Chuck S said:To the person on the Segway, or the pedestrian that it hit? It seems that the pedestrian would come out far worse being rammed by a Segway, simply because the higher center of gravity, increasing the risk of the rider falling onto the pedestrian. Generally, if one is rammed by an ECV or wheelchair the passenger of the device usually remains seated. With a Segway that person would be more likely to fall off the device and land upon someone else. Also, you state, simply informing Disney that one has a disablility should enable them to use a Segway in the parks. Again, how does that solve the problem of folks renting Segways for the fun of it and running them through the parks?
Disney: Do you have a disability that is assisted by the Segway?
Rider: Yes.
I think we'd see a lot of folks with "instant" disabilities. There HAS to be a system put in place to adequately weed out the joyriders, whether it be a doctors pass or specially emblazoned/colored Segway. Especially on a product as popular for fully ambulatory and able bodied folks as the Segway is becoming.
I was talking about a person who might be struck by someone operating a Segway. There's no question that you could actually hurt yourself falling off of the Segway, even though that happens rarely. But there's also no reports of someone actually "ramming" someone with a Segway that I'm aware of.
Do you know of one?
Who do you suppose all of these folks with "instant" disabilities would be? Would they be younger or older?
I think this is a simple case of someone doing the right thing even if it didn't meet the test of the ADA. What if for instance Disney said that you could only use a Segway if it was owned by you and displayed a handicap placard. While requiring this might not be permissible under the ADA I don't think many people with disabilities using the Segway would complain about it too much.
If you're disabled you can fly on any airline with the Segway, but if you're not disabled you have to pay to transport the Segway. Not many people flying into Orlando or Los Angeles would pay to transport their Segway if they knew they could use it unless they were disabled.
It would seem a reasonable approach and a least a start in the right direction.