Name: Don Cheney
General sales manager, Segway of Northern New England
Do you recommend wearing a helmet while riding a Segway?
Yes. It's essentially the same as riding a bike, so you'd want to wear one. Especially because you can go more than 10 mph.
What rules govern Segway riding: pedestrian rules, biker rules, car rules? Can you ride it down a road?
Pedestrian rules. If you are on a street, you are supposed to be going against traffic, not with traffic, just like if you were walking.
How is it powered?
With an electric motor. You plug it into a regular outlet and it charges it up. You can go about 24 miles to a charge, depending on the amount of hills, weight, etc.
Do you own a Segway and use it in your personal life?
No, I don't have one. Our biggest users and customers are security and police. And tour companies that do Segway tours. They do them out of the Museum of Science in Boston. You go take a training, and after you pass training you can take a group of five or six out to tour the city.
What are some of the benefits of riding a Segway? What makes it better or worse than a bike or scooter?
With a Segway, you can go into a building with it, which you generally can't do with a bike or scooter. And it's electric, so it's pennies a day. There are people who use them to commute to work, if you have a short two- or three-mile commute. We had a guy who works in Bedford who had about a two-mile commute who said he would go right to his cubicle and park it.
Is Concord a Segway-friendly city?
It's not too bad. There's not an over-abundance of them around, but the sidewalks here are pretty forgiving. In some cities the sidewalks are really crowded or narrow, but a lot of Concord's are handicapped accessible now, so it's pretty good.
How fast can a Segway go? And how far?
About 12.5 mph as a top speed, and about 24 miles on a single charge.
How long does a trip have to be to justify using a Segway? From the couch to the kitchen?
I think it's more if you are making a run to the store. Or some people have a heart condition where they can't walk or another medical condition where they can't get around without an electric scooter or something, and this gives them a little more freedom.
Do you feel bad for people walking by the store on their own two legs like suckers?
No, but I'm a big fan of exercise. I like to bike a lot. But in cities, people have to pay $20 or $30 a day to park, so it's nice to take a Segway and not have to worry about paying.
Hidden talent?
Cycling. I do a lot of it, usually a couple of races and a couple of benefit rides every year. My wife and I do the Peddling for Payson every year. And I've done some triathlons.
