Lobbying To Put the Segway on Profit Path; Scooter's Inventor Seeks Federal Aid

Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway Human Transporter, wants thefederal government to provide a big financial boost to his new-agescooter.

Kamen, the multimillionaire creator of the futuristic vehicle, islobbying the government to buy some of the self-balancing electricdevices so U.S. Special Forces can scoot into battle and rangers canzip through national parks.

The inventor, a proponent of free markets, also wants Congress tohelp him sell more Segways to consumers by funding projects thatwould create paths for the scooters in cities, and by providingenvironmental tax credits to people who buy them.

It's all part of a broader campaign by New Hampshire-based SegwayLLC to boost sales of the ballyhooed transporters, a product thatSilicon Valley venture capitalist John Doerr once called "biggerthan the Internet."

"One of the reasons Dean moved to New Hampshire was he loved the'live free or die' motto. Keep government out," said Brian Toohey, avice president at Kamen's company. "But to make this technologywidely available, we need government help."

Kamen last week hired Ed Buckham and Tony Rudy, two former topaides to House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), to spearhead alobbying campaign to win funding and tax breaks for the Segway."We'll hire whoever we need" to win federal support, Toohey said.

Kamen, who made his fortune inventing medical devices, already hasa few powerful fans in Washington. Vice President Cheney carries inhis heart -- literally -- the stent Kamen invented, and he hasoccasionally buzzed around his compound on Massachusetts Avenueaboard a Segway on loan from the company. Kamen is also a modestcontributor to New Hampshire Republicans, including freshmen Sen.John E. Sununu. The Segway, unveiled 14 months ago with grandpredictions it would revolutionize travel, looks a lot like grandpa'spush mower, stood upright.

Using a system of aviation-grade gyroscopes, tilt sensors andcomputer power, it senses when the rider is leaning and preventsitself from tipping over, even on rough terrain. With a top speed of12.5 mph, it can carry a 75-pound payload plus a single rider. Modelssell for $4,950 through Amazon.com.

Kamen has concentrated his sales pitch on corporations,government agencies and universities since unveiling the Segway on"Good Morning America." Toohey, head of regulatory and internationalaffairs for Kamen, said the National Park Service and the DefenseDepartment are among those testing industrial-strength Segways.

He said the Special Forces have tested Segways to transport the"infantry soldier of the future." Toohey said the Segway cantraverse almost any terrain -- including desert sands -- and travelover land mines without detonating them.

But Segway needs to crack the private sector to turn a big profit.The company has hired lobbyists in several states to push throughlaws classifying the Segway as a pedestrian vehicle, thus allowing iton sidewalks and bike paths. After state and local officials weretreated to rides, 34 states passed such laws -- over the objection ofsome pedestrian advocacy groups. San Francisco has banned Segways onits sidewalks, the campaign's biggest setback.

Segway officials plan to lobby Congress to provide a tax credit toSegway owners. Under current law, people who buy vehicles that run oncleaner-burning fuels than gasoline get a tax deduction of as much as$2,000 for vehicles under 10,000 pounds. Kamen has said hispollution-free vehicle should qualify for at least a slice of thecredit.

Company officials also are asking members of the House and Senatetransportation committees to fund pilot projects in Chicago andelsewhere to build Segway-friendly trails.

Lobbying To Put the Segway on Profit Path; Scooter's Inventor Seeks Federal Aid

Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway Human Transporter, wants thefederal government to provide a big financial boost to his new-agescooter.

Kamen, the multimillionaire creator of the futuristic vehicle, islobbying the government to buy some of the self-balancing electricdevices so U.S. Special Forces can scoot into battle and rangers canzip through national parks.

The inventor, a proponent of free markets, also wants Congress tohelp him sell more Segways to consumers by funding projects thatwould create paths for the scooters in cities, and by providingenvironmental tax credits to people who buy them.

It's all part of a broader campaign by New Hampshire-based SegwayLLC to boost sales of the ballyhooed transporters, a product thatSilicon Valley venture capitalist John Doerr once called "biggerthan the Internet."

"One of the reasons Dean moved to New Hampshire was he loved the'live free or die' motto. Keep government out," said Brian Toohey, avice president at Kamen's company. "But to make this technologywidely available, we need government help."

Kamen last week hired Ed Buckham and Tony Rudy, two former topaides to House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), to spearhead alobbying campaign to win funding and tax breaks for the Segway."We'll hire whoever we need" to win federal support, Toohey said.

Kamen, who made his fortune inventing medical devices, already hasa few powerful fans in Washington. Vice President Cheney carries inhis heart -- literally -- the stent Kamen invented, and he hasoccasionally buzzed around his compound on Massachusetts Avenueaboard a Segway on loan from the company. Kamen is also a modestcontributor to New Hampshire Republicans, including freshmen Sen.John E. Sununu. The Segway, unveiled 14 months ago with grandpredictions it would revolutionize travel, looks a lot like grandpa'spush mower, stood upright.

Using a system of aviation-grade gyroscopes, tilt sensors andcomputer power, it senses when the rider is leaning and preventsitself from tipping over, even on rough terrain. With a top speed of12.5 mph, it can carry a 75-pound payload plus a single rider. Modelssell for $4,950 through Amazon.com.

Kamen has concentrated his sales pitch on corporations,government agencies and universities since unveiling the Segway on"Good Morning America." Toohey, head of regulatory and internationalaffairs for Kamen, said the National Park Service and the DefenseDepartment are among those testing industrial-strength Segways.

He said the Special Forces have tested Segways to transport the"infantry soldier of the future." Toohey said the Segway cantraverse almost any terrain -- including desert sands -- and travelover land mines without detonating them.

But Segway needs to crack the private sector to turn a big profit.The company has hired lobbyists in several states to push throughlaws classifying the Segway as a pedestrian vehicle, thus allowing iton sidewalks and bike paths. After state and local officials weretreated to rides, 34 states passed such laws -- over the objection ofsome pedestrian advocacy groups. San Francisco has banned Segways onits sidewalks, the campaign's biggest setback.

Segway officials plan to lobby Congress to provide a tax credit toSegway owners. Under current law, people who buy vehicles that run oncleaner-burning fuels than gasoline get a tax deduction of as much as$2,000 for vehicles under 10,000 pounds. Kamen has said hispollution-free vehicle should qualify for at least a slice of thecredit.

Company officials also are asking members of the House and Senatetransportation committees to fund pilot projects in Chicago andelsewhere to build Segway-friendly trails.

Lobbying To Put the Segway on Profit Path; Scooter's Inventor Seeks Federal Aid

Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway Human Transporter, wants thefederal government to provide a big financial boost to his new-agescooter.

Kamen, the multimillionaire creator of the futuristic vehicle, islobbying the government to buy some of the self-balancing electricdevices so U.S. Special Forces can scoot into battle and rangers canzip through national parks.

The inventor, a proponent of free markets, also wants Congress tohelp him sell more Segways to consumers by funding projects thatwould create paths for the scooters in cities, and by providingenvironmental tax credits to people who buy them.

It's all part of a broader campaign by New Hampshire-based SegwayLLC to boost sales of the ballyhooed transporters, a product thatSilicon Valley venture capitalist John Doerr once called "biggerthan the Internet."

"One of the reasons Dean moved to New Hampshire was he loved the'live free or die' motto. Keep government out," said Brian Toohey, avice president at Kamen's company. "But to make this technologywidely available, we need government help."

Kamen last week hired Ed Buckham and Tony Rudy, two former topaides to House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), to spearhead alobbying campaign to win funding and tax breaks for the Segway."We'll hire whoever we need" to win federal support, Toohey said.

Kamen, who made his fortune inventing medical devices, already hasa few powerful fans in Washington. Vice President Cheney carries inhis heart -- literally -- the stent Kamen invented, and he hasoccasionally buzzed around his compound on Massachusetts Avenueaboard a Segway on loan from the company. Kamen is also a modestcontributor to New Hampshire Republicans, including freshmen Sen.John E. Sununu. The Segway, unveiled 14 months ago with grandpredictions it would revolutionize travel, looks a lot like grandpa'spush mower, stood upright.

Using a system of aviation-grade gyroscopes, tilt sensors andcomputer power, it senses when the rider is leaning and preventsitself from tipping over, even on rough terrain. With a top speed of12.5 mph, it can carry a 75-pound payload plus a single rider. Modelssell for $4,950 through Amazon.com.

Kamen has concentrated his sales pitch on corporations,government agencies and universities since unveiling the Segway on"Good Morning America." Toohey, head of regulatory and internationalaffairs for Kamen, said the National Park Service and the DefenseDepartment are among those testing industrial-strength Segways.

He said the Special Forces have tested Segways to transport the"infantry soldier of the future." Toohey said the Segway cantraverse almost any terrain -- including desert sands -- and travelover land mines without detonating them.

But Segway needs to crack the private sector to turn a big profit.The company has hired lobbyists in several states to push throughlaws classifying the Segway as a pedestrian vehicle, thus allowing iton sidewalks and bike paths. After state and local officials weretreated to rides, 34 states passed such laws -- over the objection ofsome pedestrian advocacy groups. San Francisco has banned Segways onits sidewalks, the campaign's biggest setback.

Segway officials plan to lobby Congress to provide a tax credit toSegway owners. Under current law, people who buy vehicles that run oncleaner-burning fuels than gasoline get a tax deduction of as much as$2,000 for vehicles under 10,000 pounds. Kamen has said hispollution-free vehicle should qualify for at least a slice of thecredit.

Company officials also are asking members of the House and Senatetransportation committees to fund pilot projects in Chicago andelsewhere to build Segway-friendly trails.