Ashland has become the first city in Oregon, and one of the few in the nation, to commission a Segway personal transportation device for use in routine police patrol.

Much as we admire innovation in the service of public safety, we see this less as a step forward and more as putting lights and sirens atop what is a sort of Yuppie nerd badge. We agree with a National Public Radio technology commentator who recently observed that, in six short years, the Segway has gone from being heralded as "the next big thing" to becoming the $5,000 equivalent of wearing a propeller beanie.

The Segway is a recent chapter in the long-running cautionary saga of how good intentions - and inventions - can run afoul of human perception and reception. The Segway appears headed for that way station where technology washouts such as the Edsel and the eight-track tape player were exiled. Likewise, the Segway is another product that hasn't quite found its market.

Let's recap: In 2001, Segway inventor Dean Kamen unveiled his much-self-

heralded revolutionary personal transportation device. The upright, smooth, computer-and-gyroscope-controlled Segway resembles a battery-powered scooter. Riders silently travel a foot or so above the other pedestrians. It's fun to ride.

But it was intended for a more serious purpose: to propel someone on short hops around town, leaving the car parked at home. Its biggest down side: No space to haul larger items or passengers, and no built-in protection from the elements.

So instead of seeing consumers embrace the Segway, Kamen quickly become embroiled with its opponents. In 30 cities, they sought to ban the device from sidewalks. Even liberal San Franciscans didn't like the "I'm sooo above you" Yuppie aspect of the Segway. Some critics dubbed it "the SUV of the sidewalks." In 2002, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 8-2 to ban it from sidewalks. (A Segway user group has since flouted the ban and continues to attempt to drum up support.)

Even Disneyland banned the Segway in 2004, although you can pay for a Segway tour through Epcot Center.

Still, it is a clean mode of transport, and we could see how the city leaders of Ashland viewed the device as the perfect way to put a cop back on the beat without having the officer pounding the pavement. So, Ashland has spent $6,000 to outfit a Segway with lights and sirens.

Ashland police officer Teri DeSilva said that the device is more maneuverable than a mountain bike. Maybe. But if it came down to a race with a suspect, our money would be on the mountain bike-riding officer.

DeSilva said the Segway makes her more approachable, but that's debatable, too. If patrol officer approachability is a goal, we have to side with some cities that are employing proven PR winners. They're not very high-tech, but our advice to Ashland: Ditch the Segway. Get a horse.