Segway Causes Segway

In 2010, Jimi Heselden, the mufti-millionaire owner of the company that makes Segway motorized scooters died in an accident while riding one of his vehicles.

He was riding a rugged country version of the two-wheeled Segway when he lost control of the machine as he traveled along a bridleway close to his estate near Boston Spa, West Yorkshire. He was found dead in a river after plunging 80 feet over a limestone cliff. The Segway was found in the river near his body, indicating that he was still riding the scooter when he drove over the cliff.

Segways are banned on British roads for safety reasons, but are legal on private land. Heselden bought the Segway company nine months earlier and planned to further develop the machine.

Honda or Segway

Here is the U-3X, Honda's personal mobility device. I think it is a little too odd for mass appeal, but like all things Honda, it is cute in a different sort of way.

Honda developed the new personal mobility technology, a compact experimental device to provide free movement in all directions just like human walking - forward, backward, side-to-side, and diagonally. It acts like a sittable Segway, with no handle bars. The seat is in two pieces and folds down flat for carrying.

Honda took some of the technology from Asimo. It runs for about an hour per charge. Honda is planning to showcase the U3-X at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show, which will begin on 24th October 2009.