GM and Segway jointly presented a very interesting prototype addressing the reduced mobility needs of city dwellers. Very smart in its application, it has the advantage of offering two seats, and some space, compared to the Segway Personal Transporter's (PT) one.
The 56-km operating range is rather impressive. It will allow us to increase the interval between charges, as future users will probably only travel short distances with each use.
However, when cruising down New York's streets, where the project will be deployed, the excessively limited size of the sidewalks, even for pedestrians, quickly becomes apparent. Hard to imagine P.U.M.A. users nimbly traversing this dense urban jungle without rousing pedestrian ire. Faced with a traffic jam, the temptation to spin one's wheels on the pavement increases the risk factor.
Segway had predicted the very same revolution in human transportation with its PT, but one has to admit that its civilian use in the city is still very limited. The project is commendable, but it's hard to image a future where it has been fully implemented.
Add to that GM's participation in the project. The uncertainty shrouding the manufacturer's viability is worrying. GM is working on its own reorganization, which no longer excludes the option of bankruptcy protection.
Reaction of the press release:
GM and Segway Join Forces to Reinvent Urban Transportation
photo:Segway
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The 56-km operating range is rather impressive. It will allow us to increase the interval between charges, as future users will probably only travel short distances with each use.
However, when cruising down New York's streets, where the project will be deployed, the excessively limited size of the sidewalks, even for pedestrians, quickly becomes apparent. Hard to imagine P.U.M.A. users nimbly traversing this dense urban jungle without rousing pedestrian ire. Faced with a traffic jam, the temptation to spin one's wheels on the pavement increases the risk factor.
Segway had predicted the very same revolution in human transportation with its PT, but one has to admit that its civilian use in the city is still very limited. The project is commendable, but it's hard to image a future where it has been fully implemented.
Add to that GM's participation in the project. The uncertainty shrouding the manufacturer's viability is worrying. GM is working on its own reorganization, which no longer excludes the option of bankruptcy protection.
Reaction of the press release:
GM and Segway Join Forces to Reinvent Urban Transportation
photo:Segway