Comments on: GM and Segway Unveil La-Z-Boy on Wheels http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/07/gm-and-segway-unveil-la-z-boy-on-wheels/ Covering San Francisco's livable streets movement Sat, 20 Mar 2010 06:22:47 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: jon http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/07/gm-and-segway-unveil-la-z-boy-on-wheels/comment-page-1/#comment-4636 jon Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:52:07 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1899#comment-4636 the auto industry is good at stealing infrastructure from other uses, so if i was a big time biker i'd be pretty concerned about the potential loss of bike lanes. check out this book about how the car stole streets from all users 80+ years ago and made them into traffic thoroughfares solely for cars. Fighting Traffic: The Dawn of the Motor Age in the American City http://www.amazon.com/Fighting-Traffic-American-Inside-Technology/dp/0262141000/ --- probably the best market for this is for rich lazy people to drive around inside their mcmansion particularly between the tv and fridge the auto industry is good at stealing infrastructure from other uses, so if i was a big time biker i'd be pretty concerned about the potential loss of bike lanes.

check out this book about how the car stole streets from all users 80+ years ago and made them into traffic thoroughfares solely for cars.

Fighting Traffic: The Dawn of the Motor Age in the American City
http://www.amazon.com/Fighting-Traffic-American-Inside-Technology/dp/0262141000/

---

probably the best market for this is for rich lazy people to drive around inside their mcmansion particularly between the tv and fridge

]]> By: zyzzyva http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/07/gm-and-segway-unveil-la-z-boy-on-wheels/comment-page-1/#comment-4628 zyzzyva Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:59:03 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1899#comment-4628 My brother just cleverly pointed out that there's a fine line between a PUMA and a Dalek. Sadly, I think the likeness goes beyond aesthetics. My brother just cleverly pointed out that there's a fine line between a PUMA and a Dalek.

Sadly, I think the likeness goes beyond aesthetics.

]]> By: JournalRhythm http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/07/gm-and-segway-unveil-la-z-boy-on-wheels/comment-page-1/#comment-4620 JournalRhythm Wed, 08 Apr 2009 06:20:37 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1899#comment-4620 there's a new concept in the automotive business it's 2 seated, 2 wheeled, and too ambitious General Motors fearing their time is over is desperate to meet their innovation quota partnered with Segway trying to make headway came up with something just a little more deadly works like the other one except that you sit and ride around praying that you don't get hit To listen to me rap my opinion, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64rpjlcf23Q there's a new concept in the automotive business
it's 2 seated, 2 wheeled, and too ambitious
General Motors fearing their time is over
is desperate to meet their innovation quota

partnered with Segway trying to make headway
came up with something just a little more deadly
works like the other one except that you sit
and ride around praying that you don't get hit

To listen to me rap my opinion, visit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64rpjlcf23Q

]]> By: Pylondude http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/07/gm-and-segway-unveil-la-z-boy-on-wheels/comment-page-1/#comment-4619 Pylondude Wed, 08 Apr 2009 05:26:53 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1899#comment-4619 When I heard about this on All Things Considered this afternoon, I thought it was an April Fools holdover: "But, as its already-plentiful critics point out, the PUMA may make even less sense than the Segway, which never lived up to its hype. They say the PUMA doesn't appear to be safe enough to drive on streets, and is too big and fast for sidewalks. GM counters that it hopes cities will set special lanes for mini-transporters like the PUMA. And it says innovative sensor technology will help prevent collisions with other vehicles, and with pedestrians." Yikes, this part of the story made me think of three things: 1. You might as well just get a bike 2. GM really is hung up on the idea of a car-like vehicle and can't seem to think around that idea. 3. GM is so self-centered as to think that special infrastructure will be set aside or created for their one-of-a-kind specialized vehicle when American's are having a hard enough time getting their minds around parallel bike infrastructure. I agree with the comment from GRR, that this is a PR effort but I think this move is actually more insidious. Just like their move to marginalize and destroy the electric car by producing it and then claiming it just wasn't popular or practical. They can easily drop this project by claiming it just wasn't popular or practical. At least they'd be right this time. But it would just be a self fulfilling prophesy. In December I heard Van Jones say that he thought that money going to Detroit auto makers should be used to help them retool and retrain their workforce to produce wind turbines. I thought why not light rail too? So much for that optimism. Personally, I'd really rather not have to dodge a PUMA or a Hummer P.O.S. When I heard about this on All Things Considered this afternoon, I thought it was an April Fools holdover:
"But, as its already-plentiful critics point out, the PUMA may make even less sense than the Segway, which never lived up to its hype. They say the PUMA doesn't appear to be safe enough to drive on streets, and is too big and fast for sidewalks.

GM counters that it hopes cities will set special lanes for mini-transporters like the PUMA. And it says innovative sensor technology will help prevent collisions with other vehicles, and with pedestrians."

Yikes, this part of the story made me think of three things:
1. You might as well just get a bike

2. GM really is hung up on the idea of a car-like vehicle and can't seem to think around that idea.

3. GM is so self-centered as to think that special infrastructure will be set aside or created for their one-of-a-kind specialized vehicle when American's are having a hard enough time getting their minds around parallel bike infrastructure.

I agree with the comment from GRR, that this is a PR effort but I think this move is actually more insidious. Just like their move to marginalize and destroy the electric car by producing it and then claiming it just wasn't popular or practical. They can easily drop this project by claiming it just wasn't popular or practical. At least they'd be right this time. But it would just be a self fulfilling prophesy.

In December I heard Van Jones say that he thought that money going to Detroit auto makers should be used to help them retool and retrain their workforce to produce wind turbines. I thought why not light rail too? So much for that optimism.

Personally, I'd really rather not have to dodge a PUMA or a Hummer P.O.S.

]]> By: GRR http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/07/gm-and-segway-unveil-la-z-boy-on-wheels/comment-page-1/#comment-4614 GRR Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:55:25 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1899#comment-4614 I don't think it's worth focusing down on the practicalities and picking nits on whether they're going to be in a bikelane. That misses a bigger story, by far. Those interested in livable streets issues should be excited by this, in that it could be seen as a *small* step toward GM thinking of itself as a transportation company, as opposed to just a car company. Now, the truth is it is likely just a PR effort, which adds a certain level of BS to the whole thing, but if I had to choose between subsidizing these over subsidizing "hybrid" SUVs, I'll take these any day. Also consider that the more we elevate non-freeway-legal transportation as the wave of the future, the less political justification we have to build them. And I'd rather risk a brush on my bike with one of these than with a 3000 lb Hummer any day. I don't think it's worth focusing down on the practicalities and picking nits on whether they're going to be in a bikelane. That misses a bigger story, by far. Those interested in livable streets issues should be excited by this, in that it could be seen as a *small* step toward GM thinking of itself as a transportation company, as opposed to just a car company. Now, the truth is it is likely just a PR effort, which adds a certain level of BS to the whole thing, but if I had to choose between subsidizing these over subsidizing "hybrid" SUVs, I'll take these any day. Also consider that the more we elevate non-freeway-legal transportation as the wave of the future, the less political justification we have to build them.

And I'd rather risk a brush on my bike with one of these than with a 3000 lb Hummer any day.

]]> By: jack http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/07/gm-and-segway-unveil-la-z-boy-on-wheels/comment-page-1/#comment-4613 jack Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:44:01 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1899#comment-4613 Why not just allow golf carts in bike lanes? Hey it's all about getting people to buy more stuff...at higher prices. Why not just allow golf carts in bike lanes?

Hey it's all about getting people to buy more stuff...at higher prices.

]]> By: Gary http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/07/gm-and-segway-unveil-la-z-boy-on-wheels/comment-page-1/#comment-4611 Gary Tue, 07 Apr 2009 22:34:25 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1899#comment-4611 Use bike lanes? we already have problems when those rental GoCars get in the bike lane. You have to go into the traffic lane to bypass these inconsiderates, putting bikes in danger. Even the single person Segway is a danger in a bike lane or sidewalk. These greedy dopes. Use bike lanes? we already have problems when those rental GoCars get in the bike lane. You have to go into the traffic lane to bypass these inconsiderates, putting bikes in danger.

Even the single person Segway is a danger in a bike lane or sidewalk. These greedy dopes.

]]> By: m http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/07/gm-and-segway-unveil-la-z-boy-on-wheels/comment-page-1/#comment-4608 m Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:55:28 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1899#comment-4608 that's about the dumbest thing I've ever seen. those people are idiots. that's about the dumbest thing I've ever seen. those people are idiots.

]]> By: CBrinkman http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/07/gm-and-segway-unveil-la-z-boy-on-wheels/comment-page-1/#comment-4607 CBrinkman Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:04:01 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1899#comment-4607 Hysterical. All the disadvantages of a car (cost, parking, fueling), none of the advantages of a bike. This is the Segway SUV. At least you could take the Segway indoors with you to negate the parking issue. Hysterical. All the disadvantages of a car (cost, parking, fueling), none of the advantages of a bike. This is the Segway SUV. At least you could take the Segway indoors with you to negate the parking issue.

]]> By: mcas http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/04/07/gm-and-segway-unveil-la-z-boy-on-wheels/comment-page-1/#comment-4606 mcas Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:50:10 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=1899#comment-4606 1. How much money was spent on R&D for this thing? ....We should have that much money returned to the Feds and re-invested in Transportation Enhancements. 2. Also, travels @ 35 MPH = no safe way to have in a Bike Lane. 3. Also, I just threw up in my mouth reading the DFP article: “Think Facebook on wheels,” says Burns... 1. How much money was spent on R&D for this thing?

....We should have that much money returned to the Feds and re-invested in Transportation Enhancements.

2. Also, travels @ 35 MPH = no safe way to have in a Bike Lane.

3. Also, I just threw up in my mouth reading the DFP article: “Think Facebook on wheels,” says Burns...

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