It's been almost two years since The University of Memphis received its first pair of Segway scooters, but the thrill hasn't gone away for physical plant employees.
"Everyday you hop on its exciting -- it's like a motorcycle," said James Cantrell, a student employee in the Physical Plant's electronic shop.
Despite images of James Dean-like engineers riding their hogs, Cantrell denied any allegations of Segway tomfoolery.
"Anytime you see us on one of these, we're doing business," said Cantrell, an alum who has returned to get a second degree in engineering.
Cantrell said the Segways can be dangerous, considering the dense student traffic on campus, and that misuse could put someone's job on the chopping block.
"I thought (the Segways) were just going to be a big toy ... but they've been really great," said James Brigman, electronics shop supervisor.
Cantrell said the scooters are much more convenient and safer for navigating the campus (which he refers to as a city within a city) than the vans his department formerly used. He said the Segways are also more economical, since they don't require gas.
Cantrell said students solicit him for free rides "all the time," but that he cannot oblige them.
"We let no one else ride it," he said.
For good reason, all employees must first complete a Segway safety course before they can take one out for a strictly-business spin. The cheapest of the Segways retails on Amazon.com for $3,995.
In the safety course, employees learn about the Segways' safety measures and the ins and outs of mounting and dismounting. Yes, the course includes traffic cones and requires helmets.
"The helmets are a good thing," said Cantrell, who added that he has heard of faculty injuring themselves on the Segway.
Cantrell said adjusting to a Segway is much like adjusting to a bicycle -- any accidents usually occur in the initial rides.
As for the oddly-fluid movements of the Segway, Cantrell said "We probably make it look a little easier than it is," and that he's seen some people pay the price for jumping on too eagerly.
To underscore his point, Cantrell offered this reporter a golden opportunity -- a free ride within the confines of the electronics shop.Cantrell first gave a run down of the two-wheel scooter's five gyroscopes and dual processors, explaining how they react to a rider's balance and reiterating that it is in fact possible to tip over.
To demonstrate the sophistication of the scooter's circuitry, Cantrell leaned the passenger-less Segway forward and pressed its zeroing button, and the obedient Segway righted itself. Proving that the Segway's technology does have its limits, he demonstrated that the scooter couldn't right itself from more extreme angles.
Cantrell said the key to a successful mount or dismount is following "the one-foot rule."
"It's really a lot like a horse," Cantrell said, "and like a horse, you have to let it know you're getting on."
While grabbing the handlebars, a rider places one foot down onto the scooter's platform. At this point the Segway's behavior is similar to a skateboard, and can be rocked back and forth if the rider's foot is not planted firmly straight down.
Having alerted the Segway to its on-coming passenger, riders may place their second foot down. This is where things get weird.
Riders must first find their balance, a challenge made easier with good posture.
Passenger can then truly take the reins after finding their balance, ceasing the slight forward and back movements of the scooter.
This reporter found the power of locomotion in his chin -- a slight nod down for going forward, and a slight lift for braking, stopping or going in reverse. Steering is accomplished with a dial on the left handlebar -- pushing it forward steers the Segway right, and down veers left.
Terrence Bronson, a designer with Campus Planning and Design, remembers riding the Segway through the halls when The University was first considering acquiring them. Bronson's department, however, didn't receive any of the Segways.
"(They) would've been good for us to get around quickly and carry equipment."
"I'm a little jealous, but we'll never get them," he said.Bronson pointed out that his department has some fancy equipment of their own that others might covet, namely sophisticated computer-drafting programs.
Bronson doesn't let his Segway envy get him down. When asked if he would trade the drafting programs for a department Segway, Bronson said, "No! You must be crazy!"
