Segway Tours: Experiencing Edmonds at 12 MPH (Or Less)

Sure, you can walk around downtown Edmonds, enjoying all the quaintness. But why walk when you can climb aboard your own two-wheeled personal transportation vehicle?

Your time has come, as Running in Motion is now offering Segway tours from its location at Main Street and Fourth Avenue.

Who rides? Running in Motion owner Frank Yamamoto, who started the business May 1, says he’ll rent to kids who are least 15 years old. Rentals are highest on weekends, as you might expect. With sunny days surely around the corner,  Yamamoto is expecting business to pick up even more.

“We do a lot of tours,” he said. “Whole families come by.”

The Segway, battery-powered and balanced by the rider and an internal gyroscope, can zip along at about 12 mph. That’s plenty fast for Edmonds streets, says Yamomoto. Besides, he adds, top speed on the Segway can seem a lot faster.

Those who rent one of the 10 Segways at Running in Motion are required to wear a helmet (which is included in the price) and go through an orientation in the store. After that, riders will get additional instruction in a nearby parking lot before being turned loose (after signing a waiver).

Riders must obey all city and state laws. They may only travel where pedestrians normally do, and follow all pedestrian laws when crossing streets.

If tours are your thing, there are private and historical options, as welll as sunset tours from 3-7 p.m.

Yamamoto is hiring people to lead the tours. “You have to have good balance, of course,” he said. “But the biggest thing is a good personality.”

The Segway tours were introduced to Running in Motion by Edmonds resident Gregg Jantz and his 11-year-old son, Gregg Jr. They visited Segway’s headquarters in Bedford, NH, and decided that a Segway business in Edmonds could work. Young Gregg was the driving force of Edmonds Segway Tours, and received support from his father, the founder of The Center: A Place of Hope, a recovery center in Edmonds.

The Jantzes are in partnership with Yamamoto, and provided him with each of the Segways, which each cost about $5,500.

If you still aren't ready to rent a Segway, consider this: During a recent demonstration, Yamamoto strapped on his helmet and stepped out into the early afternoon sunshine. Within minutes, pedestrians stopped to talk to him and ask about the Segways. Others looked over and smiled, their days brightened.

So in addition to being madly fun, the Segway is a great way to meet new friends. And cheer up the world.

Segways are available for rent at Running in Motion, 401 Main St., Edmonds. Prices start at $35 an hour and $60 for a 90-minute tour. For more information, go to edmondssegwaytours.com or call 425-774-0637.

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