look at the Pinto. It alone killed more people due to massive design flaws (IE, became a firebomb on wheels at the drop of a hat) than the Segway ever could have.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-09-26 07:20pm

Gil Hamilton wrote: It's not a flaw with the product. It says that it becomes unsafe when the battery runs out of power. This is like saying that a car becomes unsafe when it runs out of gas.

When a car runs out of gas it slows to a halt, with the Segway the issue is it stop at once without warning and sends the rider flying.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2003-09-26 08:41pm

Sea Skimmer wrote:When a car runs out of gas it slows to a halt, with the Segway the issue is it stop at once without warning and sends the rider flying.

If by flying, makes them stumble a bit and have to hop off, then, yes, it makes them fly.

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2003-09-27 12:15am

http://news.com.com/2100-1041_3-5082886.html

Apparently the fix is a simple software update, as is also mentioned from the article in the first post.

Post by **Kuja** » 2003-09-27 12:48am

Gil Hamilton wrote:
Sea Skimmer wrote:When a car runs out of gas it slows to a halt, with the Segway the issue is it stop at once without warning and sends the rider flying.
If by flying, makes them stumble a bit and have to hop off, then, yes, it makes them fly.

What's the top speed of these things?

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2003-09-27 12:53am

About 10 MPH, or brisk walking speed at least.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2003-09-27 01:44am

10mph is a good run. Its by no means walking pace.