An Arresting Question

Let's see Mister Ed mount one of these!

A A A Comments By Josh Schonwald Thursday, Dec 15 2005

Last month Miami-Dade Police sent Jet Bullet, a reliable old stallion, an upstanding member of their nine-horse unit, out to pasture. The reason: tendinitis.

Alvaro Diaz-Rubio

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But that wasn't the worst news for the equine cops.

Miami-Dade commissioners purchased eight Segways — those two-wheel, stand-up, motorized riding things that look like old-fashioned lawn mowers on steroids — at $5000 a pop. Soon there was excited talk about rolling over shoplifters and cutting down jaywalkers everywhere from Lincoln Road to Biscayne Park. Commish Bruno Barreiro touted the Segways as the "future of community policing" and "better than a bike."

Then Commissioner Sally Heyman raised the stakes. "The Segway," she said, "is less expensive and requires less maintenance than a horse."

Responded the head mountie, Sgt. Robert Baker: "You'll never see a Segway in inner-city Miami," he said, calling the vehicles a "Miami Beach novelty.... The horse will never be replaced."

Miami New Timesdecided to referee the great Segway vs. Horse debate. Herein is a closer look at the key factors.

Speed

Segway: Top speed of the police model: 13 mph.

Horse: Even a gimpy, overweight nag can top 20 mph after a full-blown hay buffet.

Winner: Horse

Cost

Segway: The price is around $5000. Charging and replacing the lithium batteries can cost more.

Horse: Often donated free to the Miami mounted unit. Roughly $2000 per year in hay, plus $400 or $500 for horsey shoes. Then add vet costs.

Winner: Segway

Agility

Horse: The fatal flaw of Mr. Ed: He can’t do backward.

Segway: Great at going forward and backward.

Winner: Segway

Theft Risk

Segway: “What happens when you walk away from your Segway in certain neighborhoods in Miami?” Sergeant Baker asks. Good point.

Horse: This ain’t rustlin’ country. “No one in Miami steals horses,” Baker says confidently.

Winner: Horse

Getting-Kicked-in-Face Risk

Horse: Yes.

Segway: No, and besides they don’t freak out around Yorkshire terriers.

Winner: Segway

Parade Show/Nursing Home-ability

Horse: Nothing can give your parade that special je ne sais quoi more than a few well-groomed stallions. Also horses are very popular with old folks and kiddies.

Segway: Can’t currently envision the Segway unit marching triumphantly down Flagler Street.

Winner: Horse

Overall Winner: Tie. But hay, we got a weak spot for the fillies. Tossup goes to the pony.

Sources: Commissioners Barreiro and Heyman, Segway Website, Sergeant Baker

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