The DC Traveler

Tour DC in Style…Segway Style!

by Jon on July 17th, 2007

Three years in the making, the Segway Personal Transporter is the world’s first two-wheeled, self-balancing, electric transport device.

With no accelerator or brake, the Segway is propelled simply by the rider’s posture and motion. Leaning forward causes the Segway to roll forward, lean back and it stops or reverses. A single knob on the left hand grip controls the rider’s steering. 

Using battery-powered motors, dual computers, tilt sensors and five gyroscopes, the Segway automatically (and seemingly magically) maintains its upright position, even while standing motionless. The top of the line Segway (about $5,500) can cruise at speeds of up to 12½ mph and cover up to 25 miles on a full battery charge.

But without investing $5 grand in your own “Seg”, you can experience the fun of a Segway on a guided tour of DC.

Plus, if you’re looking for a really unique tour or a way to really impress that out of town guest that feels they’ve seen and done “everything” DC has to offer, City Segway Tours has the answer. 

They offer several three-hour guided Segway tours around the Mall.  These tours are also ideal for the first time visitor that wants a fast orientation tour of some of the important monuments and sites and to get a feel for the layout of the Mall.  It’s also great for people with only one day to play tourist and want the Reader’s Digest tour. Another advantage, it significantly reduces walking in DC’s sweltering summer heat. 

I had a chance to join in a City Segway Tour on Sunday and what FUN!!!

John, a DC-informed and entertaining college student from Boston who’s studying International Relations at George Washington University, was our instructor and guide. To get us acclimated to the Segway, John started with a quick description of the Segway’s operation, then one-by-one, we stepped up on our Segway (mine was named “Big George”) under his watchful eye and started to practice. First by rolling forward and back just a few feet and then turning in place.  We then quickly graduated to rolling up and down the “training facility”, the alley next to the City Segway office, being careful to avoid crashing into the garbage dumpsters or scrapping the walls. At one point, one of the giant blue dumpsters did in fact jump in front of me, but I was able to dodge it, barely. 

To me and others in the group, it seemed as if the most challenging thing to learn was the all important, how to stop.  By simply leaning back, the Segway slowed to a stop. If you kept your weight centered, it remained (magically) motionless. 

There were a few close calls during our training, other than my jumping dumptser incident, but we all seemed to quickly get the hang of steering the Segway without any tumbles, crashes, scrapped knuckles or cracked fenders.  There were also many big smiles and laughter as we got more comfortable controlling our personal transporters and as our speeds increased.

So with a few minutes of red-knuckled practice, I was ready to hit the streets.  Like a line of ants heading single file to a picnic, we followed our trusted guide out of the alley and down the sidewalk to our first stop several few blocks away, Ford’s Theater.

By the time we stopped at the Hoover FBI building our second stop several minutes later, it seemed that we were all comfortable cruising, sans the initial sweaty palms and apprehensiveness.  I believe it psychologically helped that we were on the first tour of the morning, as pedestrian traffic was light.  

John gave us a running commentary along our tour, providing mini history lessons combined with some humorous stories thrown in along the way.  

 The tour took us to The U.S. Navy Memorial, the Archives, the under-construction Newseum, and then past several of the Smithsonian museums.  Rolling over to the Capitol, we stopped to take a few photos and headed up The Hill. 

The Segway climbed The Hill effortlessly, as tourists jealously watched and snapped our photos.  After stopping briefly at at the Supreme Court and Library of Congress, it was a fast roll down Independence Avenue.  During a quick stop to shift our Segways into the higher speed mode, it was surprisingly the first time we had actually stepped off the units since our city safari began more than an hour earlier.  We were off again, past more museums, and after a quick beverage stop later, we cut through the Mall while more people gawked and snapped our pics. A fast buzz up Constitution Avenue confidently dodging barricades and inquisitive tourists took us to the White House. 

By this point, I felt like a rock star as I must have had my photo taken a few dozen times by now.  We zipped up Pennsylvania Ave. to Freedom Plaza for a brief lesson about the city’s primary planner, Pierre Charles L’Enfant,  and John’s final corny joke.  

A few more stops and we headed back to the City office and looking at the clock; it was hard to believe that we had been riding for a full three hours. 

I’d rate this experience a solid 10 out of 10. And the next time I have family or friends to entertain in DC, a Segway tour will be at the top of my list.

City Segway Tours provide everything you need - the Segway, complete with a saddle bag, a helmet and the all important orientation and training, plus a informed guide/leader.  Just wear comfortable shoes, sunglasses and don’t forget your camera. 

There are plenty of stops for site seeing and taking photos but the tour does not offer the ability to enter any of the museums. Besides, it’s all about riding your own personal Segway transporter.  

City Segway Tours
624 9th street, NW - between F and G Streets
Washington, DC 20001
202-626-0017

Dates & Times - Daytime tours at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., and their more laid back evening tour starts at 6:00 p.m.  On it you get some great sunset views around the Mall, as well as a great date activity.

Cost - $70.00 per person.  Reservations are required and can be placed online, or by phone at 1-877-SEG-TOUR.  Tours start and end at their 9th Street office.

Note: Riders must be 16+ years old. You’ll need to complete a liability waiver (kids 16-17 need an adult’s signature).  A refundable damage deposit is required via credit card.  Tours run rain or shine.  The Segway can hold a small purse, camera, bottle of water, etc. but not a backpack or larger items.

Nearest Metro subway stations – Gallery Place / Chinatown - Red, Green and Yellow lines, Judiciary Square - Red Line, Archives - Yellow/Green Lines, and Smithsonian - Blue/Orange Lines.

Photo credits: personal collection
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POSTED IN: City History & Information, Getting Around – Local Transportation, Great Activities for a Date, Great Walks, Just a Bit Weird - Fun & Quirky Places, Must-See Sights, Sports & Recreation, Tours – Guided or Self-guided