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Postal Service
Testing of the Segway Human Transporter Enters New Phase,
Expands to Six Locations
WASHINGTON,
DC, June 4, 2002 - Postmaster General John E. Potter today announced
that the U.S. Postal Service has purchased 40 Segway Human
Transporter (HT) devices in order to begin the second phase of testing
next week.
"The feasibility
tests were conducted to determine if we could use this device to
deliver the nation's mail. The results of the tests were promising,"
said Potter. "The early test results have been compelling enough
to warrant expanded testing."
The new phase
of Segway HT testing begins June 10 in Norman, OK, and will roll
out to five additional locations as follows: Memphis, TN, in mid-June;
Bronx, NY and San Francisco, CA, in July; Chandler, AZ, and the
sixth site, which has yet to be decided, will begin in August. In
each location, carriers will deliver mail using the Segway HT on
five different routes, with at least one additional machine used
for data collection at each site. Prior to commencing this program,
the carriers will participate in a one-week, on-site training program.
These six geographically-diverse regions of the country offer different
route structures, climates, and manpower needs allowing the USPS
to evaluate the Segway HT for efficiency, safety and ergonomics.
"The U.S.
Postal Service is one of the world's most complicated and demanding
pedestrian- intensive businesses and the Segway HT is proving to
be a viable solution to lessen the physical demands of the job while
increasing workplace productivity," said Dean Kamen, Chairman
and Founder of Segway LLC. "Segway is proud of our continued,
successful partnership with the U.S. Postal Service."
The Postal Service
conducted feasibility tests with letter carriers in Tampa, FL,
(Jan. 14-Feb. 8) and Concord, NH, (March 4-29) to determine if the
Segway HT could be utilized to deliver the nation's mail: the results
were positive. It was found that the Segway HT reduced the physical
stress of carrying up to 35 pounds of mail and it decreased the
time used to walk between delivery addresses. Expanded testing of
the Segway HT will provide additional data to fully evaluate the
safety, ergonomic and efficiency impact on the letter carriers'
work activities.
While Segway
LLC provided the units to the Postal Service at no cost during the
feasibility testing, the Postal Service made the decision to purchase
40 Segway HT's to move forward with this phase of testing in the
additional locations.
About the
U.S. Postal Service
Since 1775,
the U.S. Postal Service has connected friends, families, neighbors
and businesses by mail. It is an independent federal agency that
visits 137 million homes and businesses every day and is the only
service provider to deliver to every address in the nation. The
Postal Service receives no taxpayer dollars for routine operations,
but derives its operating revenues solely from the sale of postage,
products and services. With annual revenues of more than $65 billion,
it is the global leader in providing postal services, offering some
of the most affordable postage rates in the world. The U.S. Postal
Service delivers more than 46 percent of the world's mail volume-approximately
207 billion letters, advertisements, periodicals and packages a
year-and serves 7 million customers each day at its 40,000 retail
locations nationwide. For additional information about the United
States Postal Service, please visit the following web site: www.usps.com.
About
Segway
Segway
LLC is a Manchester, NH, based business founded by renowned inventor
and entrepreneur Dean Kamen to provide a solution to short-distance
travel. The company has created the Segway Human Transporter
(HT), the first self-balancing, electric-powered transporter designed
to enhance the productivity of people by increasing the distance
they can travel and the amount they can carry. Segway is funded
by: Credit Suisse First Boston Private Equity, one of the largest
managers of alternative assets in the world, through Credit Suisse
First Boston Equity Partners, L.P. and associated funds; Kleiner
Perkins Caulfield & Byers, the leading venture capital firm
helping entrepreneurs build sustainable technology businesses; and
individual investors. For additional information about Segway, please
visit our web site at: www.segway.com.
Press releases and digital images are available at Segway's press
center at: www.segway.com/news.
Segway
is a trademark of Segway LLC in the United States and in other countries.
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