[suivix]

The biggest problem with the Segway is that you look like a total dork using it.

Do people on motorcycles look like lazy idiots? You totally missed the reason why it failed.

[nasmorn]

Motorcycles tend to kill a nice proportion of its users so lazy is not the first association really. So it is: Too young or reckless to use a car.

With segways its more like: Too lazy to get on a bicycle.

[suivix]

Ok, what about skateboards? If you ride one downhill you barely need to use energy.

[nasmorn]

Yes but they are not generally seen as mere transportation. If you use it as that you kinda look like you are a overgrown teenager. If you use it as a platform for tricks and jumps it is again fairly dangerous. This time not in lives lost but in bones broken.

When I see Tony Hawks Segway Pro in the shelves because people want to do those tricks but are afraid to break their bones, then maybe then Segways will be cool. All I see on the horizon is "Ride your Segway like Woz" the iPhone App that really only plays 3 videos (But you know how hard it is to get a video into iTunes).

[rdouble]

You use a reasonable amount of energy skateboarding. I would guess 300-500 cal/hr depending on what you are doing. You'll notice there are no fat skateboarders. The Segway didn't take off for a combination of factors. It looks lame, there's no place you can ride it legally, it costs the same as a motorcycle but you can't finance it, etc.