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Segway Helps Northern Californians Leave Their Cars at Home; The Alternative Transportation Device is Part of a New Program to Reduce Traffic, Pollution and the Energy Crisis in the Bay Area

Posted on: Monday, 12 June 2006, 18:00 CDT

Segway Inc. is participating in a unique new alternative transportation program called EasyConnect, a field test designed and coordinated by University of California, Berkeley's Institute of Transportation Studies and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), to save fuel, reduce emissions, traffic and parking congestion in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The EasyConnect program offers commuters who ride the BART or ride-share to the Pleasant Hill Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station the opportunity to utilize one of ten Segway(R) Human Transporters (HT) free-of-charge for the last few miles of their commute to the office. During lunch hours, when heavy traffic usually nixes the idea of leaving the office, Segway HTs save time (they're allowed on sidewalks and they can be parked and locked up as easily as a bicycle); plus, they take riders beyond the same old walking-distance restaurants and errand locations. For the evening commute, participants ride the Segway HTs back to the station where the units are stored in electronic lockers overnight.

"When we began development of the Segway HT, we envisioned it as an essential part of the transportation continuum -- a link that would transport people for the first and last miles of their daily trips. This field test is the embodiment of that vision," said Dean Kamen, the chairman and founder of Segway Inc. and the visionary behind the Segway HT. "It is encouraging to see transportation authorities investing in this all-important research and taking a progressive approach to urban transportation."

This is the first time Segway HTs will be used in an inter-modal public transit system in the U.S. Since December 2004 Segway HTs have been in use by the City of Lille, France, to connect commuters between remote parking areas, the train station and other locations in the city.

The Segway HT is a zero-emissions, electric transportation device that gives people a real alternative to the car for short-distance trips that are too far to walk and too short to drive. The Segway HT is electric, emits no pollution and has the energy efficiency equivalent to 450 miles per gallon. The Segway HT goes up to 24 miles(1) on a single battery charge and costs only pennies per mile to operate.

"Commuters who choose the Segway HTs will find it an incredible convenience during their morning and evening trips. We are confident that this field test will further demonstrate that integrated transit systems can be convenient, efficient and eco-friendly," Klee Kleber, vice president of Segway Inc., said.

About Segway

Segway Inc. develops intelligent motion control technology known as Segway(R) Smart Motion(TM) that is embedded in the light electric transportation devices it manufactures, such as the well-known Segway(R) Human Transporter (HT). This technology is also licensed for use in other innovative products made by third-party companies. Segway Smart Motion provides intelligent motion control that enables a device to monitor its environment, control its motion and make decisions about how it should move.

Segway markets a full line of zero-emissions Segway HTs that deliver impressive energy efficiency -- equivalent to 450 miles per gallon. Commercial and institutional customers are using the Segway HT to make their operations more efficient and consumers are using it for short-distance trips. The company's line of Segway Robotic Mobility Platforms (RMPs) offers researchers, government and military organizations intelligent, reliable, durable mobility solutions for robotic applications.

Segway Inc. has a distribution network of 100 Segway Authorized Dealers in the U.S. and 38 Segway Authorized Distributors with dealers in 55 countries. Segway HTs can be purchased at Segway Authorized Dealers and Distributors or by calling 1-866-4SEGWAY. For additional information about Segway and to find dealer locations, please visit www.segway.com. Press materials and digital images are available through the Segway Press Center at www.segway.com/news.

(1) Range varies by model, terrain, riding style and payload

Source: Business Wire

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