Taking A Glide Through The Park (NAPSA)—Don’t be surprised if someone asks you to go for a glide sometime soon—and don’t worry if you're afraid of heights. “Gliding” is one of the latest trends among baby boomers and other people looking for a new way tosocialize and get around town. Gliding 101 People going for a glide stand on maneuverable, two-wheeled transporters and zip around at speeds up to 12.5 miles an hour. These machines, called Segway Human Transporters, can be used in virtually any situation (to get to restaurants, the grocery store, gliding through the park, etc.) and are designed to be easy to use. In fact, the company that makes them says most people can easily learn how to operate them their first time using them. To go forward, lean forward. To slow down, lean back. Riders turn left and right by twisting a grip with their left hand. And the machines go far. The i180 model and the Segway Golf transporter (GT) come with batteries that lets people glide up to 24 miles on a single charge. Baby boomers now use the devices for a variety of activities— ranging from shopping to visiting the beach—and for carrying gear such as computers, sporting equipment and even pets. Typically, a rider wears a helmet and possibly a pair of sun- glasses—to protect against errant branches or the occasional bug— but the machines are designed to Care For A Glide? Baby boomers have taken to “gliding” as a fun way to get around town and meet up with friends. be safe and intuitive. Using a technology called “dynamic stabilization,” the machines “sense” a rider’s center of gravity 100 times a second and continually keep the rider balanced. The technology lets riders stand upright on the vehicle, even when not in mo- tion—that helps keep people safe, but also helps out with the social side of gliding, by letting people “stand” around and chat. Surfing And Gliding Sharing gliding experiences has become a popular online activity as well. Baby boomers gather with people from around the world at Web sites such as segwaychat.com or www.segamerica.org to connect with others and plan for glides—be it on vacation overseas or with someone the next town over. For more information, visit the Web site www.segway.com/glide.
