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Postal News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4, 2002
Contact: (202) 268-2155
Release No. 02-045
Postal Service Testing Of The Segway™ Human Transporter Enters New Phase, Expands To Six Locations
WASHINGTON - 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 HTs to move forward with this phase of testing in the additional locations.
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. For additional information about Segway, please visit www.segway.com. Press releases and digital images are available at Segway's press center at www.segway.com/news.
Segway LLC Public Relations contact: Carla Vallone, 603-222-6200
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.
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