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Operating Characteristics of the Segway™ Human Transporter

Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-10-025
Date: June 2010

Operating Characteristics of the Segway™ Human Transporter

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FOREWORD

The objective of this research was to examine the operating characteristics of the SegwayTM Human Transporter (HT). This final report provides empirical data on SegwayTM HT acceleration and stopping distance (both planned and unplanned stops) as well as riders' approach speed and clearance distance when navigating around obstacles. Such information can support a rational approach to the incorporation of SegwayTM HT traffic into regulating, planning, designing, and controlling shared-use paths and roadways. The results of the research described here will provide practitioners and policy makers with data to make informed decisions related to the use of Segway^TM HTs on shared-use facilities.

Monique R. Evans
Director, Office of Safety Research and Development

Notice

This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document.

The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers' names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document.

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Technical Report Documentation Page

1. Report No. FHWA-HRT-10-025	2. Government Accession No.		3 Recipient's Catalog No.
4. Title and Subtitle Operating Characteristics of the Segway^TM Human Transporter			5. Report Date June 2010
			6. Performing Organization Code
7. Author(s) Sheryl Miller, Jason Kennedy, John Molino, Amanda Emo, Gabriel Rousseau, Carol Tan, and Ann Do			8. Performing Organization Report No.
9. Performing Organization Name and Address SAIC 8301 Greensboro Drive M/S E-12-3 McLean, VA 22102			10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)
			11. Contract or Grant No. DTFH61-08-C-00006
12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center Federal Highway Administration 6300 Georgetown Pike McLean, VA 22101-2296			13. Type of Report and Period Covered Final Report, 2003-2009
			14. Sponsoring Agency Code
15. Supplementary Notes The FHWA Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) was Christopher Monk.
16. Abstract The Segway^TM Human Transporter (HT) is one of several low-speed transportation devices (e.g., bikes, scooters, wheelchairs) that, under certain circumstances, travels on sidewalks, roadways, and other shared-use paths. The objective of this research was to examine the primary operating characteristics of the Segway^TMHT. Research was conducted at the Federal Highway Administration's Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center on a closed sidewalk course. Speed and stopping distance were examined for experienced riders, and speed and clearance distance in the presence of obstacles were examined for experienced and novice riders. Overall, both experienced and novice riders were able to navigate the sidewalk course without difficulties. The results provided empirical data regarding the operating characteristics of the Segway^TM HT in relation to acceleration and stopping distance (for both planned and unplanned stops) as well as approach speed and clearance distance when navigating around obstacles. Such information is needed to develop a rational approach to incorporate Segway^TM HT traffic into regulating, planning, designing, and controlling shared-use paths and roadways. The Segway^TM HT represents just one of many unconventional transportation modes that may share these facilities in the future. The methodologies described may prove useful in determining the operating characteristics of these other modes, as well.
17. Key Words Segway^TM HT, Travel speed, Approach speed, Stopping distance, Clearance distance, Operating characteristics, Sidewalks, Shared-use paths		18. Distribution Statement No restrictions. This document is available through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161.
19. Security Classification (of this report) Unclassified	20. Security Classification (of this page) Unclassified		21. No. of Pages 64	22. Price

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Reproduction of completed page authorized

SI* (Modern Metric) Conversion Factors

Chapter 1. Introduction and Background

Chapter 2. Methodology

Chapter 3. Results

Chapter 4. discussion and Recommendations

Appendix: Participant Forms and Instructions

Acknowledgements

References

List of Figures

List of Tables

Table of Contents Next

Page Owner: Office of Research, Development, and Technology, Office of Safety, RDT

Topics: research, safety, planning, design, roadway safety, pedestrian and bicycle safety
Keywords: research, safety, planning, design, roadway safety, pedestrian and bicycle, controlling shared-use paths and roadways, SegwayTM HT, travel speed, approach speed, stopping distance, clearance distance, operating characteristics, sidewalks, shared-use paths
TRT Terms: research, Safety and security, Safety, Transportation safety
Scheduled Update: Archive - No Update needed

This page last modified on 03/08/2016