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Segways in the National Parks: Do We Really Need Them?

Jan 7th - 08:32am | p.scott rattermann

Wow kurt you have brought out the longest list of comments on any article i have read so far. good job. segways like many products have a place in the market, is the National Parks a viable market? maybe. would it be better to fire up a 4x4 pickup truck to run next door or use a segway? less fuel no pollution. Do we need segways running around a park like mopeds on a island in the caribbean?

Jan 6th - 22:54pm | Anonymous

This fall I was on the waterfront of the SF Maritime museum building that is being renovated and Golden Gate Park. I was enjoying a very nice evening walk along with several other walkers/runners when along came a Segway tour. I can only assume this group had a commercial use permit to operate within the park.

Jan 6th - 20:03pm | Anonymous

Segways in the National Parks...how tacky! Next we'll have conveyor belts to help the super obese get their fat butts around the parks. Parks are for wholesome exercise: physically, mentally and spiritually.

Jan 6th - 18:02pm | Kath

Segways are toys. They aren't transportation. They aren't for the handicapped. Little old ladies who need wheelchairs because of their hip replacements or osteoporosis won't be using Segways as an alternative.

Jan 6th - 17:46pm | scott white

Might as well throw another tire on the fire. Another not very brilliant idea actually receives the validity of controversy. Must we really even entertain this hair- brained idea? There is no practical use for a segway in the parks. The Handicapped can't stand on a segway, and if they can, they should just walk or take a shuttle.

Jan 6th - 17:17pm | Mr. Mojave

I see a perfect place for these – as an alternative to the summer shuttle in Zion (or other shuttle-only roads). But the rental must be economical – and not Xanterra economical, either.

Jan 6th - 17:03pm | Tom

Just, please make then available for the Handicap!!

Jan 6th - 15:49pm | Gary

Maybe they need to have baskets on them also so people can carry their candy, cigarettes, soda and Big Macs around.

Jan 6th - 15:42pm | Barky

Let's be realistic here. Segways are not an off-road vehicle. I doubt they can even go on a lawn, much less a trail. So, that limits their use to the following: -- roads -- sidewalks -- paved or well-graded interpretive trails

Jan 6th - 15:28pm | Anonymous

They are more environmentally friendlier than cars and motorcycles. If they could be used in such a way to cut automotive congestion in the parks, I'm for it. Also, they would be a handy tool for park rangers in certain areas. The Chicago police department use them to patrol the city parks.

Jan 6th - 14:57pm | Donna

Segways, the conveyance of the future. That is all well and good. I can see ones with handicaps using such a vehicle to get around in. I understand that. But.....National Parks!!! Please. The object of a National Park and the reason so many of us go there is to see and experience the outdoors. Which means walking, using those 2 branches of the human body that the "Big guy upstairs" gave us.

Jan 6th - 14:33pm | Jim

No, no, no, no and no. "Perhaps there are places in the national park system where Segways make sense..." That'll be another no.

Jan 6th - 14:22pm | Bob Janiskee

Allowing Segways in our National Parks is one of the dumbest ideas that ever came down the pike. Perhaps a case could be made for allowing disabled people to use them, in which case the Segways should be clearly marked as conveyances for the physically disabled. Being overweight and lazy should not be an acceptable excuse for using a Segway in a national park.

Jan 6th - 13:49pm | Anonymous

Please do not allow segways in parks- thanks

Mission

Jan 6th - 14:10pm | Steve Sergeant

mexico adventure wrote: a real vacation means exploring new countries and cultures I'll grant that this definition supports your business model well.

Jan 5th - 13:13pm | mexico adventure

I would recommend a national park vacation for old people of families for camping but a real vacation means exploring new countries and cultures

Jan 3rd - 18:44pm | Donna

Hi, I just stumbled onto your site by accident. Great site!!! Since I've been a road tripper for the past several years, I've logged miles on my truck visiting many different National Parks, Monuments, etc. From the little I've seen so far, great going guys. I've bookmarked you so I'll be sure to be back. Good information, I love it. thanks.....

Lynx, Long Sought in Yellowstone National Park, Is Caught on Film

Jan 6th - 11:30am | repanshek

Bryan,

Jan 6th - 07:55am | Bob Janiskee

Intentionally killing 18 lynx during the winter of 1971-72 was a pretty sorry thing to do, but the size of the trapper take implies that there was a respectable population of lynx in the area back in the early 70s. Road kill can also be interpreted this way. There are lots of dead possums, raccoons, and foxes along the roads in our community.

Jan 5th - 18:00pm | bryan

Are there any protections that can be granted if this individual has naturally recolonized to the area? Are lynx threatened or endangered outside of the park boundaries?

Jan 4th - 22:25pm | jjjul1

You say-Things weren't always so bleak for lynx in Wyoming. During the winter of 1971-72 trappers came out of the Wyoming Range with 18 lynx-you call that not so bleak what the trappers did not kill the loggers did. This is why our earth with its natural wild life is disappearing is due to crap like this.

Death Valley's Bobcats Likely Lured In By Poor Food Handling at Inn

Jan 5th - 11:35am | Linda

You hear it all the time: "Don't feed wild animals!". They tend to come back again and again. Free food is an enticement for them. Also, with the advancement of new communities and new properties being built, there's less and less land for wildlife to live in. It's a shame that humans have become such greedy land-grabbers. We need more protected land for our country's wildlife.

2007 Visitation Across National Park System Projected To Rise

Jan 4th - 08:47am | jsmacdonald

The 7,000 difference is only over 1992, the highest level to date. In recent years, unlike most of the park's history, visitation actually leveled off and even declined somewhat (after progressing upward for a long time.) Over last year, the rise in visitation was significant. In fact, it was 9.8%. Here are the last three years.

Jan 3rd - 18:54pm | repanshek

Good catch, anon. Not sure what I was thinking. Kurt

Jan 3rd - 18:46pm | Anonymous

"In fact, Yellowstone was so popular in 2007 that it set an attendance record, with 3,151,342 visitors, an increase of nearly 10 percent over 2006 levels and nearly 40,000 visitors above the previous record of 3,144,405 counted in 1992." Not to nitpick, but isn't that a difference of less than 7,000?

Assateague Island National Seashore Rangers Troll Internet For Big Catch

Jan 4th - 08:05am | Anonymous

She tried to blow it off on the site where she posted it. Later that day she posted that the fish "went back for a swim to grow up". Yeah after she got caught.

Jan 3rd - 20:17pm | bon bay

WOW big striper cop worried about one undersized fish when the big boats and gill netters rape the bay and ocean's .what a joke!

Jan 3rd - 18:58pm | Anonymous

she knew where to post it so she know shomething about the fish she just got caught

Jan 3rd - 18:38pm | Anonymous

by not knowing the law is stupid i think it is sad to brag about a fish that small. end of story

Jan 3rd - 17:53pm | Anonymous

Did anyone ever think the lady thought she was right, Agreed she broke the law and must pay the penalty but I don't think she could have been fool enough to brag, with a picture, if she thought she was in violation.

Jan 1st - 15:51pm | steve ,,m

great job should have fine her more

Jan 1st - 14:37pm | Anonymous

Way to go

Jan 1st - 07:12am | Anonymous

Stupid IS as Stupid Does!! would love to have seen the look on her face as the ranger pulled up.. Priceless!

Dec 31st - 21:17pm | Anonymous

HAHAHA!!! What an idiot...both for keeping the fish and posting the picture. What a moron.

Dec 31st - 12:30pm | Anonymous

Excellent work and thank you!

Dec 31st - 11:53am | jimmy

Way to go Officer!!! The stupidity of violators never ceases to amaze me. Kudos to the ranger for playing a hunch. Nice collar.

Dec 31st - 10:34am | Anonymous

Good work constable!

Groups Sue Cape Hatteras National Seashore Over ORV Traffic

Jan 3rd - 18:29pm | Donna

Well, I've been to Cape Hatteras and I didn't see what was up there in the picture, all those vehicles. But unlike those guys in the vehicles. I prefer to walk out to the beach, I don't particularly enjoy taking my 4x4 out on the beach as sand can be not so nice to my truck. But then that's just me.

Jan 1st - 14:33pm | Tom McCaffrey

I look forward to bringing my family with our ORV's and riding on the beach. We will observe all rules. Though some of our ORV's date 1985 they don't leak oil, they are maintained and licensed. To you Doom & Gloom folks, go swim out to some of those rocks you won't see any ORV's out there.

Is The National Park Service Protecting Its Heritage in Santa Fe?

Jan 3rd - 18:20pm | Anonymous

I live in Ohio. I have been to many of our National Parks, Monuments, etc. Why on earth would you want to close down a historic place. Do you not understand that this is a piece of our history? Do you not know what will happen if this is NOT kept up? Pretty soon, and we can say within the next 20/30 years, if not sooner.

Bobcats Attack Two at Death Valley National Park

Jan 2nd - 23:38pm | Ruth

Besides not commenting on what the woman was doing before her hands got scratched, the article failed to mention the resort employee's treatment of one cat. We were in Furnace Creek during one of the sitings that week. We witnessed twelve male employees surrounding a tree where a bobcat was and going three feet or so up to it with mace and spraying it.

Jan 2nd - 16:53pm | Anonymous

This posting should be titled "When French Fry Crazed Bobcats Strike!"

Jan 1st - 19:24pm | katrina

Wow, after Rangers and Fish & Game Officers found several resort employees feeding wildlife (probably including Bobcats), it would seem mgt. would step in and remind their staff that it's not right to invite wildlife in, that their life is in danger, and guests too! Remind everyone that feeding wildlife is just inviting serious problems!

Jan 1st - 09:50am | Kath

The article fails to mention how these individuals came to be attacked. In other words, with bites to the hands, was the woman feeding or attempting to feed the bobcat? I've seen bobcats in my area. They're no larger than a cocker spaniel and not aggressive.

Dec 31st - 19:33pm | Lynn Berk

Now there is a smart person. Too many times it's "Death by Stupid" at our national parks, although these two attacks don't fit in that category. I read a book called "Deaths At Yellowstone" that should really be called "Stupid Deaths at Yellowstone."

Dec 31st - 10:41am | mare

Encroaching is nothing new to hear about. I lived in Estes Park, just outside Rocky Mountain National

Resolutions and the National Parks: What Will You Do?

Jan 2nd - 14:04pm | Bob Janiskee

I resolve to spend more time in 2008 working as a volunteer at Congaree National Park. I also intend to recruit at least one more person for the Volunteers-in-Parks program.

Jan 1st - 19:39pm | katrina

I'm personally most concerned with snowmobiles in Yellowstone. My husband & I have visited several national parks, but have not been as deeply moved as we were upon visiting Yellowstone. Why allow the movement of snowmobiles through the park? For money? Can we not sustain enough revenue during the rest of the year to not allow this? Oh please...can we not let wildlife be for winter?

Giving a Name to Yosemite Area Peak for Longtime Ranger Carl Sharsmith.

Dec 30th - 19:04pm | Anonymous

I'm with Lone Hiker. I don't doubt he was a great man, but we should not be naming natural features after people. Name a ranger station or BC cabin for him, but not a peak. What will we do when we run out of things to name? Take his name off to put a more recent one on?

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Studying Interpretive Options for Moccasin Bend

Dec 30th - 14:27pm | Anonymous

Thanks Mookie and Chance for the information on the Trail of Tears. For some reason I was under the impression it was one major trail leading to Oklahoma.

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