Segway your way through history !
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FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ1:   What is a Segway?

The Segway is a two-wheel, self-balancing personal transportation device. The brainchild of master inventor Dean Kamen (the wheelchair that climbs stairs and other inventions), is a marvel of modern technology. The Segway first "rolled" off the assembly line in December 2001. In August 2006, Segway, Inc unveiled the new Segway i2 Personal Transporter with it's perfected LeanSteer™ technology. The Segway i2 moves in any direction that the rider leans the steering bar. All of Blake's Segway Tours use the Segway i2 units.


FAQ2: Does everybody get to ride their own Segway?

Yes! On our tours, each customer gets to ride his or her own Segway i2 personal transporter. You will receive group training followed by individual training from your experienced tour guide. When you're ready, you'll embark on your tour of Montgomery's historic downtown riding your own Segway i2. Our insurance carrier requires that all riders be at least 14 years of age.


FAQ3: I've ridden a Segway before, can I rent one?

No, unfortunately it is not possible to rent a Segway i2 to ride around Montgomery unsupervised. However, Blake's Segway Tours offers many "design your own tour" opportunities, so Contact Us and we'll figure something out. We usually can offer you a private tour option that would be much less expensive than renting a Segway unit. 


FAQ4: What happens if the weather is bad?

Blake’s Segway Tours conducts tours rain or shine, in fair weather and foul. In other words, if it is raining, we will still go out. If the weather is inclement, or expected to be so for your scheduled tour, and you would prefer not to go on the tour that day, you can reschedule. If you are visiting Montgomery and can't fit rescheduling into your itinerary, but still don't want to take your scheduled tour because of the weather, we will issue you a transferable, non-expiring rain check. You can use this at any time in the future, or you may transfer it to anyone you choose, if you feel you might not be getting back to Montgomery.

In extreme weather scenarios, such as tornado warnings or a severe thunderstorm warning, we will cancel the tour and offer you your choice of a rain check or a refund.


If you choose not to take your scheduled tour because of inclement weather, please contact us as early as possible and let us know. Then you can reschedule at your convenience. Thank you.


FAQ5: What do I need to bring with me?

You need to bring a credit card (preferably the one you used to reserve your tour) for the Agreement to be Responsible for any Segway Damage, that you are required to sign. You will also have to sign a Liability Waiver. If you are under 18, you need to have a parent sign these. Your parent or legal guardian needn't accompany you, but we have to have a signed liability waiver or you won't be able to take the tour.


FAQ6: What should I bring with me?

You should bring a camera, probably sunglasses, and sunscreen as well. If it is not summer, we recommend you bring an extra layer of clothing as Montgomery’s weather can be a bit unpredictable. You probably want to have a pair of gloves if it might be cold. If it looks like rain we can sell you a plastic rain poncho for $1, so don't worry about bringing rainwear. And bring a camera! Okay, we already mentioned this, but it bears repeating. Some of the views are so spectacular you will definitely want pictures.



FAQ7: How much does a tour cost?


Our tour prices run from $38 to $58, depending on the type and length of your tour. However, we offer all kinds of discounts for students (who are paying for themselves), people in need, repeat customers, in the slower months, and in appreciation for bringing us customers. There is also our "Design your own tour" option, for which pricing depends on what is included in your tour. So whether you are looking for a discount or to "Design your own tour", Contact Us, and we'll figure something out.


FAQ8: Is it safe?


Yes! There are very few accidents on a Segway, and those that I have seen in the hundreds of tours I have led were mostly minor. It takes very little time to become proficient on a Segway, and the training you will receive from our experienced tour guides stresses safety. Plus, at Blake's Segway Tours you will be riding the new Segway i2s with their LeanSteer™ technology. The new Segway i2s are far more intuitive to ride than the older models, and thus, far safer.


However, unexpected and unfortunate things can and do occasionally happen, and you should be aware that you will be riding at your own risk. We will patiently work with you until you are sufficiently proficient on the Segway to start the tour.  


FAQ9: I'm pretty uncoordinated, will I have trouble riding a Segway?


No, not because you feel you are uncoordinated!  You would be surprised how many people worry about this. Basically, if you can stand up you can ride a Segway. It takes no athletic ability. In fact, with the LeanSteer™ technology of the new Segway i2s, it takes very little coordination to maneuver. Simply lean in the direction you want to travel, and that's the direction the Segway i2 will go. The new Segway i2 -- no coordination necessary!

However, you may have trouble riding the Segway if you are completely unable to "get out of your own head", and never willing to trust leaning, especially leaning back - which is absolutely necessary in order to stop the Segway.  

FAQ10: Is there a height requirement?

Sort of. You have to be tall enough to comfortably reach the handlebars at their lowest setting. And you can't be so tall that the handlebars at their highest setting are uncomfortably far away from you. To be honest, we have not yet seen a Little Person ride a Segway, yet we really see no reason why one couldn't try. To date we have not encountered anyone too tall or too short to ride a Segway.



FAQ11: Is there a minimum weight requirement, or maximum allowable weight?


Here is the bottom line - Min weight = 85 lbs and Max weight = 260 lbs!  Okay, now read on please. 
Segway Corporate recommends that a rider weigh at least 100 pounds. In our experience, this is not absolutely necessary. As long as you are able to make the Segway move easily by leaning, then you should be okay. However, there is a maximum weight limit of 260 pounds.


FAQ12: Do I need a reservation, or can I just show up for a tour?

It is always a good idea to make a reservation with us in advance. Please call us anytime at 334-657-4195. We highly recommend this. Someone will 
always promptly return your phone call or e-mail, so please Contact Us before you plan on coming.

In the busier spring and summer months, it is possible to just show up and take a tour, but we don't recommend this. You might be showing up for a tour that is fully booked and there is no Segway available for you or your group. Please avoid this by contacting us and making a reservation.


FAQ13: Can I cancel my reservation?

When you Book A Tour with Blake's Segway Tours, in order to hold your reservation, we require payment in full. Tours are very popular and we recommend you book well in advance, especially if you are planning to take a Segway tour on a visit to Montgomery and you don't actually reside here. You can always reschedule a tour (see our "rain check" policy), but if you want to actually cancel a reservation for a refund, you will need to do so at least 72 hours before your scheduled tour. This will hopefully give us enough time to notify customers on the waiting list, if the tour you were scheduled for is totally full.

FAQ15: Are Segways like bicycles, do we ride in the street?

Even though Segways have two wheels and a top speed of 12.5 mph, they are treated very differently than bicycles. Segways are actually designated for use on sidewalks, whereas bicyclists ride mostly on streets. We cross streets several times on our tour, but for the most part Segways are ridden where people walk. In just a short time you will develop so much control on the Segway that you will comfortably navigate around pedestrians on a crowded sidewalk. Fortunately, most of our tour will be conducted on very uncrowded sidewalks and paths, so you will get to really enjoy gliding along and maneuvering on a Segway.


FAQ16: Which tour should I take?

This really depends on you. We offer morning, afternoon, and evening tours, as well as our "Design your own tour" option. 

If you haven't taken a Segway tour with us before, we highly recommend you take either of our Riverfront tours.  These are our “fun” tours. There’s not quite as much stopping at historic sites and are designed to give you maximum Segway riding time, as well as provide you with the most informative tour in Montgomery. 

Our Civil Rights / Civil War Tours provide you with a unique look at the places and events that shaped the Capitol City. Even if you are a River Region resident I guarantee you will learn a lot and hear anecdotes and stories about this area that are new to you. Also, the views are spectacular. 

If you would like to do something a little different on your tour, or a lot different, we offer our "Design your own tour" option. Contact Us, tell us what you want to do, and we'll do our best to accommodate you.



FAQ17: How long is a tour, and how much does it cost?


Again, we offer tours of varying length and focus. Visit our web page at 
www.segwaymontgomery.com  or call us at 334-657-4195 for current tours and special promotions. Our standard tours range from $38 to $58 + tax per person. We also let you "Design your own tour". For a price to be determined by the options you want to add to your tour, we'll basically let you go wherever you want, and do whatever you want, within reason of course! Please see the Our Tours page for more details.


If you can't afford our standard tour price, Contact Us, and we'll work something out. We want you to ride with us. We'll figure out an arrangement that lets you take our tour at a discount. Maybe we'll ask you to bring us more customers. Maybe we have last-minute room on a tour for you at a discount rate. We'll figure something out, so make sure you call or e-mail us.


FAQ18: What happens if I am late?

Please, try hard not to be late for your scheduled tour. But if you are late, what happens depends on how late you are. If you are so late that the tour has already left, or is about to leave, you will have to reschedule. If you are only a few minutes late, and we can get your paperwork processed quickly, then odds are good you will be able to join your scheduled tour, without delaying the other members of your tour group.


Each tour group receives thorough training. If there is a legitimate reason you are late, we don't mind repeating the group portion of this training process specifically for you, but sometimes we are unable to. We won't let you join the tour unless we are satisfied that you have received sufficient training to safely ride your Segway.

So bottom line, try really, really hard not to be late. But if you think you might be late, call us immediately and we'll figure out if this is going to be a problem or not.

                    

FAQ19: Should I come early?

Yes! Don't be too early, but if you plan on being early then you most probably won't be late (see FAQ18). It is a great idea to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled tour time. Feel free to come early and browse the Montgomery Area Visitor Center. You'll get a chance to see a lot that Montgomery has to offer.


FAQ20: Where are you located?

We are located inside the Montgomery Area Visitor Center inside Union Station, 300 Water Street. If you are staying at one of the downtown hotels, we are within walking distance. If you are parking downtown, the public lot on lower Commerce Street and the parking deck at the end of Water Street are available. The Visitor Center is open Monday - Saturday from 8:30am until 5pm. If you are trying to locate us when the Visitor Center is closed, (on Sunday, for instance), you will find us in front of the Visitor Center.

FAQ21: When do you operate?


We are open for tours all year long!  Our normal operating hours are 9:00am - 7:00pm, 7 days a week. We are available for night-time tours by appointment. We have several special night-time tours throughout the year. Check our website  
www.segwaymontgomery.com for updates. The weather in Montgomery is great for gliding around year ‘round. Because we are a small operation dedicated to providing you with an excellent experience, we strive to be very accommodating.


FAQ22: Can I buy a Segway from you?

So you loved riding a Segway so much that you want to go right out and purchase one! Good for you! Unfortunately we don't sell them. However, we can see what we can do about getting you a nominal discount on the purchase of a Segway, and we can certainly send you to a dealer that will ship your new Segway for free.

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