Rolling on the river
Techie-friendly Segway tours take the legwork out of seeing downtown sights
By Pamela LeBlanc | Photos by Sung Park
American-Statesman Staff
January 21, 2005
For many who sign up for the SegCity tour, it's the mode of transportation, not the sights, that is the attraction. Here, a group rolls along the Town Lake hike-and-bike trail. |
But it's not the domed, granite building they're gawking at -- it's a tour group riding Segways. The futuristic-looking, self-balancing, electric-powered "human transporters" made national headlines a few years ago when they were introduced, but Segway sightings have been rare in Austin until recently.
On a warm Saturday afternoon, eight machines hum quietly across sidewalks and whir along the one-way street encircling the city's most famous landmark. The riders swivel and twirl, basking in the attention they generate during their 2 1/2-hour tour.
With a new tour company operating off Sixth Street, Segways are the latest (and laziest) way to visit the sights of a city that prides itself on its high-tech mentality and celebration of all things weird.
Moving along by intuition
Sachin Wadhawan steps aboard a Segway a little apprehensively, then slowly leans forward, causing the two-wheeled platform to roll.
"Relax, let the machine do the work," Carl Natenstedt coaches. Wadhawan, a 28-year-old sales engineer, leans too far and lurches backward, nearly hitting a wall of the SegCity tour company offices on Sixth Street. But in a few minutes, he's carefully weaving between the bright orange safety cones arranged on the floor.
There is no accelerator, or even a brake. To go, you lean forward. To slow down or stop, you lean back. A twist of the handlebar turns the device on a dime.
SegCity's Carl Natenstedt, left, helps John Rose get on one of the human transports. Looking on is Matthew Brandyberry. |
One by one, all the day's customers take a turn maneuvering a Segway.
"It takes some getting used to," 26-year-old software engineer John Rose says, stepping off slowly.
Finally, a single-file row of Segways glides out of the office and toward the Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail. Like a duck leading its ducklings, Natenstedt takes his flock -- and this writer -- down the sidewalk, pointing out cracks, potholes and other potential hazards.
"See? In a matter of 2 minutes you're already starting to get your sea legs," Natenstedt says, then directs the group's attention to a nearby moonlight tower, the Frost Bank building and the row of bronze stars honoring Texans imbedded in a nearby sidewalk.
In front of the Austin Convention Center, a group of teen-age volleyball players in town for a tournament squeals. Two run toward the Segways, high-fiving the riders as they pass by. On the Town Lake trail, some joggers stare; others act like encountering a herd of Segways on a gravel path is an everyday occurrence.
The group turns north at the Shoal Creek Hike and Bike Trail, pausing at the pedestrian bridge over Shoal Creek to set their kickstands and break for a bottle of water. After a few minutes, a passing cyclist stops. "I'm fascinated. Are these Segways?" he asks. "Can I try it?" Natenstedt lets him ride for a few minutes, then hands him a flyer.
The group presses on, rolling north to the homes in the Bremond Block historic district, then east to Congress Avenue, the Capitol and on to the University of Texas campus.
"Wouldn't it be cool if lawnmowers worked like this?" Rose says, whirring along gleefully.
Segways tour the U.S.
Maureen Brandyberry and others on the tour drew their fair share of stares as they rode on the Capitol grounds. |
Segway tours have popped up in Paris, New Orleans, Chicago, Seattle and San Francisco. Here in Austin, Natenstedt, a techie who owns a software company called Perigon LLC, launched SegCity tours in October, after reading an article about the concept in American Way magazine.
"I saw it and thought, 'We've got to have this in Austin,' " Natenstedt said. "It's really fun to experience the technology. And it's a great way to see a city."
Since then, he's become a common sight zipping along downtown sidewalks on his daily business. Natenstedt, whose sister uses a wheelchair, says the tours have made him more aware of lack of good accessibility for people with disabilities. Segways, like wheelchairs, can't go up stairs.
SegCity tours, which cost $65, cover about 30 attractions scattered along a six-mile route. That's too far to cover easily by foot in a few hours, but the machines give customers proximity to sights that are best seen up close, not from a car. About three-fourths of the tour is on sidewalks; the rest is on streets with speed limits under 35 mph. Natenstedt does his best to keep the group rolling along single file no matter where they are.
Segways can travel up to 12.5 mph, although Natenstedt has set the machines to max out at 6 mph at first. Later, when the riders seem comfortable, he increases the allowable speed to 8 mph. That's a lot faster than most people walk, about 3 mph. Everyone on the tours must wear a helmet.
At SegCity, Natenstedt puts his customers through a 20-minute training class dubbed SegCity University. Customers watch a safety video, then spend a few minutes one-on-one with Natenstedt, who makes sure they can move forward, backward, turn and stop quickly. Natenstedt owns 10 machines, which cost about $4,500 each, and takes up to eight people out at a time. After each tour, he plugs in the Segways to recharge them. A three-hour charge lasts about 10 to 15 miles.
So far, Natenstedt says his customers have had no serious accidents, although two have inadvertently driven their Segways off curbs. Both times, rider and machine were uninjured.
State law permits Segways on sidewalks and streets with speed limits of up to 35 miles per hour, and Austin police say Segways do not violate an ordinance that prohibits people from skating, riding a skateboard, a toy vehicle or similar device on sidewalks on parts of Sixth Street, Guadalupe Street and Congress Avenue.
"Our position is Segways are perfectly OK to be on the sidewalk," said Lt. William Manno of the Austin Police Department's Downtown Area Command.
Techies try one out
SegCity ToursTours start from SegCity's offices at 621 E. Sixth St. at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily. A third tour will be added in summer. Tours last about 2 1/2 hours and cost $65 per person. Customers must be 12 years old to glide; those 12-16 must have a parent with them. Tickets are available online at www.segcity.com, by calling 402-9299, or from the Austin Visitor Center at 209 E. Sixth St. |
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Segway HT ToursTours start from Segway HT Tours offices at 816 Colorado Ave. at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily. Tours last about 2 1/2 hours and cost $50 per person. Reservations are available by calling . For online information go to www.segwayhttours.com or e-mail info@segwayhttours.com. |
"I've lived in Austin for the past six years, so seeing Austin wasn't the first priority," Wadhawan says. "I am a technology junkie, and I am sure all techies would love to ride a Segway."
As the group glides back down Sixth Street toward the office, the crowds part. "That's keeping it weird," someone calls out. "Can I ride one?" another shouts. A scruffy black dog tied to a railing lolls its tongue, looking a little surprised.
True to Natenstedt's prediction, Wadhawan and the others spin 360s as they wait to cross the street.
Back at the SegCity offices, they step off their Segways a little reluctantly. They shake their legs, which are a little stiff from standing for so long. Walking seems strange and awkward. Gliding on a Segway was so ... smooth.
"I was like 'Oh no, I gotta use my legs to walk again?' " Wadhawan says.
pleblanc@statesman.com; 445-3994
