Segways, those state-of-the-art, two-wheeled, electric scooters have become a popular means of transportation since they were introduced a few years ago. Along with police officers, mall security, and tourists in Hawaii, the Segways have now become the preferred method of transportation by disabled people who say the unusual scooters offer them more mobility and dignity than wheelchairs.
Which is why advocates for the disabled are trying to persuade big wigs at Walt Disney World and SeaWorld Orlando to lift a ban on the use of Segways within the theme parks.
The folks at Disney have never allowed Segways on their property because they maintain the scooters create safety hazards. Disney spokespeople are quick to add that disabled people are welcome at the parks, just not on Segway Personal Transporters.
The push to allow visitors to use Segways at various amusement parks throughout the country is mainly being fueled by an organization called Disability Rights Advocates for Technology, or DRAFT, which raises money to donate Segways to disabled U.S. military veterans and pushes for their acceptance.
Group leaders say because of the upright design of the Segways, users are able to stand tall and look people in the eyes even though they are unable to walk. According to DRAFT spokespeople Segways are especially helpful to people who use prosthetics, and people who can stand but can’t easily walk.
Interestingly, Disney does run paid, guided Segway tours of Epcot and the Fort Wilderness campground, and many Disney employees scoot around on Segways in designated areas around the property, but Disney officials say they see “serious safety concerns if potentially untrained visitors are riding Segways on the same crowded walkways as toddlers, elderly persons and people with sight, hearing, mental or mobility disabilities.”
They other problem Disney execs have with the Segways is that the scooters can go more than 12 mph, much faster than most motorized wheelchairs.
Officials at the nearby SeaWorld attraction say they have similar concerns with the Segways’ speed and added that SeaWorld has thin paths and walkways of varying grades and construction, which may be ill designed for Segways. Meanwhile, officials at Universal Orlando say they do permit disabled riders on Segways on a case-by-case basis.
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