Celebration, Florida — the pocket new-Urbanist community on land previously part of the Walt Disney World stake in central FL — has welcomed Segways with open arms. Of course, this is the same town that spent a fortune wiring the whole place up for ISDN video-phones…
Celebration is now a test market for Segway Human Transporters, people movers that are powered by a battery, balanced by gyroscopes and look something like pogo sticks on wheels. The machines will be available nationwide in March, but people here who agree to answer the company’s e-mail messages and questionnaires for a year may buy Segways early and receive a $2,000 refund on the $4,950 price.
“We want to know how the actual owners use it in their everyday life,” said Morgan Smith, brand manager for Segway of Manchester, N.H., “whether it is saving time or helping them get to and from work or running errands during their lunch hour or just getting outside to see people.”
(Thanks, Gary!)