Three If By Segway
Sue Leskiw, Eureka
Editor:
I was both amused and concerned about the topic of Segways at the Marsh. As a charter member of the Friends of the Arcata Marsh, current board member, and an active participant in the 1970s wastewater wars that brought the Marsh into existence, I frequently have the privilege to participate in the training of docents. At our recent training session, I met the young man who is preparing himself to lead the Segway tours of the Marsh. His astonishment that anyone could have reservations about, much less object to, this fun, marvelous, green project was touching. How could someone not love an idea that was novel, fun, green, and good for tourism in Arcata! After all, their intentions are good, isn’t that what matters? Well, actually, no. It is difficult to accept Segways as appropriate in a wildlife sanctuary noted for its peace and tranquility.
I see the Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary as a place to be enjoyed. Fun does not always equal enjoyable. If an activity helps one enjoy the wildlife sanctuary, that is good. That is a first principle. If the wildlife sanctuary is just a place to enjoy an activity, that is not good. It may be neutral, but it is not positive. If an activity interferes with another’s enjoyment of the wildlife sanctuary, that is bad. I would actually like to see bicycles out of the sanctuary, too. But, I have to admit that the bikers I have encountered have generally been courteous and only occasionally awkward and overbearing. It could be that the Segway riders would be the same, but I would want to see that thoroughly demonstrated, before reluctantly accepting their presence.
I am more concerned about the way this was mishandled than with the idea itself. The City Council slipped up. They failed to consult the organization that provides and trains volunteers and docents. They accepted good intentions for good practices. They allowed a commercial enterprise to use the public marsh and the free docent training for a money-making endeavor. So out of character! They should go back and do it right.
Robert A. Rasmussen, Eureka
Sweet Spot:* Robert Rasmussen wins a Bon Boniere sundae for sending our favorite letter of the week.*
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THREE Comments
Comment / By Nick / Oct. 1, 2009, 7:53 p.m.
It would get more people out and enjoying the area. The Segway Tours that I have seen are not at all reckless or load. The clientele the Segway attracts tends to be mature.
Comment / By Godknot / Oct. 1, 2009, 10:02 p.m.
I’m still puzzling over “Fun does not always equal enjoyable.”
Comment / By John / Oct. 12, 2009, 12:33 p.m.
Anyone that is able bodied and still (in order to apprecite nature) needs a motorized contraption, fabricated in a factory, carrying them along the trail; well they have places for those people already. I’m not sure what they call them, but they are specifically for off the road vehicle. So I would like the segway to nature loving crowd to think of themselves as they truly are, a spin off of the crowd who likes to see a river, or forest, or beach from the seat of a jet ski, motorcycle, quad-runner etc. Nature produced us, the humans on the trail. I am in favor of banning most motorized things. Even the noise from cameras with servo drives can bother me when I’m out on the trail. And I’m a professional photographer.