Mr. Segway?

Recent developments on Segways at Walt Disney World:

http://www.disunplugged.com/2011/02/06/doj-wdw-must-permit-segways-...heme-parks

^ I can't say the ruling surprises me. The ADA is pretty far reaching in making sure people are properly accommodated.

Personally, I still think a trained person using their own Segway as an approved medical device poses much less of a danger than some of the untrained people who plow through crowds on the rental scooters.

Yeah, and a trained bulldozer operator may pose less danger than an untrained teenager driving an SUV who's texting while driving. But that doesn't mean we allow bulldozers on the road.

Ralph Wiggum said:
Personally, I still think a trained person using their own Segway as an approved medical device poses much less of a danger than some of the untrained people who plow through crowds on the rental scooters.

But how do you know how well they are trained? Do you have to pass some kind of a test when you buy one?

I'm here to defend the people with the rental scooters in general. I mentioned on this forum before that we have a family member that drives one around CP. It amazes me the total disrespect she gets from many guests at CP. As we walk through the park I know that people see her and they just walk right at her or cut right in front of her. All ages, races and whatever. She's on the proper side of the midway too. This happens constantly and it really angers me at times. Sometimes it gets so bad ,I need to get in front of the scooter and clear the path to give her a little space. The ones that cut in front from behind are the worst. They just come along side and casually step in front of the moving scooter. She can't see them until it's almost to late to stop. They deserve to get run over. I must says she has never hit anybody which is quite a feat in itself.

One time last year I had to pick up her scooter at the rental location and drive it to the gate for her. In the little time I was driving it I got to experience the inconsiderate jerks for myself. I'm a patient person and I'm known to cut people a good amount of slack. In that case I was ready for road rage.

People in the scooters need to get respect too. And they certainly have as much right to be in the park as anybody else. People need to show some consideration for others, scooter or no scooter. Others need to quit texting and pay attention to where they are walking.

That's my rant.

Clevelandkid said:
It amazes me the total disrespect she gets from many guests at CP. As we walk through the park I know that people see her and they just walk right at her or cut right in front of her.

See, I think this happens to everyone - regardless of how they're getting around. I know that I've had more than my fair share of inconsiderate jerks who step right into my path, ignorantly bump into me, stop walking smack-dab in the center of the midway, etc.

Because we've become accustomed to dealing with such events while walking, it's become second nature to modify one's walking path/speed/etc. in order to deal with it. And because driving a scooter isn't nearly as intuitive as walking (for most), perhaps these events seem more troubling than they would be otherwise.

Exactly DJ.

^^ I was thinking the same thing. I couldn't begin to count the amount of times people have walked directly into me or just flat out stopped in front of me causing me to run into them. If I am walking directly at a scooter, or a person walking for that matter, I am going to move. I wont however move when a scooter comes alongside me very close to get through a crowd that is walking. Either go around, slow down with the pace of the walkers or say "Excuse me" (which apparently no one knows to say anymore ).

How many times have you been bumped into by kids throwing basketballs or footballs. That's annoying.

The other ones that get me are people that know they are wrong, look you directly in the eye and still cut you off, bump you or whatever. Than they often toss in an insincere "Excuse Me".

This stuff happens everywhere of course, not just CP. I was at Kalahari this weekend, I won't even say anymore. Lack of courtesy is a pet peeve of mine, especially regarding the scooters.

I get a lot of desrespect from many fellow females in the park.

You see, I have a tall, slim build, and I enjoy wearing tank tops, short shorts, bikini tops, mini tees, and the like.

I walk through the park, minding my own d*** business, and these wannabees and other names I cant say here, literally drop their mouths open and gawk like no other at me.

sometimes people will intentionally push past me after giving me a look like a have three heads or something.

Every now and then, a guy will look, but 99.9% of the time its a female.......ex. soccer moms, 23 year olds, old ladies with sagging skin, moms with giant strollers, 10 years olds, (girls, not boys), teenie boppers, young dating couples, etc, etc, etc.

Yes, I am thin. I know that like the sky is blue.

But if I stand behind the short side of a door, you can still see me sticking out......lol

And what does your annoyingly inflated ego have to do with this topic?

Everything, John. Being gorgeous is just as socially-stigmatizing as having a debilitating handicap, obviously.

Just when you thought the ADA had everything covered. :)

You don't know how hard it is being hot.

Must not be too hot if only 0.1% of the time a guy is checking her out.

Too bad shes from Ohio.

99er said:

But how do you know how well they are trained? Do you have to pass some kind of a test when you buy one?

Not a test per say, but there is training involved when you buy one. Taken from this PDF:

Segway LLC will provide to you, at your shipping address, Segway HT Product Orientation, at no additional charge.

Clevelandkid said:
I'm here to defend the people with the rental scooters in general...

I certainly don't mean to imply that everyone on scooters is an inconsiderate jerk, and understand that they probably deal with more inconsiderate jerks than anyone. I would also never advocate for banning them. I'm just using them to draw parallels between two heavy, electronic assistance devices that drive through crowds.

There are a few comments on this thread about those driving scooters. Many of them come off (at least to me) as indicating scooter drivers are wreckless. I'm sure some are, but they the minority. I've seen groups of young adults sharing a scooter, switching drivers, doing doughnuts and other tricks. They are a problem and shouldn't have a scooter, especially if someone else really needs one. As a whole those in scooters are responsible.

Ralph, I know you wouldn't suggest banning scooter riders. Most of your posts are pretty cool. I didn't indicate you did suggest that. I was trying to nip at the bud anybody that would think scooter riders ought to just stay home if going to CP presented them so much aggravation. As I recall you work at CP and I'm sure you've seen and experienced all kinds of crazy things.

There is no question, scooters and Segways have a more difficult time manuevering and stopping that a human does. Knowing that, people need to use common sense and give them a little room. It boils down to that.

It doesn't boil down to that at all. Scooters don't go 12.5 mph and they're not prescribed as a medical device. I don't know why they're even a part of the discussion. See BlueStreak64's post.

My point is if you are walking and see any moving motorized vehicle moving towards you and you don't want to get hit, get out of the way. Don't cross right in front of one. It is directed at those that I mentioned in my first post. I wasn't saying Segways belong or don't belong at CP. Geez, there are people that don't move out of the way when the ambulance drives by. I'm saying, because these things are in the park, right of wrong, pedestrians need to use common sense as I hope they do elsewhere where vehicles and pedestrians mix.