• @[email protected]
    cake
    link
    fedilink
    English
    653 months ago

    The first Segway.

    They’re were quotes that cities would be designed around this invention. Before it was announced it was a balancing standup scooter.

    • Mossy Feathers (She/They)
      link
      fedilink
      283 months ago

      I was legitimately sad it didn’t take off. It was a really cool piece of tech but it got mocked for being nerdy or geeky.

      I wonder how much of that was encouraged by oil and car companies.

      • aasatru
        link
        fedilink
        443 months ago

        But… Bikes? How does it improve on bikes, other than being much less safe and more expensive?

        Crazy futurists could even propose we build cities around bikes… but that would be insane, obviously. 🚙

          • aasatru
            link
            fedilink
            63 months ago

            I guess maybe segways could in theory take up less parking space… but I’m not entirely sure. They’re wider, and you need to get out somehow. And they strike me as more awkward than bikes if you should need to lift them.

            • @ABCDE
              link
              113 months ago

              And don’t provide any exercise.

              • ivanafterall ☑️
                link
                English
                53 months ago

                And are prohibitively expensive. And require electricity.

              • aasatru
                link
                fedilink
                33 months ago

                This is a point for sure, especially since I assume part of their contribution was that they were supposed to replace not only cycling, but also walking.

                Then again, I’m increasingly excited about electric bicycles. They’re not for me while I still have good knees and all, but as soon as I can’t go everywhere I like with pedal force… I’m sure as hell getting an electric bike. I guess it’s still more exercise than a Segway though.

                • @dustyData
                  link
                  4
                  edit-2
                  3 months ago

                  Electric assisted can help you keep your knees for longer without depriving you of the exercise. Specially if you’re using it for transportation and not just sport.

                • @[email protected]
                  link
                  fedilink
                  33 months ago

                  I have an electric bike. And if I set it to the highest support setting, I hardly have to pedal at all. I just need to move my feet, as they control how fast it drives.

                • @grue
                  link
                  English
                  23 months ago

                  Even if you can pedal just fine, there are always those situations that are sort of marginal: when you’re feeling kinda lazy so you’re thinking of just driving instead of biking, or it’s a little further than you want to go, or you’re running a little bit late or don’t want to exert yourself and end up getting sweaty, etc. Those are the times when having an e-bike can really make the difference.

                  • @[email protected]
                    link
                    fedilink
                    23 months ago

                    Yup, exactly. Or it’s particularly windy that day, or a different route has more hills than usual. The range extending impact is huge, it allows a lot more options on where I can go with my ebike. I can also do small shopping trips with my ebike and not worry about being bogged down (yes, possible without power but it makes it more appealing day to day with power).

          • HubertManne
            link
            fedilink
            23 months ago

            getting on and off is way faster and given technology nowadays if you would have an autofollow when you are off or not allow to run so far from you then you don’t need to lock it up oftentimes. That being said I like getting some excersise which is worth the hassel of getting on and off and locking up.

          • @Agent641
            link
            13 months ago

            Electric bikes are under hyped for how they revolutionise individual transportation.

        • Mossy Feathers (She/They)
          link
          fedilink
          43 months ago

          Idk, more options? It’s a self-balancing thing-a-ma-bob that takes you places when you stand on it. It’s cool and more options are nice. Also, I find it kinda amusing that you think a Segway-compatible city wouldn’t also be bike-compatible. They max out at like, 12mph. You’re not building a sprawling city around Segways like you would with cars.

            • @[email protected]
              link
              fedilink
              53 months ago

              How is that not more compact than a bicycle?

              Also for some people not having to pedal is actually a necessity so yes it’s a benefit to some.

              • Fushuan [he/him]
                link
                fedilink
                English
                4
                edit-2
                3 months ago

                Electric scooters did take off though, and you don’t need to pedal nor balance the thing.

              • @[email protected]
                link
                fedilink
                23 months ago

                Anyone who can’t pedal is also gonna have trouble standing upright and maintaining a neutral balance on a thin board

    • @wjrii
      link
      English
      93 months ago

      Yes. The “Ginger”/“It” hype was off the charts. People were legitimately wondering if it was going to be some sort of jet pack or something.

      • @son_named_bort
        link
        23 months ago

        George W. Bush falling off of one didn’t help either.