maybe this is why he fell off

Segway sounds sudden wheel reversal warning

By Tony Smith [More by this author]

14th September 2006 12:58 GMT

Segway has asked its customers around the globe to
return their "personal transporters" for a essential software update
intended to eliminate an unfortunate glitch which, in the words of the
manufacturer, "can unexpectedly reverse the direction of the wheels
which can cause a rider to fall".

The company said the bug affects all Segways sold to date. Segway's
latest model, the i2, is now shipping with the software update, as will
the x2, the company's 'off road' version, when it is released later
this month. If you already own an i2, you'll need the update, the
company said.

Segway didn't say whether any user had indeed fallen off their
motorised pogo stick, at least not because of the software bug, anyway.
To reverse the wheels as described, users need to tilt back the machine
to slow it down and stop, hop off the back, then get back on "within a
short period of time", as Segway puts it.

Anyone who tries this manoeuvre does so at their own risk. And we're
not taking any responsibility for any reader who soils themselves at
the thought of tearaway Segway owners trying to use the technique to do
noisy wheel spins to terrorise quiet suburban neighbourhoods. A game of
Segway Chicken, anyone? ®

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