Happy Fourth of July from Seattlest
Seattlest Day Trips to Mount Rainier (in Photos)
Can't Miss It: Weekend Edition July 3-5
Weekend Theatre: July 3-5
1) How did you get the picture of Segway mom? Spare us no detail!
I had arrived at work (at the Pacific Northwest Ballet) at about 10am. At about 10:30, my co-workers started yelling, “Jen, Jen, you have to come see this!!!”
Generally when this is called out, by the time you get there, whatever the spectacle was has since ended. This time, this was not the case.
When I first saw Segway Mom she was crossing 3rd Ave from the Mercer Parking Garage. She was literally leaning forward (or teetering) to push the stroller down the disabled ramp at the corner. It looked extremely dangerous. We were all amazed, horrified and saying “we need a photo”.
I happened to have my camera along with me that day so I ran to my office to get it. I was going to take the photo through the box office window but determined that was just not going to work. I ran outside to the ramp that connects Mercer Street to the Kreilsheimer Promenade (between McCaw Hall and PNB) and was fortunate enough to catch her as she was crossing the street.
2) Who did you send the photo to first?
Well, I first sent it to the box office staff that had witnessed it. Then I sent it to some friends of mine at Ouch My Eye (photography/art studio). (Maybe I will submit it for their next show, Apocalypse Now!) All of the box office employees sent it to various friends. A co-worker had cropped the photo to send it to his friends. It would appear that this frenzy originated from his friends since the cropped photo was what showed up online.
3) Have you seen Segway mom since?
Haven’t seen her since. I would definitely talk to her if I did. I can’t believe I didn’t confront her at the time and ask her “WTF are you thinking?”
4) Is there an office consensus on what might drive a person to push a baby stroller from a Segway?
We hope not to sink into that frame of mind. I can say we did express a lot of statements regarding Segway Mom, none of which were nice. I have seen all of the commentary, and the people that think she may be disabled… I assume it takes a bit of balance and coordination to ride one, so disability doesn’t jive with me.
5) How do you feel about Segways?
Although I don’t like or dislike Segways (I have never ridden one; though I would definitely try it), I do have a problem with her trying to maneuver around with the stroller. Flat out, it is safer to walk!!
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I can't remark on how much balance and coordination it takes to ride a Segway, but I can assure anybody that disabled walkers can and do use a Segway - I have seen it myself, and an otherwise hobbled man seems to have found some mobility in this tortuous world.
I rented a Segway in Washington DC for an afternoon. After completing the class and experiencing a good amount of riding on an open path I was completely nervous and stressed out on the sidewalks (which we were required to ride on to get to and from the Segway rental place.) There were hoards of foot traffic and I could have very easily wiped someone out if I hadn't been in the middle of the pack - after all of the pedestrians had a chance to move to the side. That being said, Segways are great fun and easy to ride, however, you are not completely in control - just as you aren't in an automobile. No matter how safe you ride, you've got a moving, 250 lbs (or so) machine carrying you along. In an abrupt stop, somethings got to give. Definitely not recommended for pushing a stroller. Heck, I'm not sure I'd even walk a docile dog with a Segway.
Segways take no balance or coordination to ride; Jen Maier doesn't know what she's talking about and should not jump to conclusions when those conclusions involve negative judgements about other people.
This kind of busybody, judgemental pseudo-journalism is embarrassing to see. She admits she knows absolutely nothing about the situation-- she doesn't know how it is to ride a segway, she doesn't know the mother's situation, she doesn't know how safe it might be-- and yet jumps to condemn it, and takes a photo of the situation so she can share it with others who will also presumably delight in condemning something they know nothing about.
Parents sometimes ride a bicycle with a child in a child's seat on the bike. Is this a ludicrously dangerous thing to do because it's safer to walk carrying a child? No, it's a reasonable thing to do under certain conditions. It carries a risk, as does everything in life, but as with everything else in life a good parent can make the decision about when risk (driving a car, riding a bike, etc) is worth it.
It's embarrassing living in a country and a time where people have so little to do themselves that they have to find entertainment in gossiping and complaining about people and situations they know nothing about.
Decaf for Steve, thx.
Steve, you may be right about "pseudo-journalism," but this person is obviously doing something unsafe -- she's got only one hand on the stroller (making the stroller harder to steer). Her other hand is on machine that could easily crash into the stroller, especially since she's steering with only one hand.
Even if there is a disability involved, it seems like there has to be a better way to navigate busy city streets.
It's embarrassing living in a country and a time where people have so little to do themselves that they have to find entertainment in gossiping and complaining about people and situations they know nothing about.
Oh, Steve. What I wouldn't give for a time machine. Take a look at a newspaper from the early 20th century. "Alice Smith Visits Her Aunt in Peoria, Illinois" was big news. Personally, I think it is healthy that people are tuned into their local community and it's goings-ons. Do we only get to pay attention to what Hollywood celberities and craven politicians are up to?
FWIW, I've ridden a Segway. My company had one to impress clients that we were "hip" and "cutting edge." It takes a while to get the hang of and, even after a lot of experience, mishaps occur with a frequency much higher than simply walking. Also, bike-riders do not hang over the handlebars and push strollers in front of them. They use specially-designed kid carrier seats or trailers and the kids and parents wear helmets.
Now tell your wife to stop endangering your child on that contraption!