Seven years ago, we thought Segways would be the wave of the future. Could they be the answer to urban congestion? Would flocks of business folk be zipping awkwardly to work every day, weaving in and out of traffic with their skinny black ties flapping in the wind?

Although that would have been my dream come true, until recently I had only seen a Segway once, and that was when an overweight police officer chased a guy across a Westport parking lot one night.

But this summer, my dream of awkward Segway armies finally came true. And after two months of being completely bombarded by swarms of Segways every day in Washington, DC this summer, I would like to share a few observations:

1. Segway riders never travel alone. They are usually in gaggles led by rugged, city-slicker tour guides.

2. Segway riders prefer to wear matching T-shirts, preferably with bright colors - I guess so that they won’t get kidnapped. They usually wear ill-fitting khaki shorts that manage to ride up their legs and hug their large rear-ends. Their outfits are often adorned with fanny packs that hold their digital cameras and wallets.

3. Segway riders are ALWAYS sweaty.

4. Most Segway riders wear helmets, but some of the rebels don’t.

One day, I was lucky enough to capture a pretty good shot of a bizarre Segway scene. To see it, you can click below.

The best picture of Segways ever

Maybe Segways haven't quite reached the status of vehicles of the future. Maybe they haven’t revolutionized modern transit. But at least they give us something to laugh at.