Seways on the Web • Segway Diagram • Detailed Info

No, Martians have not invaded Atlanta. Just their vehicles. Unless you have been living in a cave, you probably have heard about the invention that is supposed to change the world, at least according to the media hype. The subject of widespread Internet rumor, the invention was nicknamed Ginger and the most popular myth was that it was a flying machine. When famed inventor Dean Kamen finally unveiled his creation, it understandably could not live up to the speculation. Ginger actually goes by the less exotic, more practical moniker of Segway Human Transporter. As the name suggests, the Segway is a personal transport machine, somewhat resembling a scooter, but with state of the art technology. Atlanta has been chosen by Kamen as the first major city to utilize his invention. What impact will it have on Atlanta?

At first glance, Atlanta may seem an odd choice to debut an alternative form of transportation. Atlantans rely very heavily on their automobiles, and due to the explosive growth in the past twenty years, the commute continues to get longer and more aggravating for Atlanta area residents. However, due to the inefficiency of the public transit system, most Atlantans are resigned to spending hours behind the wheel. The idea that Atlantans, after watching bureaucrats tool around on loaner Segways for a few months, might trade in their cars for human transporters, is pretty ridiculous. But after perusing the Segway Web site, it appears that Kamen's plans for the Segway are much more grounded and realistic than the media has presented in their hysterical coverage.

A city official wrote Dean Kamen after hearing about the invention, feeling strongly that Atlanta could benefit from the machine. Kamen in turn did his own research on Atlanta, and eventually, a deal was made to bring a fleet of Segway Human Transporters to the city. Among those using the machines are the city ambassadors (one of which has the infamy of being the first person to injure himself on a Segway) and the city police force. The police are testing the Segway's feasability in communinity policing actions, a trumped up form of the current bicycle patrol. Georgia Power also purchased 2 units to use at their power plants and also to test how efficient they would be for meter readings. Another facility that could use the Segway machine to improve transport efficiency is Hartsfield International Airport, the busiest in the world. Anyone who has had to maneuver from one of the terminal to the other would agree that the Segway would be a great alternative. Since the local government has great influence over airport operations, if the Segways being used by the city currently are deemed a success, more are likely to appear in such settings as the airport.

Kamen's invention definitely has potential in the industrial or warehouse setting, and it's to his credit that he is pursuing those avenues most vigorously. "Business focused productivity" is a phrase being associated with the Segway, that sums up the machine's purpose concisely. Kamen himself stresses the fact that optimal use for the Segway will be in "dense urban environments" for "short-distance travel." The current trend in Atlanta has been to create live-work environments such as Kamen has envisioned for his Segway to be utilized. The intown area continues to be developed and populated, and this pattern looks like it will only grow in the near future.

Overall, the Segway's greatest success will proabably be in the industrial sector, and will have little impact on traffic congestion. But the fact that Atlanta officials recognize and are willing to explore all of the options to improve the quality of life in the city is refreshing.