Seattlest: An Interview with Jen Maier, Who Photographed Segway Mom

David F.

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 12:59:09 -0800

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!

LisaMama

Sun, 03 Jun 2007 17:13:40 -0800

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.

art

Sun, 03 Jun 2007 15:27:24 -0800

Decaf for Steve, thx.

steve

Sun, 03 Jun 2007 09:24:39 -0800

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.

wendee

Sat, 02 Jun 2007 23:42:35 -0800

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.

Tim

Thu, 31 May 2007 21:41:06 -0800

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.