On Apr 7, 10:39*am, dave a wrote:
Cliff wrote:
On 7 Apr 2009 16:15:40 +0800, adchin wrote:

I think it's called a motorbike

* The P.U.M.A. prototype
*http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=15888

I notice that it is operating on a sidewalk or some sort of cordoned off
area. *Are they proposing that all urban streets get rebuilt to
accommodate these?

Any small vehicle has the same issue, that the US roads weren't built
for them and traffic is often too aggressive. It's a major problem for
power wheelchair users, too. Around here about the only motorcycles
seen are Harleys with big dudes on them. I retired my smaller Honda
years ago after being cut off and tailgated too many times, and I
didn't ride slowly or timidly at all.

Disregarding the societal issues, a Segway is an excellent combination
of the mobility of a bicycle and the size and maneuverability of a
pedestrian. Unlike a bicycle they can stop still effortlessly or creep
forward in a line or spin around within their own footprint. We used
them in the engineering office cubicle area which was narrower than
usual because of all the Segways lining the corridor. The only place
they couldn't go as easily as a person was up to the administrative
offices, since the Segway factory was built without an elevator.

They stop very abruptly when you lean back. There isn't much
difference from the braking ability of a motorcycle, the limit is
wheel slip and they have sticky tires, similar to Michelin Arctic
Alpins. You have to learn to judge the condition of the pavement but
not as much as for a bicycle. We ran them on wet grass, dirt trails,
and the loose gravel of the railroad that runs behind the factory.

Jim Wilkins