Segway Scares a Doggie
Came up on a lady walking her two large hound dogs/labs this morning. We were on a skinny sidewalk, so I stopped on the side and let her pass. When the dogs approached, I gave a little high-pitched "Hi puppies, what are y'all doin'?" and they wagged their tails. As they got about 4 feet from me, one of them noticed I was not just a "tall guy" standing there, and he quickly "sidepedalled" it away from me, looking very scared. The owner said, "It's not gonna get you" and we both gave a little chuckle. First time I scared a dog.
Renewable Energy on my Electric Bill
I signed up for the SRP Renewable Energy program, in which I pay $3 extra on my bill which SRP then invests into renewable energy such as solar, wind farms, etc. That $3 will just about charge my Segway for a month, so now I'm paying for "clean electricity" for the charging of the Segway. Makes me feel good inside.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
New Commute Speed Record
I was really cooking on the commute this morning. Hit EVERY light green or yellow, and had NO delay points. Made it in just under 20 minutes, somewhere between 19 and 20.
I also realized that being a good driver of cars and being a "pedestrian" who cares about other people's commute is a bonus as a Segway rider. Let me 'splain:
One of my "pet peeves" is a pedestrian who is in a crosswalk just TAKING HIS/HER SWEET TIME crossing the road when there are cars waiting to turn right or left across the crosswalk. I have always told my kids I think that is the RUDEST behavior a pedestrian can have, because they are holding up cars just because of their slowness. Don't they realize that although THEY THE PEDESTRIAN might not have anywhere they need to be, that the car drivers MIGHT be in a hurry? I always say that if you are in a crosswalk, get your ASS through it if there are cars waiting. Jog or run, but get your slow ass moving !!
Today I had two instances where being a "caring pedestrian" came into play.
I usually ride on the "left side sidewalk" going against the traffic because that gives me a better view of upcoming traffic situations and makes it easier for me to see what's coming up behind me on my left, which is the traffic which is going the same direction as me. Today I had a situation where I was coming up to a side street intersection and there was a pickup in the left turn lane going my direction who wanted to turn left down the sidestreet I was about to cross. I looked ahead and saw a "break" in the traffic coming toward him, and I knew he would try to make his left turn because the group of cars coming up after the break was a large group. Because of the timing, if I had gone across the road and he had to wait for me, he would have been forced to wait for that large group of cars. So to help HIM out, I stopped at the corner and indicated with my hand that he should go. He went, and I had no obstruction after that. It worked out great for everyone. The most important point is that I, as a pedestrian, did a little tiny favor to the driver so HIS commute was less stressful. That makes me feel good.
The other thing was a couple of cars going the opposite was of me who were trying to turn right, just ahead of me. I gave a finger wave to both of them indicating they should go, rather than block the right turn lane waiting for me. I find that it is very easy to "direct traffic" by hand waves to influence cars who are either waiting for me or GOING to have to wait for me unless something is done. In almost EVERY case, I try to get the cars out of the way, unless I am busting it trying to make a green light or something. It's my little way of being a good citizen and "caring Segway pedestrian."
I was really cooking on the commute this morning. Hit EVERY light green or yellow, and had NO delay points. Made it in just under 20 minutes, somewhere between 19 and 20.
I also realized that being a good driver of cars and being a "pedestrian" who cares about other people's commute is a bonus as a Segway rider. Let me 'splain:
One of my "pet peeves" is a pedestrian who is in a crosswalk just TAKING HIS/HER SWEET TIME crossing the road when there are cars waiting to turn right or left across the crosswalk. I have always told my kids I think that is the RUDEST behavior a pedestrian can have, because they are holding up cars just because of their slowness. Don't they realize that although THEY THE PEDESTRIAN might not have anywhere they need to be, that the car drivers MIGHT be in a hurry? I always say that if you are in a crosswalk, get your ASS through it if there are cars waiting. Jog or run, but get your slow ass moving !!
Today I had two instances where being a "caring pedestrian" came into play.
I usually ride on the "left side sidewalk" going against the traffic because that gives me a better view of upcoming traffic situations and makes it easier for me to see what's coming up behind me on my left, which is the traffic which is going the same direction as me. Today I had a situation where I was coming up to a side street intersection and there was a pickup in the left turn lane going my direction who wanted to turn left down the sidestreet I was about to cross. I looked ahead and saw a "break" in the traffic coming toward him, and I knew he would try to make his left turn because the group of cars coming up after the break was a large group. Because of the timing, if I had gone across the road and he had to wait for me, he would have been forced to wait for that large group of cars. So to help HIM out, I stopped at the corner and indicated with my hand that he should go. He went, and I had no obstruction after that. It worked out great for everyone. The most important point is that I, as a pedestrian, did a little tiny favor to the driver so HIS commute was less stressful. That makes me feel good.
The other thing was a couple of cars going the opposite was of me who were trying to turn right, just ahead of me. I gave a finger wave to both of them indicating they should go, rather than block the right turn lane waiting for me. I find that it is very easy to "direct traffic" by hand waves to influence cars who are either waiting for me or GOING to have to wait for me unless something is done. In almost EVERY case, I try to get the cars out of the way, unless I am busting it trying to make a green light or something. It's my little way of being a good citizen and "caring Segway pedestrian."
Monday, May 01, 2006
Free Segway Rides For Kids
My kids' school had an "after school Carnival" on Friday, and somehow I started giving free Segway rides and a big long line formed. After about 25 kids had ridden, the assistant principal told me to cease and desist due to liability concerns. I understand their concern, but as all Segway owners know, there is nothing at all dangerous about "owner supervised Black key rides" when the owner is standing right in front of the Segway while the ride is going on. It was just a lack of knowledge thing on the school's part, but I understood and stopped the rides. The kids who got to ride really liked it. I enjoyed giving the rides. It was cool.
My kids' school had an "after school Carnival" on Friday, and somehow I started giving free Segway rides and a big long line formed. After about 25 kids had ridden, the assistant principal told me to cease and desist due to liability concerns. I understand their concern, but as all Segway owners know, there is nothing at all dangerous about "owner supervised Black key rides" when the owner is standing right in front of the Segway while the ride is going on. It was just a lack of knowledge thing on the school's part, but I understood and stopped the rides. The kids who got to ride really liked it. I enjoyed giving the rides. It was cool.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
609 MPG on my Segway !!!
At my current cost of 10 cents ker kwh of electricity, and getting 21 miles per charge, taking one kwh for a full charge, here is the chart which indicates how many "miles per gallon" the Segway gets at given gasoline costs:
Price MPG
$1.399 294
$1.499 315
$1.599 336
$1.699 357
$1.799 378
$1.899 399
$1.999 420
$2.099 441
$2.199 462
$2.299 483
$2.399 504
$2.499 525
$2.599 546
$2.699 567
$2.799 588
$2.899 609
So the Segway marketing info falls WAY SHORT at today's gas prices. They say "400-450 MPG" and when gas is $1.89 to $2.15 then they are correct. At $2.89, the savings add up QUICKLY.
At my current cost of 10 cents ker kwh of electricity, and getting 21 miles per charge, taking one kwh for a full charge, here is the chart which indicates how many "miles per gallon" the Segway gets at given gasoline costs:
Price MPG
$1.399 294
$1.499 315
$1.599 336
$1.699 357
$1.799 378
$1.899 399
$1.999 420
$2.099 441
$2.199 462
$2.299 483
$2.399 504
$2.499 525
$2.599 546
$2.699 567
$2.799 588
$2.899 609
So the Segway marketing info falls WAY SHORT at today's gas prices. They say "400-450 MPG" and when gas is $1.89 to $2.15 then they are correct. At $2.89, the savings add up QUICKLY.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Earth Day Weekend and The Segway
Well, I did my share on Earth Day weekend. 34 miles on the Segway when I might have driven the Hybrid instead. That which would have cost me $2.29 in gasoline costs only set me back about 17 cents of electricity costs. Not a lot by any stretch, but if every American drove 34 miles less on a weekend and spent $2.12 less on gas, let's see, that's about 3.4 BILLION fewer miles driven and $212 million saved in gas money, figuring about 100 million USA drivers. I did my part FOR SURE. As far as the 375VA UPS charging the Segway - NOT !! It charged it for about 5 minutes before running out of juice. Not good.
The Scottsdale Culinary Festival was "OK" but not great. I never got a good map, so I did not really know where EVERYTHING was located. I ate a couple of chicken tacos at one place, a shrimp cocktail at another, some chips and salsa at another, some strawberry shortcake at another, and hit the Gelato Spot two different times. Did not see ONE PERSON besides myself wearing Crocs. Sad.
On Sunday, the kids and I biked/Segged to the Phoenix Zoo. That was fun. Kids enjoyed the new Treehouse and play areas. They have added a water play zone too, and we'll hit that next time if we go in hot weather. I always forget how much walking that Zoo entails - whew !!
Well, I did my share on Earth Day weekend. 34 miles on the Segway when I might have driven the Hybrid instead. That which would have cost me $2.29 in gasoline costs only set me back about 17 cents of electricity costs. Not a lot by any stretch, but if every American drove 34 miles less on a weekend and spent $2.12 less on gas, let's see, that's about 3.4 BILLION fewer miles driven and $212 million saved in gas money, figuring about 100 million USA drivers. I did my part FOR SURE. As far as the 375VA UPS charging the Segway - NOT !! It charged it for about 5 minutes before running out of juice. Not good.
The Scottsdale Culinary Festival was "OK" but not great. I never got a good map, so I did not really know where EVERYTHING was located. I ate a couple of chicken tacos at one place, a shrimp cocktail at another, some chips and salsa at another, some strawberry shortcake at another, and hit the Gelato Spot two different times. Did not see ONE PERSON besides myself wearing Crocs. Sad.
On Sunday, the kids and I biked/Segged to the Phoenix Zoo. That was fun. Kids enjoyed the new Treehouse and play areas. They have added a water play zone too, and we'll hit that next time if we go in hot weather. I always forget how much walking that Zoo entails - whew !!
Segway destroys UPS
The 375VA UPS charged the Segway for about 5 minutes. Those LI-ON batteries just SUCKED UP that available juice. On my 22 mile round trip Saturday, the Segway ran out of juice AT MY COMMUNITY GATE. Exactly as I was gliding through the gate. I had to push it the last block. Pretty decent range.
The 375VA UPS charged the Segway for about 5 minutes. Those LI-ON batteries just SUCKED UP that available juice. On my 22 mile round trip Saturday, the Segway ran out of juice AT MY COMMUNITY GATE. Exactly as I was gliding through the gate. I had to push it the last block. Pretty decent range.
Friday, April 21, 2006
Two Incidents
First, a guy in a white moving truck yells "how much are those" as he drives by. All I have time to say is "27" meaning $2700.
Then right behind him, two college age hotties drive by and the passenger yells "Hey Sexy !!!" out her window.
Obviously, not thinking I'm REALLY sexy, just messing with the Nerdy Segway Dude.
Sometimes I feel like I need a can of "Nerd-B-Gone" to spray on myself after riding the Segway.
But, it's all for the sake of saving gas and thus the Earf, so it's all good.
Tomorrow, a long ride to Snottsdale for the "Snottsdale Culinary Festival Picnic" thing. Gonna taste some mighty good food, I hope.
First, a guy in a white moving truck yells "how much are those" as he drives by. All I have time to say is "27" meaning $2700.
Then right behind him, two college age hotties drive by and the passenger yells "Hey Sexy !!!" out her window.
Obviously, not thinking I'm REALLY sexy, just messing with the Nerdy Segway Dude.
Sometimes I feel like I need a can of "Nerd-B-Gone" to spray on myself after riding the Segway.
But, it's all for the sake of saving gas and thus the Earf, so it's all good.
Tomorrow, a long ride to Snottsdale for the "Snottsdale Culinary Festival Picnic" thing. Gonna taste some mighty good food, I hope.
Uninterruptible Power Supply an option for mid-tip charging during long-ish Segway Rides? Feasible?
I'm trying something tomorrow on my nearly 22 mile Segway ride. I'm going to bring along a 375VA UPS which will have a fully charged battery. When I stop at my destination, halfway point of my glide, and park the Segway, I'm going to turn on the UPS and plug a computer power cord from the Segway to the UPS. It should charge the Segway battery at LEAST a few minutes before all the battery juice in the UPS is completely drained. I wonder how much power it will actually transfer before the UPS battery is exhausted? I'm going to find out, and I'll report the findings back here as soon as I have them.
I'm trying something tomorrow on my nearly 22 mile Segway ride. I'm going to bring along a 375VA UPS which will have a fully charged battery. When I stop at my destination, halfway point of my glide, and park the Segway, I'm going to turn on the UPS and plug a computer power cord from the Segway to the UPS. It should charge the Segway battery at LEAST a few minutes before all the battery juice in the UPS is completely drained. I wonder how much power it will actually transfer before the UPS battery is exhausted? I'm going to find out, and I'll report the findings back here as soon as I have them.
Nearly A Crash
Thursday on the way back to the kids' school I had a near-wipeout on the Segway.
I was coming up to a small side street green light which was about to change to red for me and I knew it. I rushed up to the intersection at full speed. As I hit the wheelchair ramp the light was yellow, so I was going to JUST make it.
At the bottom of the wheelchair ramp, where the concrete meets the asphalt, there is usually a 1-inch to 4-inch "bump" of asphalt. There was a small one here, but I was going 12.5 miles per hour. When my left tire hit the bump, the Segway "bounced" quite a bit, in part because my briefcase was in the right side cargo pocket, making the right side heavier. So when it HOPPED, it HOPPED HARD. I was bounced off to the right side, and kept my feet under me, and held on to the handlebar guard with my right hand the whole time. The Segway continued bouncing left to right a little bit for about 8-10 more feet, slowing when my hand on the handlebar guard actually pulled back a little bit. I was holding on for dear life with that right hand, because that was my sole connection and control point to the Segway now, and I did not want it to roll across the street and crash into the curb. I got full control and stopped it about half way across the small street, and re-mounted and headed on. There were no cars waiting for me, thank gosh.
From that I was reminded to be safer: SLOW DOWN a the wheelchair ramps, and don't try to beat every light EVERY time !!!
Thursday on the way back to the kids' school I had a near-wipeout on the Segway.
I was coming up to a small side street green light which was about to change to red for me and I knew it. I rushed up to the intersection at full speed. As I hit the wheelchair ramp the light was yellow, so I was going to JUST make it.
At the bottom of the wheelchair ramp, where the concrete meets the asphalt, there is usually a 1-inch to 4-inch "bump" of asphalt. There was a small one here, but I was going 12.5 miles per hour. When my left tire hit the bump, the Segway "bounced" quite a bit, in part because my briefcase was in the right side cargo pocket, making the right side heavier. So when it HOPPED, it HOPPED HARD. I was bounced off to the right side, and kept my feet under me, and held on to the handlebar guard with my right hand the whole time. The Segway continued bouncing left to right a little bit for about 8-10 more feet, slowing when my hand on the handlebar guard actually pulled back a little bit. I was holding on for dear life with that right hand, because that was my sole connection and control point to the Segway now, and I did not want it to roll across the street and crash into the curb. I got full control and stopped it about half way across the small street, and re-mounted and headed on. There were no cars waiting for me, thank gosh.
From that I was reminded to be safer: SLOW DOWN a the wheelchair ramps, and don't try to beat every light EVERY time !!!
Thursday, April 20, 2006
First Hottie
Well, the Segway is NOT A BABE MAGNET by any stretch, but yesterday I did get my first "noticable Hottie response."
I was at Priest and Rio Salado waiting for the light to go south, and a very VERY cute girl/lady was turning left at the light. As she was making the turn, I noticed she had a really cute little dog sitting in her passenger seat, and I looked at her then. We made eye contact and she smiled really big (nice perfect straight white teeth) and she then gave a little hand wave too. I smiled bigger and waved back.
Maybe it was just her way of responding to me looking at her doggie, or maybe it was the first time she had seen a Segway in the real, or maybe she thought I was cute, or maybe a combination of those things. Regardless of the reason, anytime a Hottie waves and smiles at me, "it's all good."
Just hit day 32 today since I last filled my gas tank in my hybrid. Thanks Segway !!!
Well, the Segway is NOT A BABE MAGNET by any stretch, but yesterday I did get my first "noticable Hottie response."
I was at Priest and Rio Salado waiting for the light to go south, and a very VERY cute girl/lady was turning left at the light. As she was making the turn, I noticed she had a really cute little dog sitting in her passenger seat, and I looked at her then. We made eye contact and she smiled really big (nice perfect straight white teeth) and she then gave a little hand wave too. I smiled bigger and waved back.
Maybe it was just her way of responding to me looking at her doggie, or maybe it was the first time she had seen a Segway in the real, or maybe she thought I was cute, or maybe a combination of those things. Regardless of the reason, anytime a Hottie waves and smiles at me, "it's all good."
Just hit day 32 today since I last filled my gas tank in my hybrid. Thanks Segway !!!
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Tighter Side Cargo Support
My side cargo bag on the Segway usually has heavy stuff in it. My briefcase, or a gallon of milk, or today's lunch. So it wiggles a bit from side to side when I go over bumps, more if the bumps are larger. To help it stay secure, I put a metal cable clamp on the section at the bottom which connects to the bracket. This made it more stable, and now I can be more confident about carrying heavier weights in the bag.
I'm also shopping for a front handlebar bag, for times when I need MORE cargo capability.
'Nuff fer now..........
My side cargo bag on the Segway usually has heavy stuff in it. My briefcase, or a gallon of milk, or today's lunch. So it wiggles a bit from side to side when I go over bumps, more if the bumps are larger. To help it stay secure, I put a metal cable clamp on the section at the bottom which connects to the bracket. This made it more stable, and now I can be more confident about carrying heavier weights in the bag.
I'm also shopping for a front handlebar bag, for times when I need MORE cargo capability.
'Nuff fer now..........
Monday, April 17, 2006
Segway up to almost 300 miles now.....
I'm keeping a "rough" mileage track on the Segway, and now we are at about 285 miles of gliding. Kids biked and I Segwayed on Friday the 14th to school and work. Getting really proficient at controlling it, and figuring out that it can be fun at speeds other than "max" also.
This past Saturday, the kids biked and I Segwayed to the Mall for lunch and a movie. We just locked the bikes/Segway together at the bike rack outside the movie entrance and went inside. I took the Segway cargo bag with me.
On the way home, we stopped for a bathroom break at Wendy's and this older gentleman with a cane came out and asked me a lot of questions about the Segway. He thought it was pretty cool. He did a double-take at the price, however. Anyway, lotsa fun still going on.
Also, I figured out that Stevie can ride the Segway to school when he becomes a freshman at Tempe High, also, which solves his transportation problem. Hopefully it will be "cool enough" for that at that time in his life !!!
I'm keeping a "rough" mileage track on the Segway, and now we are at about 285 miles of gliding. Kids biked and I Segwayed on Friday the 14th to school and work. Getting really proficient at controlling it, and figuring out that it can be fun at speeds other than "max" also.
This past Saturday, the kids biked and I Segwayed to the Mall for lunch and a movie. We just locked the bikes/Segway together at the bike rack outside the movie entrance and went inside. I took the Segway cargo bag with me.
On the way home, we stopped for a bathroom break at Wendy's and this older gentleman with a cane came out and asked me a lot of questions about the Segway. He thought it was pretty cool. He did a double-take at the price, however. Anyway, lotsa fun still going on.
Also, I figured out that Stevie can ride the Segway to school when he becomes a freshman at Tempe High, also, which solves his transportation problem. Hopefully it will be "cool enough" for that at that time in his life !!!
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Even more uses for the Segway:
Today I used it to go pick up an item I bought on E-Bay from a local seller. She drove to meet me at the Starbucks at Priest and Washington, and since I was "Segway bound" today having used it for my morning commute, that's how I met her. Took me 6 minutes from work to there.
I had no easy way to carry a 15" Pizza Stone on the Segway, so I brought a "server carrier" which is a strap device used to carry a computer server onto an airplane as checked or unchecked baggage. The Pizza Stone fit perfectly into the carrier, and I used the shoulder strap to carry it back to work on the Segway. Brilliant idea, saved two more miles of driving. Boo-Yeah !!
Today I used it to go pick up an item I bought on E-Bay from a local seller. She drove to meet me at the Starbucks at Priest and Washington, and since I was "Segway bound" today having used it for my morning commute, that's how I met her. Took me 6 minutes from work to there.
I had no easy way to carry a 15" Pizza Stone on the Segway, so I brought a "server carrier" which is a strap device used to carry a computer server onto an airplane as checked or unchecked baggage. The Pizza Stone fit perfectly into the carrier, and I used the shoulder strap to carry it back to work on the Segway. Brilliant idea, saved two more miles of driving. Boo-Yeah !!
Saturday, April 08, 2006
This morning, after the HIGH SPEED CRASH from yesterday, I realized I *HAD INDEED* learned from my crash.
My left side tire AGAIN slipped off a sidewalk into some gravel when I was going almost full speed. This time, instead of crashing, however, I held onto the handlebar with my right hand, stepped off with my left foot, and pulled the handlebar back enough to slow to a stop while my right foot was still on the platform and my left foot had hopped twice on the ground. I got back on, steered it back completely onto the sidewalk, and continued onward.
I also went through the drive-thru at Filibertos for a burrito. The lady never even looked at me funny. There were two cars which came in behind me. Very cool.
Last night, on the way home, a little 12 or 13 year old Mexican girl passed me going the other way on the sidewalk and I SWEAR she looked at me like I was the Virgin Mary or an Alien or the Devil Himself. The look of amazement and confusion on her face was priceless !! I wonder what she told her family when she got home ??? :)
My left side tire AGAIN slipped off a sidewalk into some gravel when I was going almost full speed. This time, instead of crashing, however, I held onto the handlebar with my right hand, stepped off with my left foot, and pulled the handlebar back enough to slow to a stop while my right foot was still on the platform and my left foot had hopped twice on the ground. I got back on, steered it back completely onto the sidewalk, and continued onward.
I also went through the drive-thru at Filibertos for a burrito. The lady never even looked at me funny. There were two cars which came in behind me. Very cool.
Last night, on the way home, a little 12 or 13 year old Mexican girl passed me going the other way on the sidewalk and I SWEAR she looked at me like I was the Virgin Mary or an Alien or the Devil Himself. The look of amazement and confusion on her face was priceless !! I wonder what she told her family when she got home ??? :)
Friday, April 07, 2006
My first "high speed" wipeout
Well Well Well.....Segways CAN have serious, severe, BLOODLETTING crashes !!!
Today I was cruising from work to the kids' school and the ex-wife was waiting for me (she got there early). The kids had already called me on the cell phone, which I answered with my right hand while gliding (because all the steering is done with the left hand) and I told Stevie I was about 3 or 4 minutes away.
Ten seconds after that call ended, phone rings AGAIN. So I answer it, and it's my daughter asking "what street are you on?" and just about that time, I meet a bicyclist coming toward me. This is a 7 or 8 foot wide sidewalk, not a small one, so it should have been no problem. Except that I was ONE-HAND DRIVING and TALKING ON A CELL PHONE.
OK: All the following stuff happens in about three seconds.
My left tire slips off the edge of the sidewalk, into loose, fairly thick dirt and gravel. As I try to correct with ONE HAND and hold my phone with the other, the Segway just LEAVES ME and barrels up a little bit onto the sidewalk and I GO FLYING TO THE LEFT SIDE. As I land on a gravel alley, the Segway THANKFULLY TURNS LEFT as it's slowing down and is going to wipe out on it's own about ten feet in front of me. Because it turned left, it heads right for a wooden gate ( a car sized gate) in this guys' back fence. LUCKILY AGAIN it smacks into the fairly soft wooden gate, at this time probably moving at about 2 to 3 miles per hour, and then bounces off LUCKILY AGAIN into a tall bush that is just to the right of the gate, between the sidewalk and the street. The Segway is caught by the bush, never even falls down, and does an emergency shutdown like it is supposed to do in those situations.
Other than a couple of dirt marks here and there, the Segway survived fine. I, on the other hand, suffered minor wounds. I scraped my left shin in the fall to the gravel alley, and I got at least two rocks that gouged little holes into my leg right above the scrape. I also had a small skin slice on my left hand from catching myself on the ground. A little Peroxide and Anti-biotic Cream and Bandaids later, It's ALL GOOD. But I did lose blood.
And more importantly, I learned AGAIN that the Segway, when operating at high speeds and in an unstable situation, CAN AND WILL THROW MY BUTT OFF and crash. From this, I hope to A) Make sure I keep my wheels level and B) do not talk on the cell phone while gliding without slowing WAY WAY down.
Live and Learn !!!
Well Well Well.....Segways CAN have serious, severe, BLOODLETTING crashes !!!
Today I was cruising from work to the kids' school and the ex-wife was waiting for me (she got there early). The kids had already called me on the cell phone, which I answered with my right hand while gliding (because all the steering is done with the left hand) and I told Stevie I was about 3 or 4 minutes away.
Ten seconds after that call ended, phone rings AGAIN. So I answer it, and it's my daughter asking "what street are you on?" and just about that time, I meet a bicyclist coming toward me. This is a 7 or 8 foot wide sidewalk, not a small one, so it should have been no problem. Except that I was ONE-HAND DRIVING and TALKING ON A CELL PHONE.
OK: All the following stuff happens in about three seconds.
My left tire slips off the edge of the sidewalk, into loose, fairly thick dirt and gravel. As I try to correct with ONE HAND and hold my phone with the other, the Segway just LEAVES ME and barrels up a little bit onto the sidewalk and I GO FLYING TO THE LEFT SIDE. As I land on a gravel alley, the Segway THANKFULLY TURNS LEFT as it's slowing down and is going to wipe out on it's own about ten feet in front of me. Because it turned left, it heads right for a wooden gate ( a car sized gate) in this guys' back fence. LUCKILY AGAIN it smacks into the fairly soft wooden gate, at this time probably moving at about 2 to 3 miles per hour, and then bounces off LUCKILY AGAIN into a tall bush that is just to the right of the gate, between the sidewalk and the street. The Segway is caught by the bush, never even falls down, and does an emergency shutdown like it is supposed to do in those situations.
Other than a couple of dirt marks here and there, the Segway survived fine. I, on the other hand, suffered minor wounds. I scraped my left shin in the fall to the gravel alley, and I got at least two rocks that gouged little holes into my leg right above the scrape. I also had a small skin slice on my left hand from catching myself on the ground. A little Peroxide and Anti-biotic Cream and Bandaids later, It's ALL GOOD. But I did lose blood.
And more importantly, I learned AGAIN that the Segway, when operating at high speeds and in an unstable situation, CAN AND WILL THROW MY BUTT OFF and crash. From this, I hope to A) Make sure I keep my wheels level and B) do not talk on the cell phone while gliding without slowing WAY WAY down.
Live and Learn !!!
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Segway commute fun and practical....
Riding the Segway to work from the kids' school every day and back in the afternoon is really a great idea. Saving 8 miles on my car every day I glide to work. My current gas tank has 380 miles, and it WOULD have about 542 miles if I had not been riding the Segway all these days. Saving gas, saving wear and tear on the car, reducing depreciation, enjoying the nice weather, turning heads - what's not to love??
15.5 days commuting on Segway = 15.5*7.6= 118 miles
Trip with kids on 4-1: 9 miles
Trip downtown on 3-25: 20 miles
Trips to Denny's/Rubios/Parks/Misc with kids: 15 miles
Total miles of driving saved since 3-10-2006: 162 miles saved
Riding the Segway to work from the kids' school every day and back in the afternoon is really a great idea. Saving 8 miles on my car every day I glide to work. My current gas tank has 380 miles, and it WOULD have about 542 miles if I had not been riding the Segway all these days. Saving gas, saving wear and tear on the car, reducing depreciation, enjoying the nice weather, turning heads - what's not to love??
15.5 days commuting on Segway = 15.5*7.6= 118 miles
Trip with kids on 4-1: 9 miles
Trip downtown on 3-25: 20 miles
Trips to Denny's/Rubios/Parks/Misc with kids: 15 miles
Total miles of driving saved since 3-10-2006: 162 miles saved
Monday, April 03, 2006
Long Segway/Bike journey Saturday April 1st (not an April Fool Joke)
The kiddos and I left the house on a LONG trip Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. First stop was about 2.5 miles away, at a Great Clips, where I got my hair butchered by a young costmetologist who MUST have just gotten out of school last week. She was slow and bad. She left me a very short spot right on top of my head, making me look like I'm balding, which I'm not. Anyway, second stop was Kiwanis Park in Tempe, about 2.5 miles from there. We made it OK, fed the ducks some bread, I gave one smelly young 13 year old a test drive on the Segway, and the kids played while I read my book.
We wanted to get to the movies by the 12:15 show, so we left the Park at 11:20 and headed back to the Mall. Got to the Mall, locked the bikes, then took the Segway inside with me to my movie. I saw Slither, a very funny movie, and the kiddos saw Ice Age 2: The Meltdown. Then we went to a little carnival in the corner of the Mall parking lot and the kids quickly spent $26 on ride tickets and games. After that, it was "around the Mall" to the Baseline exit and on to Aunt Chiladas for a late lunch. Got home at 4:30 p.m., making the whole trip an 8-hour event. Much fun !!
The kiddos and I left the house on a LONG trip Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. First stop was about 2.5 miles away, at a Great Clips, where I got my hair butchered by a young costmetologist who MUST have just gotten out of school last week. She was slow and bad. She left me a very short spot right on top of my head, making me look like I'm balding, which I'm not. Anyway, second stop was Kiwanis Park in Tempe, about 2.5 miles from there. We made it OK, fed the ducks some bread, I gave one smelly young 13 year old a test drive on the Segway, and the kids played while I read my book.
We wanted to get to the movies by the 12:15 show, so we left the Park at 11:20 and headed back to the Mall. Got to the Mall, locked the bikes, then took the Segway inside with me to my movie. I saw Slither, a very funny movie, and the kiddos saw Ice Age 2: The Meltdown. Then we went to a little carnival in the corner of the Mall parking lot and the kids quickly spent $26 on ride tickets and games. After that, it was "around the Mall" to the Baseline exit and on to Aunt Chiladas for a late lunch. Got home at 4:30 p.m., making the whole trip an 8-hour event. Much fun !!
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