Hmmm ... it seems that most of the ASSUMPTIONS
assumed below in the comparison of the Ginger to
a bicycle assume a human being in near perfect
physical shape (are you going to live forever at
your current physical capacity Roman?) AND operated
in an environ free from objects a necessary
distance and 'free space' ahead of it as is
normally required to operate a bike (a bike and
rider DO NOT BALANCE standing still) making the
bicycle ONLY suitable for unrestricted *outside*
use.

Ginger, however (until it's power source runs down),
may operate in a stationary 'static' manner which
a bicycle is unable to do - and in relatively tight
quarters ...

Two entirely different vehicles with completely
different missions and requirements/demands on
it's operator.

Jim

----- Original Message -----
From: "Roman Black" <fastvid@EZY.NET.AU>
To: <PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
Sent: Friday, December 07, 2001 8:21 AM
Subject: Re: [OT]: Did someone think?


> Nice post Doug, you can rely on someone that rides
> existing 2-wheel transport to evaluate new 2-wheel
> transport ideas I reckon. :o)
>
> Is Ginger going to revolutionise transport??
> Lets see:
> * Bicycle is 10x cheaper.
> * bike is faster
> * bike uses no electricity
> * bike can go up/down steeper grades
> * bikes have good suspension these days
> * bike better off road
> * bike is a lot better under brakes!!
> * bike is light (carry up stairs?)
> * electric bike is more efficient
> (most efficient electric vehicle on the
> planet according to Calif EV magazine)
> * bike has a SEAT (why stand to travel?)
> * bike is skinnier, better in traffic
>
> This Ginger technology is a fairly poor form of
> human transport, an electric skateboard
> (you can buy them) is easier to carry, faster,
> smaller, and better standing transport on
> concrete at least.
>
> But I do see a use for this concept for robots,
> being able to stand tall and turn on axis.
> -Roman
>
>
> Douglas Butler wrote:
> >
> > Sure I would like a small electric scooter, but I don't see a real
> > advantage to Ginger versus a battery powered Razor.  Sure Ginger can
> > balance at low speed, but I don't need a machine to do that!  They say
> > it can go 12 or 18 mph, but how well does it corner at those speeds?  If
> > you are zipping down the sidewalk and a dog runs out in front of you,
> > you are still going to get a face full of gravel.  As far as I can see
> > Ginger in a quick stop would have to accelerate to get your feet out in
> > front of you so you could the decelerate at even a fraction of a G.
> > That would feel pretty scary, and if your knees buckle, it's all over.
> >
> > Nice toy, but Transportation Revolution?  No way!
> >
> > Sherpa Doug
>
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