Has anyone done the Segway tours of Downtown? I have some family coming in town from Dallas and would possibly be interested in doing something fun like that. I have ridden a Segway in Florida and they're really cool, and I'm sure my nephew will enjoy it. How are the Glide St. Louis tours?

I haven't seen them downtown, but I believe the Science Center in Forest Park has Segway tours.

We were at the zoo Friday afternoon, and the people taking Segway tours were all over the place.

Here's a link to the Glide St. Louis (Segway tours).



Have fun!



http://www.glidestlouistours.com/

Lyda Krewson is proposing to restrict Segway tours in Forest Park:



<a href="http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... nt">Battle over Segways looms</a>



I thought this was amusing:

Even if they have to stay off the Forest Park bike paths, customers can count on a healthy dose of Segway humor: Each of the company's units are named after characters in the television show "Gilligan's Island."



Why?



"Because," Sapienza says, "it's a three-hour tour."

Welcome to the City of St. Louis! A new technology? Let's regulate it! Never mind that no one has complained about it -- let's anticipate their complaints and impose regulatory burdens on local businesses!!!



(There's no small irony in the fact that Ms. Krewson, who's allegedly an accountant, led the drive to drop the earnings tax on options income.)

bonwich wrote:Welcome to the City of St. Louis! A new technology? Let's regulate it! Never mind that no one has complained about it -- let's anticipate their complaints and impose regulatory burdens on local businesses!!!

Please. It's a fancy motor scooter.



We're letting groups of unexperienced motor scooter riders use the bike path. I hereby complain.

Roy314 wrote:

bonwich wrote:Welcome to the City of St. Louis! A new technology? Let's regulate it! Never mind that no one has complained about it -- let's anticipate their complaints and impose regulatory burdens on local businesses!!!

Please. It's a fancy motor scooter.



We're letting groups of unexperienced motor scooter riders use the bike path. I hereby complain.

I was unaware a motor scooter involved a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering as well as a PHD in Physics to operate one. Who knew?



Besides that, are you telling me that people in wheel chairs cant use the bike path?

zink wrote:


I was unaware a motor scooter involved a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering as well as a PHD in Physics to operate one. Who knew?



Besides that, are you telling me that people in wheel chairs cant use the bike path?

Go to You Tube and type in "Segway Accidents" for some entertainment.



As it turns out, most of the mechanical engineers and physicists that I know are clumsy, academic types. I definitely don't want to encounter one of them on a Segway.



I have no idea where you're going with the wheel chair analogy. Wheel chairs are fine by me. Just be careful on the hills...

This seems silly. If segways aren't causing problems now we shouldn't be taking action. If it gets to be a problem take care of it then. I don't see any benefit to creating a science center monopoly on segway tours.

Welcome to the City of St. Louis! A new technology? Let's regulate it! Never mind that no one has complained about it -- let's anticipate their complaints and impose regulatory burdens on local businesses!!!

old "woe is me St. Louis" chatter... cities like San Francisco and LA have banned them on sidewalks and some parks. I suppose, with a lot of congestion, people can get hurt. I don't understand what the problem would be in Forest Park though. Yes, tons of people, but lots of bikers too.. If a segway is "dangerous" so is a bike...

they offer several classes at the science center, including the 1.5 hour segway 101, and advanced class, and also a segway obstical course...

Segway Courses



Whether it's your first experience or you're a Segway Pro, we have a Segway program for you! Glide along on a Segway Human Transporter balanced by the technology that keeps the space station level. Learn the basics in Segway 101 or experience the challenge of maneuvering "Behind the Scenes," through the museum's nooks and crannies. For those more adventurous souls, you can test your skills on the all-new challenge course in "Meet the Challenge."

http://www.slsc.org/content.aspx?id=401

Segways seem to work just fine in Millenium Park. If they are unregulated in Chicago's Millenium Park, what makes us so unique? If there have been no complaints regarding Segways, why institute such a restriction that limits competition? If there are problems in the future, deal with them then. This proposed rule seems a bit stinky.

innov8ion wrote:Segways seem to work just fine in Millenium Park. If they are unregulated in Chicago's Millenium Park, what makes us so unique?

The bike bath is narrow.



Anytime you have Segway tour groups, you're forcing someone into oncoming bike path traffic, be it either a bicyclist who has to pass four or more Segways, or a group of inexperienced Segway riders. There will be a major accident, sooner or later.



I have no problem with Segways in the park (even on the sidewalks). But commercial Segway tours on the bike path should be prohibited.

Well, the value of the bill is that it will let there be a discussion about the murkiest part of the current law -- and a resolution one way or the other. Can Segways legally be on city sidewalks? Right now, that answer isn't clear.



Want to ban hazards on those trails? Make those moms and dads on blades pushing strollers go uphill instead of downhill.

innov8ion wrote:Segways seem to work just fine in Millenium Park. If they are unregulated in Chicago's Millenium Park, what makes us so unique? If there have been no complaints regarding Segways, why institute such a restriction that limits competition? If there are problems in the future, deal with them now. This proposed rule seems a bit stinky.

Shheeeeesh. I agree. Stinky at best.

This is idiotic. Why would you want to stop people from seeing and experiencing the city. Not to mention damage a local business. According to their website they have ONE tour a day in Forest Park on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for about half the year. That means there are about 70 tours through the park in a WHOLE year. OH MY GOD. They will undoubtedly knock over every bike rider while killing several small children. Please. God forbid progress be encouraged rather that prevented.

MCreek05 wrote: Why would you want to stop people from seeing and experiencing the city.

Nobody would. Let the commerical Segway tours use the roads and sidewalks througout Forest Park and the City. Just not a narrow bike path full of bicylists and inline skaters.

MCreek05 wrote: According to their website they have ONE tour a day in Forest Park on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for about half the year. That means there are about 70 tours through the park in a WHOLE year. OH MY GOD.

The whole point of the board bill, and this thread, is that there are new companies trying to enter the market and provide tours on the path.

MCreek05 wrote: They will undoubtedly knock over every bike rider while killing several small children.

One torn ACL is bad enough. Especially if it's mine.



MCreek05, How about allowing Vespa tours on the bike path? We'll limit them to 15 miles per hour, of course. You know, so they can see and experience the city. Is there a logical way to prohibit Vespas and permit Segways? They're both motor scooters.

MCreek05 wrote: God forbid progress be encouraged rather that prevented.

Wow. Good argument. You got me there.

MCreek05 wrote: This is idiotic.

Agreed. Why in hell do you need a tour for the bike path. It's a freaking circle! Start in one direction and keep going. There's your tour.

Roy314 wrote:

MCreek05 wrote: Why would you want to stop people from seeing and experiencing the city.

Nobody would. Let the commerical Segway tours use the roads and sidewalks througout Forest Park and the City. Just not a narrow bike path full of bicylists and inline skaters.

Huh? Bicyclists and inline skaters are no more important than Segway riders or those who walk. Segways take up a small footprint and are specifically designed for sidewalk usage. Something tells me the Segways on tours won't be operating side by side. Front to back and there's no problem. It's common sense.



I'd like to know how much the Science Center, those connected with it, or the Forest Park entity contributes to the St. Louis political machine. Something tells me it is more than any other Segway business. This looks dirty...



Discussions aren't needed unless there is a problem first and there doesn't appear to be one other than some ambiguity about the legality of Segways on our city sidewalks. If you want to discuss the higher question of Segway usage on city sidewalks, do that. Just don't screw with something that doesn't need fixed.



Please don't enact laws that make it more expensive to enjoy Forest Park in a simple yet novel way. $70 for a Segway tour of Forest Park? Who's going to pay for that chicanery? Competition is needed and last time I checked we don't live in a fascist state.



I think our aldermen should work on more pressing problems. Like how about addressing ordinance 65138 first, the ordinance that may outlaw Segways on city sidewalks in the first place? Ref: http://www.slpl.lib.mo.us/cco/ords/data/ord5138.htm. This is a joke.

innov8ion wrote: Huh? Bicyclists and inline skaters are no more important than Segway riders or those who walk.

And Segway riders are no more important than Vespas riders. What is the difference between allowing Segways and allowing Vespas?

innov8ion wrote: Segways take up a small footprint and are specifically designed for sidewalk usage.

Sounds good to me. Let them use any sidewalk they want. Just not the bike path. It's one of the few places in the City where people can exercise without fear of getting run over.

Roy314 wrote:

innov8ion wrote: Huh? Bicyclists and inline skaters are no more important than Segway riders or those who walk.

And Segway riders are no more important than Vespas riders. What is the difference between allowing Segways and allowing Vespas?

Vespas are clearly not allowed to operate on sidewalks. The city ordinance disallowing motorized scooters is specifically meant to outlaw vehicles such as the Vespa on sidewalks (and motorized skateboards, apparently.) I think it's time the city take a stand regarding Segways and city ordinance 65138 instead of skirting the issue and creating additional laws that may be in conflict with those already on the books.

Roy314 wrote:

innov8ion wrote: Segways take up a small footprint and are specifically designed for sidewalk usage.

Sounds good to me. Let them use any sidewalk they want. Just not the bike path. It's one of the few places in the City where people can exercise without fear of getting run over.

I don't understand the rationale. Segways can travel at bike speeds or slower. Bike path or sidewalk, it seems to be all good. I'm pretty sure there are bike accidents in the park yet no one is creating laws precluding their usage.



Ooh, technology is scary... What will those darn scientists and entrepreneurs think of next? The world, as we know it, will be shattered.

innov8ion wrote: I don't understand the rationale. Segways can travel at bike speeds or slower. Bike path or sidewalk, it seems to be all good. I'm pretty sure there are bike accidents in the park yet no one is creating laws precluding their usage.

Here's the rationale. With commerical Segways tours on the bike path, you have groups of four, five, six or more Segway riders on the path. In a row. You can't pass them on a bike without steering into oncoming traffic for 20 seconds or so. If the Segway group needs to pass a runner, then they have to steer into oncoming traffic. All six or so of them.



I'll say it again. Segways are fine by me. I don't think we should ban them from sidewalks as did San Francisco. And New York. And England.



But commerical Segways tours should not be allowed on the bike path. It's a rare refuge in the City for people trying to exercise without getting run over.

innov8ion wrote: Ooh, technology is scary... What will those darn scientists and entrepreneurs think of next?

Hopefully something more useful than a new and improved motor scooter.

Not sure where I stand on this issue... and I have seen many groups on bicycles that are more than 5 people long and traveling slow...



Also, just imagine if they just invented the AIRPLANE.

"Yes, this machine will allow us to sit in an aluminum tube all packed inside going 550 mph"



Do you really think the US would allow such crazy contraption in todays age?

zink wrote: Do you really think the US would allow such crazy contraption in todays age?

Not on the bike path I hope.

Roy314 wrote:

innov8ion wrote: I don't understand the rationale. Segways can travel at bike speeds or slower. Bike path or sidewalk, it seems to be all good. I'm pretty sure there are bike accidents in the park yet no one is creating laws precluding their usage.

Here's the rationale. With commerical Segways tours on the bike path, you have groups of four, five, six or more Segway riders on the path. In a row. You can't pass them on a bike without steering into oncoming traffic for 20 seconds or so. If the Segway group needs to pass a runner, then they have to steer into oncoming traffic. All six or so of them.



But commerical Segways tours should not be allowed on the bike path. It's a rare refuge in the City for people trying to exercise without getting run over.

No, here's the rationale. With bikes on the bike path, you can have groups of four, five, six or more bike riders on the path. In a row. You can't pass them on a bike or Segway without steering into oncoming traffic for 20 seconds or so. If the bike group needs to pass a runner, then they have to steer into oncoming traffic. All six or so of them.



Therefore, bikes should not be allowed on the bike path. It's a rare refuge in the city for people trying to enjoy the park without getting run over.