First he wanted to ban happy meals, now it looks like Richmond District Supervisor Eric Mar may also want to ban a bit of of fun from Golden Gate Park…
As we reported back in September, a Segway tour company was approved to operate in Golden Gate Park.
Tours started a couple of weeks ago and so far, everything has gone smoothly. However Supervisor Mar has expressed concern over the safety of Segways operating in the park on pedestrian paths and roadways, some of which are not even open to bicycles.
The issue will be on the agenda of the regular City Operations & Neighborhood Services Committee meeting on March 14, in Room 250 of City Hall. Supervisors Mar, Avalos and Elsbern chair the committee.
The purpose of the committee is defined as such: The City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee shall be referred measures related to public works, infrastructure, traffic and parking control, parks and recreation, utilities, public protection, delinquency prevention, public health, emergency services, seniors, the disabled, children and their families.
I took a tour in the park when the Segway tours were being piloted and I have to say, it was a blast. I’ve never gotten to the top of Strawberry Hill with such ease!
Segways can reach a top speed of 12mph, however only adults are allowed on the tours after completing a 30 minute training session (yes, I had to do that too). The tours always have a guide, which can be a great deterrent to that rogue rider who wants to be a show off or unsafe.
What do you think? Is there something the Rec & Park Commission overlooked that Supervisor Mar can bring to light?
Sarah B.
Oh, for chrissakes. Segways are the most ridiculously useless vehicle ever invented, but do we really need to have a frigging hearing over whether they should be allowed in one of the most appropriate venues for their use?
I can understand banning them on city sidewalks (though I am not very positive about bans in general) and I would support extra attention to blind corners on paths previously used by pedestrians alone, but really, access to parts of a park that might otherwise be too strenuous for some visitors to reach seems like a genuinely useful purpose for a Segway. And I really had never, ever been able to think of a genuinely useful purpose for a Segway before. (Other than fun, which I admit they very well may be, though I’d go for a motorcycle instead, myself.)
About time Mar did something for the park. He pushed through the Stow Lake concession and was ineffective in countering the Arboretum fees that have proven so disastrous.
Segways aren’t allowed on sidewalks with good reason, and I don’t see why they should be allowed on pedestrian-only paths. On multi-use paths, sure. Last thing Grandpa needs is a herd of Segway forcing him off the path.
you cant ride a motorcycle around on the park paths. I’m SURE the only reason these things are allowed is because some city pol is getting paid in back room. aren’t Americans fat and lazy enough? hold off on junk like this until you are so fat and old you need a “Hover-round”. segway = pathetic. quit being so lazy and walk already
I am convinced that Eric Mar is an idiot. I’m sorry– i should be more diplomatic. Why doesn’t he tackle the issue of timing lights better around our hood? Cars can then get where they need to go instead of creating a frusterating path to “slow-where” which encourages yellow/red light running which DECREASES pedestrian safety. Better timed lights means better gas mileage too which is good for the enviroment.
I hope this decision is driven by data and not opinion. What does the data say about the impact of Segways on pedestrian behavior and accidents? If they are safe and most pedestrians don’t mind sharing the sidewalk with them, let them roam. If not, they belong on multi-use paths only.
in addition to the safety concerns, I’m worried about the noise
yes, the beasts themselves are electric and emit an only mildly-annoying “whirrrrr…” – but get a group of a dozen people, all riding these things, all trying to carry on conversations? oy…
they’re wearing helmets, they’re several feet away from each other, they’re all shouting – and the tour leader has to shout even louder for everyone to hear
we were on Angel Island last summer, out for a peaceful hike, and were being stalked by a herd of these – they were a few hundred feet behind us but they were all we could hear – we eventually just stopped, let them pass us, and waited (a long while) until they were out of earshot before we continued on
Golden Gate Park is certainly not a quiet, idyllic retreat – but adding the clamor of these tour groups can only serve to further deteriorate the atmosphere in our urban oasis
Mar staff here,
Supervisor Mar requested the hearing in response to constituent requests! Our office got formal requests for a hearing from senior groups, several Richmond District residents and the Planning Association for the Richmond expressing concern about Segways in pedestrian paths. The issue is not whether Segways will be in the park but how and where they will be in the Park. And yes, the Board of Supervisors hearings do have a wider audience than the Rec and Park commission, for one, they’re televised. Also @ Jonathan, we have scheduled a hearing on the Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee Report, which includes the process of changing timing of the lights and many other pedestrian safety issues for April 11th at 10:00 am.
Segways do not belong on Strawberry Hill, or on any unpaved paths in the park, as far as I am concerned. I could see limiting their use to the major thoroughfares on the weekends when the roads are otherwise closed, but that’s about it. Under no circumstances should Segways be allowed on the sidewalks. I know it’s important to generate revenue, but at what expense?
Mar Staff! How about calling for some support for Muni? Other neighborhood things? Mr. Mar seems to like headlines…. and make me anxious for the next election where I can support & help someone who wants to support our city & ‘hood to be more liveable, for the working, tax paying, parking pass, muni pass buying people!
Reporting is not what is being done here. Rather, this is another politicized editorial meant to discredit one person. The author apparently didn’t do her homework on the issue.
I took this tour and it was great! There was very sufficient training related to keeping an eye out for pedestrians, curbs, each other, how to stop abruptly and how to be respectful. The tour guide wears a headset as did the participants.
I saw parts of the park that I never knew were there, got familiar with aspects of the park I never knew. It was informative and I felt very secure in not ruining the park environmentally or harming those enjoying the park.
Yes, we were made fun of! (LOL!) but that was part of the fun. I never expected to ride a Segway before but I’m glad I had the opportunity.
Another example of the layers of city government being out of touch and wasting time that we are paying for. At least it is being addressed now. Personally I think the trails and areas should be for people but don’t have a problem with designating a route that allows seeing the parts of the park without wearing ruts in the grounds. The it’s damaging the park argument was used to stop Jimmy’s show but Segway’s get a pass? must have offered more $$ Keep off hippy hill!
@ Gary I respectfully disagree. The article is about a meeting notice which is doing a public service getting the word out. The comments are free flowing honest and well mannered. Before you cry liberal media bias or some other such phrase become a regular reader, look at all the articles and then come back with a response.
At least they are electric. Maybe Mar could concentrate on banning the stinking 2-stroke, blue smoking, yellow, three wheeled hell wagons with blaring tourist information speakers that block traffic everywhere. THAT would be a true service to everyone in SF. Those are miserable things.
@Gary, this is a personal blog. It’s not a news source, per se, like the SF Chronicle. Sarah chooses what to cover, and in my opinion, does a darn good job of bringing notice to issues that directly affect the Richmond and its residents, and of affording us an opportunity to give feedback and engender discussion.
If you don’t like what she has to say, start up and fund your own blog to give us your point of view.
Mar worked to astroturf the soccer fields, give the Stow Lake concession to a sterile corporate chain and voted against the privatization of the Arboretum while saying he would join the San Francisco Botanical Garden Society!
He styles himself as a radical, but he has been a conservative conformist.
If he had any integrity, he would introduce legislation banning Segways from the park!
Segways are a street legal vehicle throughout the city of SF… they are currently allowed to ride anywhere in the streets that cars and bikes can go … no where else. People and or Tourists are currently allowed to own and/or rent the segways and can ride in the streets/bike lanes throughout the city of SF. To go to work , see the sights, etc. So, simply put, they should be allowed only on JFK dr. , MLK dr. or any streets. Not on paths or trails or botanical gardens or strawberry hill, etc. where pedestrians are, especially on the East end of ggpark. If JFK is closed, then they should have to go down MLK.
If a segway tour co. wants to ride through ggpark from an outside shop, then they should be allowed to do so…just like any other tour co. that rides down JFK or MLK(streets only)… but Not set up camp behind the bandshell in a high pedestrian area and ride around in high pedestrian areas.
The above makes sense, but, if cars are not allowed in bike lanes, Segways should not.
The founder of Segways rides one. Which lobbyist got this idiotic idea passed?
I was on the fence regarding the Stowe Lake concession. In that case there were clear advantages and disadvantages for the different bidders. And I am not necessarily opposed to licensed vending in the park(s) either. It could be nice to have a cup of coffee in the park.
However, it is obvious that the Segway proposal is only about money. Someone somewhere somehow is selling the soul of the park. For the life of me I can not understand how this proposal has gotten this far. It is outrageous that this is even being considered. Is P&R really so desperate for money that they want to allow noisy tourists on these obnoxious machines into the quietest and most secluded parts of the park? SHAME!!!
It all sounds like a really bad movie. “AVATAR Part II: Tourist Park Conquest Nightmare”.