news story / By Heidi Walters

Segway to the Marsh

And another birder wrote, “If Segway tours get a concession I’m going to change my favorite place to bird to my back yard. Or maybe even HBNWF [Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge], even if I DO have to drive farther. grrrrr.”

On the phone Tuesday, Leskiw added that he doesn’t think Segways, contrary to how they’re promoted, are “green.”

“They’re more in keeping with our mania for motorized recreation,” he said. “Ability-impaired people will not be able to use it, because it takes strong arms and legs to be on one. And so what a Segway says, is, ‘There is no need to walk.’ It’s encouraging people to stop walking, which will contribute to obesity.”

O’Connor counters Leskiw’s arguments. Segways are legal on trails, he says. The California Vehicle Code classifies the Segway as an “electric personal assistive mobility device,” which falls under “pedestrian” use and includes motorized tricycles and wheelchairs. He says an electric Segway is a heckuva lot eco-friendlier than a gas-using car.

“The Segway is not designed to replace walking and bicycling,” he said. “It’s designed to replace the short commutes people do every day in a car, the one- to three-mile commutes. Also, Segway is buying carbon offset credits for the life of each [Segway]. Look, we’re a company that’s taking people out climbing trees, riding bikes, rafting rivers, climbing rocks — we’re not promoting obesity! The question is, how do we engage the population that doesn’t want to climb a tree, or ride a bike, or walk very far?”

The Segway tours in the marsh and forest, he said, would get people into those areas, appreciating and caring about nature, who otherwise might not want to go if they had to walk or ride a bike in. It’s a tourism boost, he said. Also, anyone can ride a Segway into the marsh or forest now — it’s not exclusive to NCAC.

Another worry he’s heard is that Segways are fast and kick up dust. O’Connor said the Segways would be in “turtle mode,” set to go up to six miles per hour. Even in their faster mode, the ones he’d use only go 12 m.p.h. “A bike can go faster and people can run faster than 12 miles per hour,” he said. “And bikes make dust, too.”

Heather Stevens, the City of Arcata’s recreation manager, said on Tuesday by phone that the Segway program is still being formed.

1 2 3 NEXT PAGE >SHARE