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Segway stops manufacturing its iconic two-wheeled electric scooter- Barcelona takes 'segways' and scooters off the sidewalks
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In late 2001 the Segway was introduced as the invention of the new millennium to solve the problem of mobility in large cities. The Segway appeared as a great novelty. It consisted of a self-balancing human transporter, with internal gyroscopes that sensed the direction to take; a battery powered device that initially acquired a slight speed. Its creators have already predicted the idea of occupying urban centers with these vehicles for personal use so that each individual could rent it to get to their workplace or office.
But, the initial idea of turning the main centers of American cities into a sea of Segways was a mere illusion. Its cost was considerably high, as well as its weight, complexity and ability to drive it. Not only were they expensive, but they left the user totally exposed to the elements of public roads. In other words, these devices offered few practical advantages compared to light-weight vehicles such as conventional bicycles or skateboards.
Over time, Segways became more successful within institutional bodies, large organizations, and police departments (primarily in the United States) than for personal use. But it should be noted that his greatest achievement was his immersion in the tourism industry: urban tour operators in the main cities of the world saw the opportunity to use them as an alternative to discover new places at a different pace, initially, without any type of control.
But gradually, the Segways were regulated and even banned in some cities, as is the case of San Francisco. It was in the mid-2010s, when others such as Barcelona and Prague adopted partial bans in response to complaints from many locals, being criticized within the tourism market.
The end of an era: Segway stops manufacturing its legendary vehicle two decades after its invention https://t.co/RXSc24TLqZ pic.twitter.com/T7Pb3ptzjw
- xataka (@xataka) June 24, 2020However, the years passed and the original idea of the Segway was taken by other companies and products. This is how other motor devices for personal use were born to try to enter the urban micro-mobility ecosystem such as scooters and electric bicycles. These new devices were more affordable, lighter, and safer for the driver (albeit just as dangerous for passers-by) and many were sold as a new inexpensive and sustainable transport for short commutes in urban settings. But the reality is that these new vehicles do not have anything economic or sustainable, as we already discussed in this blog.
The cities quickly suffered a mass and avalanche of small electric vehicles of different shapes, sizes and colors circulating without any rules on bike lanes, sidewalks and roads before the passive gaze of the authorities. The incorporation of any motor vehicle in the public sphere needs to be accompanied by certain policies, rules, regulations, or at least, incorporate certain guidelines to agree on common space on public roads. And, unfortunately, its use includes a legal vacuum in many cities that fills passers-by, drivers and authorities with doubts.
The crisis of the COVID-19 together with the current proliferation of e-scooters (electric scooters), electric bicycles, e-skateboards and hoverboards has made the promised revolution of electric mobility by Segway is already considered a failure . Just over two months ago, the news was released that Segway Inc. would end production of its company's most iconic product: the self-balancing two-wheeled personal transporter, the Segway PT. Hence, the company has decided to dedicate itself to the production and design of electric scooters.
Today, twenty years later, the same messy public policy environment remains somewhat ambiguous for mobility. Electric bicycles and scooters continue to circulate on the sidewalks, as well as in spaces by and for the passerby. Although the provision of bicycle lanes in many cities has improved in recent years, both infrastructure and public policies remain limited and deficient. Should this type of motor vehicle require a license, registration and insurance, for example?
In 2020, like 2001, transport planning continues to give a great deal to the automobile. Perhaps the Segway was not the revolution its creators promised, but it generated an avalanche of new devices and engine models that definitely need regulation and control. Perhaps it is time to reconsider this action taken by this company and in some way, take the disappearance of the Segway as a serious opportunity to radically improve urban life. Recover the space of the automobile that was not known to take advantage of, provide more lanes, impose traffic regulations on these motor vehicles, as well as implement a regulation and fine all those who fail to comply with traffic regulations.
