Aren't We Fat Enough Already?

John Daley linked to a Boston Globe article I missed about the Segway in Boston. Apparently, there's some ongoing discussion on Beacon Hill about whether and how to regulate the Segway. It's not a pressing matter, really -when was the last time you saw anyone riding a Segway?- but it reminded me of my decision not to buy one.

Theoretically, I'm a good candidate for a Segway: I can afford one; I live and work in town; my commute can use the Boston Common and the Public Garden so I wouldn't have to be on the sidewalks all the time. So why didn't I buy a Segway? Two reasons:

1. I need the exercise from walking;
2. There are steps into my building and I have no outside storage.

I think those are reasons enough to significantly hamper sales in urban settings, above and beyond the cost. At least, I hope so. We're pretty fat as a nation. I don't like the idea that those who could walk might take a Segway instead.

Health insurance premiums are high enough.

Comments

[Beth]

That's the main problem with the Segway, as far as I see it: Where to safely park the thing in an urban area? It's hard to imagine that they'll ever catch on in a big way for commuters, even if the prices dropped.

Too bad that there isn't a way to rent one. I'd be willing to pay to ride one for a few hours, more as a form of recreation than as exercise. I think it's be great to be able to zip along the Charles River in one. It would be a fun way to tour a city if you were visiting.