Segway gets a practical use

We can all imagine that the Segway hasn't exactly been the rip-roaring success its inventors hoped it might be. How often have you seen anyone bombing around on one? (And that excludes the Segway Polo video!)

However, a company in San Francisco actually seems to have found a neat commercial use for them: why not use them to scoot tourists around the city? Forget walking to attractions, who can be bothered? Hiring a bike... well, it's just too clumsy. Jump on a Segway and you can scoot your way around like a pro.

Currently, the tour operates in the Fisherman's Wharf area, for those of you who know it, and the company operating the tour, San Francisco Electric Tour Co, claim that you can 'Go For a Glide' for $65.

Once you strip away the novelty value, one can't help feel that that this is priced a little steep, and that American's should probably stop inventing reasons to avoid exercising. However, this reporter is going to be out in SF in just a couple of weeks time - it has a certain geek appeal, making it a little hard to resist...

Charlie Demerjian from The Inquirer won his very own Segway in a competition last year - maybe we should have a drag race around the streets of San Fran, replicating the famous chase scene from Bullit...

If you can't resist the pull of Segway, but really can't afford the dollars, why not build your own?

More information on the tours over at Gadget Fetish, and discussion in our forum, here!