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Early on, Segways developed a reputation for being useless and nerdy, but in the last few years people have found plenty of things you can do with, or on, a segway. The personal transporters are becoming more popular as gas prices rise and more uses are found. Keep in mind, these are things you can do if you have the skill and the balance to ride a Segway as they are made to be ridden.
1. Play Polo
Segway Polo is just like regular polo, except the players ride Segways instead of horses. The first organized match was in 2004, and now the game is played worldwide, overseen by the International Segway Polo Association. The international championship tournament is called the Woz Challenge Cup (yes, named after Steve Wozniak) and has been held annually since 2006. (image credit: Luiza)
2. Off-Road Sports
Some Segway enthusiasts have used a Segway as an ATV, skateboard, bicycle, skates, or an SUV. How fun is it to go “four-wheelin’” on two wheels?
3. Play Golf
Spice up your golf game with the Segway X2 Golf! It’s a special model with tires that won’t hurt the turf and attachments to hold your golf club bag and a scorecard.
4. Urban Sightseeing
Sightseeing can be tiring and hard on the feet. That’s why so many cities and historical areas offer Segway guided tours. From Anchorage to Zurich, you can find a Segway tour that allows you to see the sights close up without wearing yourself out. (image credit: iluvcocacola)
5. Build a Wheelchair
Spanish designer Josep Mora took a Segway, added a seat, a kick stand, a folding handlebar, and ramp. The result is a motorized wheelchair (which is not endorsed by Segway). See a video of the chair in action.
6. Make an Arrest
Long Beach, New York police officer Jose Miguez gave chase to a stolen Mercedes while on a Segway. At 12 mph, he couldn’t keep up with a car, but he kept the vehicle in sight until the teenagers who stole it abandoned the car as it crashed. It was easy to catch up with the perpetrators when they were on foot. Many police forces and security departments are finding that Segways save them money in many ways. Outfit a police department with Segways and you’ll find you can cover more area with fewer officers walking the beat. Replacing just a few police cars with segways saves money on gasoline, maintenance, insurance, and parking space. But most importantly, many law enforcement units purchase Segways with Homeland Security grants, so the initial outlay is practically zero.
7. Deliver Pizza
The owner of Nonni’s Italian Eatery in Concord, New Hampshire is battling the high price of gasoline by delivering pizzas via Segway. Mathew Mitnitsky modified the Segway to hold pizzas. He says it saves “a ton of money.”
8. Race!
The Segway Challenge is an obstacle course race for Segways. It’s part of Gen Con Indy, a gamer convention in Indianapolis. They hold open rides for those who want to try it out, and a tournament to see who is the best Segway rider of all. The next Gen Con Indy will be August 13-16, 2009.
9. Walk Your Daughter Down the Aisle
Bruce Dickson has a neuromuscular disability that makes walking difficult. He traded in a wheelchair for a Segway to get him where he needs to go. His favorite Segway memory is his daughter’s wedding, in which he was able to escort her to the altar on his Segway. Dickson was concerned that he would roll over her dress and tear it, or somehow draw attention away from the bride, but the outdoor wedding came off perfectly. He has also used a Segway for fishing, dancing, and at work. Dickson is a lawyer in Washington, DC, a city where Segways are more popular than other places, possibly because of the wide sidewalks and long distances to cover.
10. Take a Road Trip
You could ride a Segway long distances, like across the continent, but at a maximum of 12 mph, it would take a long time. 100 days, to be exact, as Hunter Weeks and Josh Caldwell found out when they traveled from Seattle to Boston on Segways. They quit their jobs for the project, a luxury you probably can’t afford. But you can enjoy their adventure vicariously by watching the movie 10 MPH. The film is here in its entirety, 93 minutes.
11. Dance
I don’t know the story behind this picture of a Segway ballet, but it looks like fun! (image credit: gunnyrat)
12. Make Friends
Tens of thousands of people have purchased Segways since they went on sale in 2002. More people are turning to Segways as gas prices rise. But those people are spread far and wide. So they meet online at Segway Social, a social networking site for Segway owners. At Segway Social, you can share Segway stories and tips, find a “glide” (a Segway route) map, and meet other “gliders” in your area. (image credit: Lady Madonna)
Special thanks to Kathleen Pierce for researching this article.
Comments (22)
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Our local community college now has an office patroling on a Segway in addition to their usual bike patrols. I did a double-take last week when she rolled by. :)
posted by MrsBug on 9-16-2008 at 8:22 am
Those sight seers look like they’d do themselves better by walking.
posted by BassMan on 9-16-2008 at 8:25 am
I’m hoping that the picture for number 12 shows a segway gang about to bring down swift just against people who use pedal power for transportation.
posted by Sean on 9-16-2008 at 9:04 am
Those sightseers don’t know how to properly wear a helmet either.
posted by Gourry on 9-16-2008 at 9:56 am
UNH police now have two segways that they use on patrols… It’s especially efficient on a campus where previously, it was all on foot. A lot of students have complained about the cost, but if it’s paid for through grants, then let them roll!
posted by Meghan on 9-16-2008 at 11:04 am
I’ve seen the Segway cops, too. What happens to the Segway if they decide they need to chase someone on foot? Do you lay them down? Do they stand on their own? Is there a key?
I thought I read an article not long ago about a company that was outfitting Segways for use by war veterans. Or perhaps they were just donating them, can’t remember.
posted by Shasta on 9-16-2008 at 12:28 pm
So what you’re saying is that Segways are still pretty much useless and nerdy.
posted by Florida on 9-16-2008 at 1:28 pm
13. Look like an idiot.
posted by PartiallyDeflected on 9-17-2008 at 12:28 am
If big cities are like my city there are alot of curbs, stairs, and bumpy, potholed alley-ways that criminals (thieves) would run into. The police would have to give up chasing them on segways, and continue on foot. Like Shasta’s comment (3 posts up) What would they do with the segway, park it somehow?
posted by Tdave on 9-17-2008 at 2:28 am
And would another thief then steal the Segway?
I once ate lunch next to a mounted police officer in a D.C. deli. When I asked if his horse was outside, he said — as though this was obvious –”Oh, you can’t leave a horse unattended in D.C. Someone would steal it.”
He then told me he’d once dismounted to chase a suspect on foot and when he came back, his horse was gone. He looked around and saw a guy leading the horse away, and chased him down. The guy insisted it was his horse, even though the horse was wearing a blanket with the police department logo.
posted by Karen on 9-17-2008 at 7:19 am
6. Make an Arrest. What if you had to take someone in?
posted by Sara on 9-17-2008 at 9:49 am
Don’t forget: Conduct A Marching Band! My band director did so for two years when he thought walking wasn’t productive anymore. The Drum Majors and we Percussionists weren’t exactly pleased, but it got him a lot of attention for the audience… I think he was just a dirty old man. Phoenix High School, Phoenix Oregon
posted by Kate on 5-4-2009 at 10:32 am
Segways, cool inventions, but useless in snow and heavy rains, thus why the incredible overblow of how they would “reinvent” cities was just that, overblown enthusiasm. I want to see some guy who cannot walk very well chugging on Chicago ice in January. Or.. like me in Tucson, in July’s 110 heat with no air-conditioner.
Still, the article did show just how useful these machines can be in certain situations.
And yes, maybe those sight-seers would be better off burning some extra pounds off by using a great invention: their legs.
posted by Marty on 5-5-2009 at 2:10 am
14. Get beaten up.
posted by anotherfascist on 5-25-2009 at 11:46 pm
Segway is lame application of amazing technology. The balancing system is incredible. I saw an article about a kid in Canada who took the Segway technology and build a one-wheel motorcycle. It has the same gyro-balance so you don’t fall – it’s pretty amazing.
posted by PartiallyDeflected on 6-9-2009 at 1:05 pm
13 on… Loss any and all dignity.
posted by Johnny Salversic on 8-7-2009 at 5:55 pm
i saw a mall security guard riding a segway. Equipped with helmet and all.
I would ride one. But I would not combine riding one with A:working at a mall. B:working as a security guard C:combing working at a mall and working as a security. Lastly, D: wearing a helmet while going “a maximum of 12 mph”
posted by iamchaossthought on 8-13-2009 at 8:47 pm
I own a segway, and it’s totally tricked out. It’s painted metal green with a dragon sticker. I also have spinners on it.
posted by Andrew on 9-2-2009 at 2:32 am
I could show you a dozen things you can do with a an old sock, too. That doesn’t make old socks cool or useful.
posted by DT on 9-5-2009 at 6:14 pm
watching that segway extreme video is like watching a razorscooter extreme video….whats the hardest part about segwaying? telling your parents you are a dork…
posted by I can walk on 9-28-2009 at 6:15 pm
Missed a really awesome thing you can do on the segway….
SWAT TEAM!!!
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/03/photo-of-the-day-chinese-anti-terror-segway-commandos/
posted by Reilly on 9-29-2009 at 9:46 pm
So, I was about to make a snarky comment about the segway tours in DC and how, even our period-dressed Ford’s Theater Tour Guide made fun of them, but the picture of the father “rolling” his daughter down the aisle took those words out of my mouth. :)
I’m glad to know they can/are being used for “good”.
posted by OkieMelissa on 10-23-2009 at 10:41 am