You know a vehicle has arrived when somebody decides to drive it from coast to coast in the United States and make a documentary about his experience.

But until now, no one has ever attempted the 6,900-kilometre trek on an electric scooter. Especially one that has its wheels parallel to each other, a top speed of 18 km/h and a range of less than 20 kilometres. Nevertheless, on Aug. 5, an intrepid group of adventurers who call themselves the 10 Mph Club packed up battery chargers, global positioning systems and toothbrushes and set out from Seattle en route to Boston aboard a pair of Segway HT (Human Transport) scooters.

"We're going out there during a unique time in the U.S.," participant and organizer Josh Caldwell said. "This vehicle forces us to slow down life to 10 miles per hour on average. It allows us to take time to tell stories along the way. It's a natural icebreaker."

Caldwell and his group are currently taking a breather in Denver after travelling 2,450 kilometres over 32 days.

Conceived and designed by New Hampshire inventor Dean Kamen, the Segway is a two-wheeled personal transport device that relies on battery power and a complex arrangement of microprocessors, internal sensors and gyroscopes to both keep its balance and move it forward and back.

I've had the chance to ride one, and it definitely requires an attitude adjustment.

For starters, the Segway doesn't have a steering mechanism, nor any kind of mechanical brakes and you don't sit on it, you stand. It has no throttle control, at least not in the traditional sense. It's also almost completely passive in operation: All you have to do is stand on the thing, lean forward or back and off you go.

Five gyroscopic sensors that detect forward and backward pitch as well as any lean to the left or right keep the Segway stable. All electronic information is controlled by the "brain" of the vehicle, which is made up of two electronic controller circuit boards, and multiple onboard microprocessors, which boast, in total, about three times the power of a typical personal computer.

Motivation is supplied by a pair of brushless, wheelchair-type electronic motors, located at each wheel. When the rider leans forward, the motors spin both wheels forward to keep from tilting over. When he/she leans back, the motors spin both wheels backward.

When the rider operates the steering grip to turn left or right, the motors spin one wheel faster than the other, or spin the wheels in opposite directions so the vehicle rotates. You can execute a 180- or 360-degree turn on the Segway without moving forward or back.

A pair of rechargeable nickel-hydride batteries provide power and the Segway has a range of between 10 and 16 kilometres, depending upon how it's being ridden and what kind of terrain is being covered. There are also three different top speed settings: 10, 13 and 18 km/h.

Most people will adapt to the Segway in about 15 minutes, although riders with snowboard/skateboard experience apparently master it almost immediately. Maximum weight allowance is 113 kilograms and the manufacturer recommends no one weighing less than 45 kilos attempt to ride the Segway.

Nor can it carry any appreciable amount of cargo, although a small pouch that hangs from the handlebars can be ordered.

When you stand on the Segway, you can feel the various gyroscopes and gimbals compensating and it takes some getting used to.

Once you've figured out how to stand perfectly still, the Segway remains immobile. Lean forward and it starts to creep ahead. If you want to stop, you simply lean back and it slows down. You can actually operate the Segway in reverse, but it won't go over 5 km/h backing up.

What's really cool about it is that once you figure it out, you can manoeuvre your way through the tightest spaces with ease and when you're at "full throttle," it feels like you're almost floating over the ground. My test Segway was set at the lowest speed, but it still felt like I was flying once I got rolling. Top speed would no doubt feel like 100 km/h.

Undeniably fun, the Segway isn't perfect. It doesn't handle rough ground well, doesn't like snow or ice and can't safely negotiate any kind of incline. It was also recalled in September of last year for a software problem.

There's also the problem of licensing. The Segway isn't a motorcycle, wheelchair or bicycle. That means it can't safely be used on public roads, but is too large for sidewalks. When it was first introduced in the United States, the government initially classed it as a "light industrial truck" -- the same category as a forklift.

Nor are there any dealers in Canada, and the Segway can't legally be used on public thoroughfares. The best that can be said is that Transport Canada is turning a blind eye.

Maybe a Canadian run -- from Vancouver to Halifax?

Nah.