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Are Segways perhaps the method of transport for the future? With gas prices are high as they are, it’s no wonder that Segways are gaining more recognition. It must have been five years ago when I first saw a Segway. It was presented by the inventor himself, Dean Kamen. (Did you know that he’s from New Hampshire?) At the time, the Segway was being looked at as a breakthrough invention, mostly for mobility that could assist people with handicaps. I remember being amazed as I watched the Segway climb a set of stairs with ease. Today, we must eye this invention from a new perspective. Could it be the new escape from our gas bills? Or perhaps the new way to save the environment? Here are some facts from the Segway’s Website.

• It has been estimated that there are 450 million car trips taken each day less than five miles in length. “If we are able to replace 10% of 900 million 3-mile car trips with an eco-friendly Segway PT there would be 6.2 million fewer gallons of gas consumed and 286 million fewer pounds of CO2 emitted everyday.”
• A Segway doesn’t give off emissions like a car. But it should be noted that, “It does draw electric power during recharge, but that electricity causes fourteen times less greenhouse gas emissions than driving a car.”
• “The Segway PT is eleven times more efficient than the average American car, and over three times more efficient than even the highest-mileage scooters.”

Something else to remember is that Segways can save a lot of the hassle of cars and public transportation, especially in cities. You’ll never have trouble parking, and you’ll never have to deal with the maintenance issues of cars.

So,  take a look at your life and see how a Segway could fit into it. Do you make a short-distance trip every day? It’s possible that you can save some gas money, and more significantly, the environment.