FAQ

FAQ

WHERE CAN I FIND MY FREE TOUR PICS?

Free VIP and Private Tour guest pictures can be found on our VIP Tours Facebook page. 

facebook.com/SanFranciscoSegwayTours

 

Albums are generally displayed in date order. Occasionally the folders are slightly out of order or pictures are uploaded under the wrong date.

These are free pictures that we take when we can and there is no guarantee that there will be pictures of your group.

We appreciate you booking a tour with us. Thanks again.

Segway Tour & General Info FAQ

Riding a Segway is similar to riding a bike—it’s intuitive but nobody is born knowing how to operate it. That’s why we offer 30-35 minutes of training so you can get familiar with the device.

A Segway is not an ideal mode of touring for people with some mobility issues. 

All guests must be able to easily and quickly step on and off the Segway without any assistance, which requires physical abilities similar to climbing and descending stairs without assistance or use of a handrail. See more disability and medical condition information below.

Segway riding is not recommended for pregnant women. Unfortunately, pregnant guests will not be permitted to participate due to fall risk.

This activity is NOT recommended for some guests age 70 and up. Please review information about disabilities and mobility issues listed below.

 
Safety is very important to us: 
All guests must be age 12 or older and weight at least 100 lbs. (45 kilos).

If you book a tour and any of your guests do not meet the minimum age / weight criteria they will not be allowed on the tour and you will not be given a refund or rescheduled.

We do have a scale and check weights. Safety 1st!

Yes we enforce the minimum weight requirement. We occasionally get asked if we will make an exception for underweight children with athletic ability. No we will not make an exception. All guests must weigh more than a Segway. Safety 1st.

If you have been on a Segway tour in another city and the tour operator let your age 12 and under / under 100 lbs (45 kilos) child participate we will still NOT allow them to ride on our tour. Unlike most Segway tours in other cities we have hills on our route and guests must be the minimum weight and age to safely participate.

Guests will practice on the Segways until everyone feels comfortable and ready to tour San Francisco!

All Segway Tours – Rider Requirements:
  • Segway Tours be age 12 and up and weigh at least 100 lbs (46 kilos).  For guest safety minimum age and weight requirements are strictly enforced. This includes underage / underweight guests that may have been allowed on tours in other cities. We have a scale and check weights.
  • Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult or guardian.
  • Be able to easily and quickly step on and off the Segway without assistance, which requires physical abilities similar to climbing and descending stairs without any assistance or use of a handrail.
  • Be able to stand on the Segway for a period of 1-2 hours.
  • Weigh between 100 and 275 pounds (46 to 126 kilos).
  • This activity is NOT recommended for some guests age 70 and up. Pregnant guests will not be permitted to participate
  • Wear the helmet and safety vest that is provided with the tour.
  • Sign a liability waiver.
  • Complete the Segway rider training and test ride
  • Respect road signs, pedestrians, bikes and cars for a safe enjoyable ride. 
  • Please arrive 15 minutes early to check in and be ready for fun!
Advanced Segway Tours: Rider Requirements
  • All guests on the Advanced Hills and Park Run to the Ocean  Tours must have taken a 2+ hour Segway Tour on a newer version of the Segway i2 with lean steer. Our tours or a full 2+ hour tour in another city in the last 12 months will qualify you. A five minute test ride or tours on the older version ( non moving handlebar design) of the Segway do not qualify. 
  • All members of your group must have the minimum experience. These are not beginner tours or appropriate for guests with mobility issues.
  • Ages 12 and up and weigh at least 100 lbs (46 kilos).For guest safety minimum age and weight requirements are strictly enforced. This includes underage / underweight guests that may have been allowed on tours in other cities.
  • Guests must weigh a minimum of 100 pounds and not over 250 pounds. (46 to 113 kilos).
  • This tour is more strenuous than our other San Francisco Tours. Do not book this tour if you don’t want to ride up and down hills or tire easily. You will be standing for 2 hours.
  • Weight and age restrictions will be strictly enforced.
  • This activity is NOT recommended for some guests age 70 and up. Please review mobility and disability info listed below. Pregnant guests will not be permitted to participate due to fall risk.
  • Please no high heels, sandals or flip flops.
  • All guests must be able to easily and quickly step on and off the Segway without any assistance, which requires physical abilities similar to climbing and descending stairs without assistance or use of a handrail.
  • Advanced tours are subject to a minimum of 4 guests. Groups will be combined. Advanced reservations are required.
  • No refunds for guests that ignore the requirements.
  • Please arrive 15 minutes early to check in and be ready for fun!
 
Segway rider training includes:
  • Walking the customer through a simulated obstacle course consisting of cones, turns and an emergency stop to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
  • Hands-on training with a instructor. Video introduction. Check-out ride and skills review. Training video is available in 10 languages.
  • Education of rider courtesy and rules of the road.
 
I or a member of my group has a disability or medical condition.

It is important to note that the Segway has not been designed, tested, or approved as a medical device.

How do you evaluate and /or handle a guest with a disability / medical condition ?

It is important to note that the Segway has NOT been designed, tested, or approved as a medical device. Our staff are not professionally trained to recognize or evaluate disabilities. We are not doctors or clinicians.

We want everyone to have a safe experience. We have had guests with some physical challenges do well on the Segway. The Segway tour is not a good choice for guests with motor control or learning disabilities. Our tours do require physical exertion and standing for long periods of time. Please carefully review the rider requirements listed above.

If you contact us in advance we will try to arrange for a free demo / training the day (or days) before your tour. This is only if we have staff and time available. We use this time to try to best evaluate the riders abilities. During this time a staff member will spend one on one time with the guest and answer questions. We always err on the side of safety.

We strongly suggest asking questions in advance concerning any disabilities/ medical issues..

We will most likely not have a lot of extra time during training prior to the tour departure to work with a guest. We operate on schedule so the other paying guests have a full tour experience. On occasion (if we have space) guests that don’t feel comfortable or do not have the skills have stayed in our parking lot area vs. going on the tour. They receive a bit of extra riding time without being out on the road.

At a minimum on arrival please tell the training staff and guides if you or members of your party have a disability, medical condition or travel issue that may impact riding ability. 
This includes recent surgeries, back braces, pregnancy (not allowed to go on tour), fainting spells, missing limbs, hip replacements, knee replacements, hearing loss, vision problems, casts, drugs that may impair motor control and much more than we can list here. Jet lag and dehydration from long flights can also be a problem for our international guests.

During our regular guest training prior to the tour departure:

1. We will not let you leave our training facility if we feel you are not a competent / safe rider.

2. We do not offer a full refund if we or you decide that it will not be safe for you to proceed.

Advance payment via credit card / cash is required to reserve a tour. We will send an e-mail confirmation of the date and time of your tour. 

Payments are fully refundable if the reservation is cancelled 3 days – 72 hours or more prior to the scheduled tour time

Note: Large Group Tours and Scavenger Hunt reservations have different policies. Please check with your sales manager. 

We have a limited amount of Segways and Scooters available for tours. We will reserve Segway(s) /Sccoter(s) and schedule a tour guide specifically for your reservation. 

No shows and late arrivals are charged in full and will not be rescheduled. 

Your reservation payment WILL NOT be refunded or tour rescheduled for any reason within 72 hours / 3 days of your scheduled tour time.

IMPORTANT: Be on time Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled tour time to check in and start your tour and training on time.

If you arrive late we will NOT let you join a tour group that has already started training and your money will not be refunded or your tour rescheduled.  Safety and complete training for all of our guests is our 1st priority and we will not rush training to accommodate late arrivals.

Gift Certificates are not refundable.

Please review the “Who Can Ride?/Rider Requirement” information in the FAQ.  

 

San Francisco is famous for the fog and chilly summer days!  Our tours do operate in fog, light rain and on windy chilly days.

We always suggest multiple layers of warm clothing for San Francisco outdoor actives.
Summer afternoons can be in the 50’s. 

We have rain gear, warm jackets and gloves for those infrequent rainy days or chilly afternoons.

Segways are designed to run in any weather.

Weather reschedules or refunds: In the rare case we cancel due to a severe rain we will offer space on an alternate date or time (if space is available.) or a full refund.

We generally wait until one hour prior to the tour departure time for most rain cancels. Rain along the California coast is very fickle and we end up operating almost every tour on rainy days.

Helpful Hint: Please make sure we have a good phone number to reach you if the weather forecast calls for rain.

 

We are open seven days a week.

If you plan to be in the Bay Area during 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Fleet Week (Early October) or other Holidays please call for schedule changes.

We are closed January 1 and December 25th.

Please check each tour page for current tour times.

Important: Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled tour time to check in and start your tour and training on time.

If you arrive late we will NOT let you join a tour group that has already started training and your money will not be refunded or your tour rescheduled.

Safety and complete training for all of our guests is our 1st priority – we will not rush training to accommodate late arriving guests.

 

Please book as far in advance as possible. Reservations are required. We are occasionally able to accommodate walk up reservations when space and tour guides are available. Best plan is to always call in advance confirm availability. 

We suggest you either book online or call 415-474-3130 or toll-free 1-877-474-3130.

Our tours sell out during the busy Summer travel season in San Francisco.

Departure Locations:

San Francisco Guided Wharf & Waterfront Segway & E-Scooter Tours depart from Fisherman’s Wharf @ 757 Beach St location.

Golden Gate Park Segway Tours depart from Golden Gate Park – 82 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive San Francisco, CA 94118

 

 

Directions: 

For Wharf Location: The Powell / Hyde Cable Car ends across the street from our main 757 Beach Street facility. 

Helpful Hint: Lines to board the Cable Car from downtown San Francisco can be as much as a 2 hour wait during the Summer. 

BART to city then to Wharf: Take BART to the Embarcadero Station. Go upstairs and cross the street to the Ferry Building. In front of the Ferry Building, take the MUNI F / E Line Historic Street Cars to the last stop in Fisherman’s Wharf.

Our main Wharf location at 757 Beach Street is 4 blocks West from last F / E Line stop. 

Helpful Hint: The F Line experiences rider delays during the summer months due to full street cars so plan extra time. Sfmta – MUNI: www.sfmta.com | (415) 673-6864.

Fisherman’s Wharf and Golden Gate Park are both easily accessible from all points in San Francisco via public transportation.
For specific route information, please contact the SFMTA -MUNI operates the Cable Cars, F Line and Bus System.

For all transit questions, including traffic information, public transportation schedules, directions, and routes, call Bay Area Travel Guide at 511 or visit www.511.org.

BART: www.bart.gov |(415) 989-2278

Fisherman’s Wharf Parking: 

We do not have parking facilities at our San Francisco Wharf training location. Street parking is limited and meters last a maximum of 2 hours. (Tours last over 2 hours) We do not reimburse parking costs.

Paid Wharf area Garage Parking is available at:

Anchorage Shopping Center Garage: 500 Beach St San Francisco, CA 94133  Two blocks East  of our location on Beach Street.

We occasionally have discount parking (bar-code stickers to put on your parking ticket) for the Anchorage Garage. Rate is discounted slightly To get discount you must pick up discount sticker at our office and present at parking booth when exiting garage. No discount is available without this parking sticker. Discounts are not valid on major Holidays. Ie: 4th of July. 

IMPORTANT: Anchorage Garage discount parking deal terms and availability subject to change without notice.

This parking offer is subject to change or be canceled without notice. We are not affiliated with or responsible for parking at the garage or operations of the Anchorage Garage management company.

Ghirardelli Square Garage: 900 Northpoint Street San Francisco CA 94109. Garage entrance is on Larkin Street between Beach Street and North Point Street. 1 1/2 blocks West of our  location.

Golden Gate Park Parking: 

San Francisco Golden Gate Park Segway Tour start location is in the paved area directly behind the Sprekels Temple of Music ( band stage ) in the Golden Gate Park Music Concourse area.

If you are trying to find us using GPS the entrance to the Japanese Tea Garden is across the street from our training lot at 75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive SF CA 94118.

Parking spaces are not available at the guest training location. The Segway training area is a pedestrian area and not visible until you are behind the Band shell (stage.)

Paid underground garage parking is available at the Music Concourse Garage located between the deYoung Museum and the California Academy of Science. We do not reimburse parking costs.

Free on street parking is available on adjacent streets and fills rapidly on weekends.

We suggest taking public transit on SFMTA – MUNI to the Park.

Helpful Hint: Give yourself lots of extra time to find parking in or near the Park as it can be a long walk on busy days.

Important Weekend Street Closures: John F. Kennedy Drive through the park is closed on Sundays from Transverse Drive to McLaren Lodge.
From April through September JFK Drive is also closed to traffic on Saturdays from Tea Garden Drive to Transverse Drive.

Allow extra time to travel to and find parking on weekends.

Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled tour time to check in and start your tour and training on time.

Yes – We offer amazing Private VIP tours, Team Building Large Group Tours and Scavenger Hunts for company functions and families.

Whether it’s a family vacation or company conference. Private tours can be reserved for 2 to 100 guests.

For large groups from 10 to 100 guests group tour info and pricing is here: Large Group Tours info.

For information on personal small private tours for 2 to 10 guests check out Private Segway & Scooter Tours Info

For information on Segway & Electric Scooter Scavenger Hunts for 8 to 36 guests. 

Very large groups can be split into staggered departure times. We offer custom routes, flexible tour times and other add on items to create the perfect group tour experience. 

Please call  415-474-3130 and ask for one of our group tour experts.  

All first time customers are required to take a 30-35 minute on board training session to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

Training time is part of the overall tour time. During the busy summer season training time may be slightly longer.

Riders are trained on safe Segway operation, emergency stops, safety cone course and our “Share the Road” policy.

Training includes a 9 minute safety video. For our international visitors the training video is available in 11 languages. 

The Segway Human Transporter is the first of its kind – a self-balancing, personal transportation device designed to go anywhere people do.

Easy to use and operate, the two-wheeled Segway sports high-tech gyroscopes that monitor your balance 100 times a second and automatically respond to your body’s movements.

To move forward, the rider simply leans forward. To stop or move backwards, the rider leans back slightly. The rider glides smoothly as the Segway senses where you want to go.

We use Lean Steer model i2 Segways on our San Francisco Tours.

We do not offer test drives. Take a tour it is fun!

Note: Depending on schedule and staff availability we do offer a pre-tour evaluation and abilities test ride specifically for guests with disabilities / medical conditions that may impair their riding abilities.

Please check our FAQ  “Who Can Ride a Segway” for  detailed answers for guests with disabilities / medical conditions /recent surgeries.  

Fisherman’s Wharf:

We apologize for not having public restrooms at our main Fisherman’s Wharf 757 Beach Street training facility. (It is a parking lot)

Please use the public restroom facilities at the nearby Starbucks or the neighborhood shopping centers, Argonaut Hotel or in the nearby Maritime National Park Museum prior to your arrival.

Golden Gate Park:

The Golden Gate Park Segway Tour start location has public restrooms next to the training area.

On all tours we will make at least one restroom stop on the tour approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hours after we begin training. Thanks.

Our San Francisco Waterfront and Golden Gate Park Segway Tours mainly stay on the “flat parts” of the city. None of our Segway tours go to or across the Golden Gate Bridge. If you want to go to the Golden Gate Bridge please check out our new Electric Scooter tours . 

Our routes starting in San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf are mainly on designated bike lanes. These bike lanes are adjacent to city streets. In some places the bike lane is the full width of the city street. 

Our Golden Gate Park Routes incorporate designated bike lanes and park trails.  We are the exclusive operator of Segway Tours in Golden Gate Park and have access to some amazing hidden areas and specific trails designated and approved for our use.  

We offer 2 Advanced Tours that incorporate hills and advance terrain in the tour route.

Our Wharf & Hills Advanced Rider Tour that starts in the Wharf does travel up and down some great hills and includes going down the famous Crooked Lombard Street hill.

Our newest Advanced Tour explores Golden Gate Park with an extended route out to Ocean Beach.

Both Advanced Tours are limited to riders that have previously taken a full 1+ hour Segway tour (on a new i2 Segway model) in the past year.

Segway Use in the City:

Segways are allowed on most San Francisco streets and designated bike pathways. Segways are not allowed on sidewalks in San Francisco.

We strongly stress that all Segway riders courteously “Share the Road” with other vehicles, bikes and pedestrians. It is the Segway rider’s responsibility to yield to pedestrians. Pedestrians have the right-of way.

We are in a busy big city and will be in some high traffic areas. San Francisco has more bike lanes per square mile than any other US City. Unlike Segway tours in other US cities we cannot operate the tours on the sidewalk.

 

Guest Tour Narration and Safety Radio System:  

Exclusive to the Electric Tour Company: Each Segway guest will be issued a small radio receiver and earbud so the guide can advise you to upcoming changes in the route and info on the sights you are passing. 

Similar to a bike ride you will have to be aware of your surroundings and traffic.

 

Guest safety is very important to us. Please review all the rider requirements in the FAQ

 

Our Segway Tours have a top speed of about 8-10 miles per hour (12-16 kph) A Segway can average about 24 miles (38 km) between battery charges. A fully charged battery will last with constant riding for approximately 6 hours.

Riding times vary with hills, rider weight and speed. Segway has settings that limit the top speed.

The learning / skills recap session is no more than 4-5 mph (6-8 kph). One additional speed setting is used on the route for slightly higher 8-10 mph (10-16 kph)  You can enjoy the entire tour on lower speeds. With crowded streets &  park areas we limit our speed for a relaxed cruise.

Tour Length?

Our Private VIP tours are 3 hours long. 

Tour time for all tours includes the fun and entertaining 30-35 minute training time.  

Training time may be slightly longer during the busy summer season.

Photos & Videos While Riding 

We make a few stops for pictures on every tour. If we are stopped and you have a foot on the ground pics are OK! 

For your safety we request that riders please do not take pictures or videos while riding / moving on their Segway. It is really hard to steer and see obstacles if you are looking through a camera view finder! Similar to a car – operating a Segway with a phone in your hand is not legal in California. 

Our tour guides carry I-phones and will often take a few group pictures on most tours. (quality and quantity are not guaranteed as this is a freebie) These pics are posted online on one of our three Facebook pages.
Guests can download the pictures for free.

Helpful Hint: Tour guides are happy to take pictures of your group with your camera. Please ask.

It is Cold in San Francisco! Dress Comfortable and in Layers.

 

Required: Comfortable closed toe flat shoes (no high heels, sandals, shape ups, z-coils or flip flops)

Suggested: An extra layer of warm, wind resistant clothing.

Gloves are recommended during the winter months.

With the chilly wind, wet fog and damp environment along the waterfront and in the park shorts and a t-shirts are NOT a good fashion idea.

Backpacks and Large Bags: 

Each Segway has a very small handlebar storage bag for cameras, light jackets and purses.

Backpacks or bulky bags will not fit in the handlebar bags. Please leave bulky backpacks at home.

No backpacks or bags can be worn on the tour. 

 

If it is Rainy or Cold – 

We have a supply of rain ponchos, warm jackets and lightweight knit gloves to keep you warm.

Simple knit caps (beanies) are available for purchase for $2.00 if you want something to wear under the helmet.

Shoe Choice Matters: 

If you accidentally wear high heels, open toe shoes, open heel sandals, shape ups, z-coils or flip flops we will ask you to switch to our fashionable brightly colored crocs. (shoes)  

Helmets: 

Guests may bring their own bike helmets.

Guests from around the world ask us about the U.S. custom of gratuities.

Guide gratuities are not included in the tour price. We do not include a fixed price gratuity as we want to keep the tours affordable for as many guests as possible.

Guide gratuities are completely at the discretion of the guest. We employ a great and diverse group of guides. They guide because it is a fun job and they get to meet people from all corners of the world. Similar to service businesses all over the United States, gratuities are a small part of the compensation the staff receives.

If you choose to give your guide a gratuity, it would be much appreciated.

Note: Gratuities are included as part of the pre-paid cost for our private group tours and corporate team building events.

All reservations require full advance payment. We DO NOT not charge a security deposit on your credit card.

Your card will be charged for any damages to the Segway or Scooter.

Important: Riders are responsible for all damages to the Segway/Scooter and/or anything /anyone they may accidentally collide with. 

Example: If you accidentally dent a car along the route you will be responsible to work out paying for damages directly with vehicle owner. We do not offer accident insurance or coverage. Note this is very very rare problem and we will help facilitate the communication between parties.

Please keep in mind that each Segway costs over $6000.00 and the Scooters are $1200.00 each. 

We only offer guided tours. Our tours are consistently rated one of the top 5 activities in San Francisco.

Don’t waste time wandering lost through the city! Go with an entertaining and knowledgeable guide and have an amazing experience. 

Want to tour at you own pace? Choose one of our Private Tours with only your group and a private tour guide. 

We are very media / FAM friendly and have handled Media and FAM visits from all over the world.

Please contact us here with your request.

We also have high res / web ready images available for publication in our media section.

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