Mr. Segway?

I think the key to CP allowing the Skegway is the handicap sticker, making it an assistive device. I think because of that, CP is forced to allow it in the park.

cpcoasterhaven said:
Until he loses control on the segway, I do not have a problem with him riding at CP.

So just after the lawsuit is filed? ;)

@Pete: I believe Segways have been banned in other areas of the country.

cpcoasterhaven said:
Yes, and you are looking at POWER CHAIRS vs Scooters.

Can you point me to any four-wheeled device for handicapped/disabled/etc. people that travel anywhere near the speeds you're suggesting? Like John said, the fastest I could find was around 10 mph.

e x i t english said:
I wouldn't call them "not easy", though. They're really an extension of your legs...

What I was getting at was that for someone with trouble walking, as this guy purportedly has, it wouldn't be markedly easier to operate a Segway than to simply walk. Sounds like he just complained to his doctor and got a blue sticker. And I can't say I'm not tempted to do the same, now that I know you can ride a Segway around CP. ERT will never be the same! ;)

cpcoasterhaven said:
Yes, and you are looking at POWER CHAIRS vs Scooters.

No, I'm looking at Full Size Scooters not Power Chairs.

They do not go that fast, they aren't designed to go that fast. Either the rep at the medical store was full of it, or you mistook the range (which is usually in the 25-30 mile range) for the speed.

EDIT - Note that "Full Size Scooters" are NOT Vespa Scooters a.k.a. Mopeds.

They must have some peel out power on the scooters!

Just imagine, Carl Lewis was clocked at 28 mph once... now imagine granny blowing by him on her scooter. :)

cpcoasterhaven said:
Yes, and you are looking at POWER CHAIRS vs Scooters.

I have seen this guy ride. He looks stable and responsible and in control. This is not the first time he has ridden the segway. I equate it to first riding a 2 wheel bike. It is a learned experience. It takes time and practice to master. Once you do, you can be pretty good at it. This guy has deminstrated to me at least, that he is not a threat to the walking public. Until he loses control on the segway, I do not have a problem with him riding at CP. Some of you do. That's fine. To each his own.

Excellent post. I don't know why everyone is freaking out? Maybe learn more about his situation and get to know him before you judge him. As long as he is responsible and the park allows it, why complain? I think people not following the designated smoking areas rule is a bigger problem.

Welll, he had to sign paperwork saying that he is insured just in case of an accident..

^^The problem with this isn't this one guy who rides his Segway around the park. But if they allow him to, they pretty much have to allow the next guy who wants to ride a Segway with a handicapped sticker too. Except maybe he's not so observant or as experienced of a Segway driver and starts running in to people.
I don't even think of this as one of those situations where "a few bad people ruin it for everyone else." I really think it's a safety hazard all around.

Chase Gilbert said:
I'll keep my opinions about the people I see on scooters most of the time to myself, as I don't want to open that can of worms.

Please, enlighten us. I'd love to hear what you have to say. It's clear, by this very statement alone, that you have a problem with people on scooters. By saying you didn't want to open that can of worms, you've opened that very can of worms.

I've seen Mr. Segway a number of times and he appears to drive responsibly.

Now on to the scooters and maybe the can of worms. We have an older family member that visits CP with us often. She can walk. However, due to arthritis she can not walk long distances. She rents one of the electric scooters so she can travel the park and has for a few years now. This is were I might honk some of you off that have issues with scooter drivers. This is a touchy subject with me. You would not believe the desrespect many people show towards her. People will cut her off and then just stand there, not to be mean, just because they are ignorant. They will look right at her coming and move into her path instead of moving out of the way. People must think it's just an old lady so who cares. Kids and adults. I see it all of the time. Really just no respect. They just look at her with a stupid expression on their faces. A few times when people didn't move out of the way I pretty much had to play offensive lineman and clear the way. Nothing violent mind you. I'm a pretty big guy, so they move.

A few weeks ago when we were staying at the Breakers, she asked me to pick up the scooter she reserved and drive it to the gate for her. They only keep the reservation until a certain time and if you don't claim your scooter by then they rent it out. She was going to get into the park after that time. So, I got to drive it for a short while before she arrived. Man, I got to see what she goes through first hand. They need to give you a course in defensive driving to rent one of those things. People were coming at me from everywhere. I was constantly having to stop. It was much worse that when I walk and have to move through the crowd. I got no respect either. After about 10 minutes I was ready to mow down anyone that came within 10 feet of me. I'm a rather patient guy, but I was getting steamed at these people.

So, I don't want to hear complaints about electric scooters. They are probably doing the best they can.

I have seen a few times where a group of able bodied young people rent an electric scooter. They did drive in circles and do stunts. I say they are able bodied because, I saw them numerous times with different people driving the scooter and the others walking. They take turns driving. Aside from their goofing around while drivng and using a scooter when they don't really need one, the park has a limited number available for those that really do need one. And yes they do have the right to rent one if they pay for it. It's just not the right thing to do. It's selfish. The scooters are for those that have difficulty getting around.

That's my rant.

Segways top out a little over 12 mph, and it's absolutely not appropriate to allow them in areas composed of people on foot, with strollers, wagons, and electric scooters for the disabled. They're heavy and will hurt people.

And CP is also well within their right to refuse to allow them. That case has already gone to court several times over, as Disney does not allow them, and someone tried to sue and lost. There's legal precedent.

I've used a Segway, and those without the speed limitations in particular can be dangerous, especially in a crowd. That's why Disney does their Segway Epcot tour starting before the park fully opens, so you can motor around without hurting tourists that don't even pay attention to other people walking, let alone people on wheels.

I don't have a problem with scooters in general or the people that use them for the most part. I understand that a lot of people who need them. I also think there are a number of people who use the scooters not because of any physical limitation, but out of sheer laziness. In the words of Forrest Gump, "That's all I have to say about that".

Yesterday was perhaps one of the busiest days of the season, with full queues on everything from Top Thrill Dragster to Mine Ride, so it was a little shocking to see "Mr. Segway" pushing his way through the crowd on the fairly narrow path between Maverick and Chick-Fil-A. We're talking elbow-to-elbow crowds and he was choosing to drive his Segway right through the middle of it. Handicap or not that doesn't seem like a very responsible thing to do. He's putting a little too much faith in his ability to control the vehicle.

Hey Dangerman. Talked to your Uncle Harold on Sat night at East Harbor State park. He was enjoying the Halloween themed campsites on his segway. What a first-rate gentleman. He mentioned how busy the Point was, but forgot to tell me how he pushed thru the crowds. I wonder if Single rider bob and single rider 2 pushed thru the crowd to get back on Millenium?

Probably. They are just as inconsiderate.

I was actually purposely run over by a old man in a Scooter, While in Fear Faire, he thought he was being cute and rammed me at full speed, and guess what, I'm still alive! The guys than come through my zone running jumping spinning acting scared and making asses of them selves really truly scare me they cant be extremely dangerous to themselves guests and fellow Screamsters.

My point being anyone careless and stupid can be very dangerous to themselves and others, but people who use there brains if there on there feet or any vehicle it makes no difference, This guy sounds like he is careful and responsible. A lot more than people I see running and jumping around the park on there own two feet. I see no problem with allowing a Segway in the park, I'm just jealous I don't have one to drive around!

Hey Dangerman, saw your Uncle Harold and his nephew at the RV show at IX center in Cleveland. What a great guy to talk to. He mentioned your name and said we'll see him on the holiday weekends at either CP or East Harbor. And he had his brown rim hat on. A real gentleman. I hope people will make an effort to meet him and see that he's not an Evil Canevil.

Who cares if he's a swell guy?

He's not the only one I have seen on a segway. I met a man during halloweekends who was allowed to ride on one because he was a disabled veterin. It was called segways for vets or something like that, butvery cool none the less.

I still say it's not cool at all. They shouldn't allow Segways in the park, period. They have no place in crowds.