SegTours.com > "Gettysburg Segway Tours" > General Policies and Common Questions

FAQs (Frequently-Asked Questions)

SegTours, LLC offers several tour options to match your interests. This page will outline our general tour policies and provide answers to many common questions.

• TOUR DESTINATIONS: SegTours, LLC offers historical tours to two distinct areas of the Gettysburg battlefield, as well as a ride which does not include an historical tour. Click here for details.
  
  
• ESCORTED AUDIO vs GUIDED TOURS
  For the basic price, our battlefield tours are escorted by a staff member and utilize a recorded audio tour by a Licensed Battlefield Guide. For a little more money, you can reserve a live Licensed Battlefield Guide to accompany your tour. Click here for details.
  
  
• TOUR TIMES: We accept reservations for March-November, 7 days a week. Off-season reservations may be available.
  
  Specific tour departure times vary by the season but are generally as follows:
     Jan, Feb: Closed
     Mar: 10am and 2pm.
     Apr, May: 9am, 1pm, and 5pm.
     Jun, Jul: 8am, 11am, 3pm, and 6pm.
     Aug: 8am, 11am, 2:30pm, and 5:30pm.
     Sep, Oct: 8am, 11am, and 3pm.
     Nov: 10am and 2pm.
     Dec: Closed
  
  Please plan to arrive 30 minutes before the tour for Segway training and practice.
  
  The destination (Western, Eastern, or Segway Experience) and type (Escorted Audio or Live Guide) of each tour is determined by the first party to reserve a time slot. Concurrent or overlapping tours may be scheduled in order to meet demand if staff and equipment is available. When you make a reservation, we will confirm the availability of your requested tour time.
  
  
• RESERVATIONS: It is common for us to be completely booked (especially for weekend tours) several days in advance so reservations are strongly recommended. Walk-ins are permitted, however, if the necessary equipment and staff is available.
  
  
• TOUR ESCORTS: All tours are escorted by at least one staff person. That is, you are never sent out on your own. We do not offer rentals, sorry.
  
  
• TRAINING: Segway training and practice time is provided at no additional charge and is not included in the estimated tour duration. Please arrive at least 30 minutes early for training and practice.
  
  
• NERVOUS?: Segways are MUCH easier than they look. Training, test-drives, and practice time is free. You will not be permitted to leave on the tour until you demonstrate an acceptable comfort level with the Segway. Even the most skeptical visitors very rarely fail to reach that comfort level in 15-20 minutes. However, if you decide not to take the tour, you will not be charged for it.
  
  
• HELMETS: Helmets are provided at no additional charge and are required for all visitors. You may bring and use your own bicycle helmet if you prefer.
  
  
• REFRESHMENTS: Bottled water and sometimes other refreshments are provided during the tour at no additional charge.
  
  
• REST STOPS: The tours include opportunities to dismount and rest about every 30-45 minutes. Restrooms are available on the Western battlefield tour during the Spring, Summer, and Fall. They are closed between the first and last frost by the National Park Service.
  
  
• WHAT TO WEAR? You should wear flat-soled shoes and whatever other clothes make you comfortable. A baseball hat will fit under the helmet but other types of hats are not practical.
  
  Our staff generally bring free, disposable ponchos in case tour participants are surprised by a sudden rainstorm but, as below, the Segway is equipped with a bag in which you can bring an extra jacket, windbreaker or foul-weather gear.
  
  
• SUNSCREEN: Although much of the tour is in the shade, you will frequently be exposed to the sun so sunscreen is strongly recommended.
  
  
• CARRY-ONS: Each Segway is equipped with a large handlebar bag which is sufficient to carry almost any purse, jacket, camera, refreshments, or other personal items that you may choose to bring.
  
  
• MINIMUM GROUP SIZE: There is generally not a minimum group size. That is, we will take one person on a tour. If you request a live guide, however, then be aware that the guide fee is $15.00 per person with a minimum total guide fee of $60.00. So if there are fewer than 4 people on the tour, then you will split the $60 minimum guide fee equally.
  
  
• MAXIMUM GROUP SIZE: The group size is typically limited to 8 visitors (plus escorts/guide) and may include people that are not in your party.
  
  In the case of a group of 9 or more, we will typically divide the group into smaller groups of 6-8 which will go out separately (each with escort/guide), staggering their start times by 15-30 minutes. Group members may therefore encounter each other at break areas and for photo opportunities.
  
  Under rare conditions (including consideration of the tourist volume and the approval of Borough and Park authorities), exceptions to the group size may be made in order to accommodate a single large group (e.g., a large family or corporate outing). Please contact us for details.
  
  
• MINIMUM AGE: You must generally be at least 16 years old to ride one of our Segways.
  
  In some cases, we may consider allowing minors as young as 14 to operate a Segway but they must (1) demonstrate an ability to safely operate the Segway after training, (2) demonstrate a respect and understanding of the rules of the road (including the traffic regulations and pedestrian right-of-way), (3) acknowledge the authority of the SegTours staff to regulate their behavior, and (4) be followed directly on the tour by a responsible parent or legal guardian (one adult per child). Sorry, there will be no exceptions.
  
  Minimum weight restrictions also apply.
  
  
• MINIMUM WEIGHT : The Segway is operated by shifting of one's weight forward and back. In order to safely accomplish this, each rider must be at least 100 lbs, regardless of age.
  
  
• MAXIMUM WEIGHT: According to Segway, Inc., the maximum weight for a rider is 260 lbs. We have observed no issues with riders as much as 300 lbs, however. Riders over 300 lbs should contact us in advance and may not be permitted to ride.
  
  
• SAFE OPERATION: Representatives of SegTours, LLC reserve the absolute authority to make the sole determination as to whether an individual (adult or minor) meets our safe operation requirements. Any person who, in the opinion of SegTours staff, appears intoxicated, uncooperative, unsteady, or otherwise unable or unwilling to operate safely will be permitted to go on a tour.
  
  
• GETTYSBURG RESIDENTS: A 50% discount of the tour fee is available to those with a Gettysburg address on their driver's license. The discount does NOT apply to the guests of such residents. If you choose to be accompanied by a Licensed Battlefield Guide, then the associated additional fee goes directly to the guide and is not subject to the resident discount.
  
  
• ROADS VS SIDEWALKS: Our tour routes take us within the bounds of the Borough of Gettysburg as well as the National Park. In Pennsylvania, the Segway Personal Transporter™ is legal on both the street and the sidewalk. At the request of Gettysburg Borough Police Department, however, our tours do not use the sidewalks. On park property, Segways are not permitted on the grass or sidewalks. In both venues, therefore, our tours use the streets. However, the routes are carefully planned to avoid high-traffic areas. Within the park (which constitutes the majority of the tour) and in residential areas of the borough (which constitute most of the rest), cars are limited by low speed limits and generally travel at about the same speed as the Segways. Our staff escorts are trained to emphasize "Safety First" at all times.
  
  
• TIP POLICY: Naturally, tipping of the tour guides and/or escorts is not required. If you believe that you received exceptional service, attention, and/or value for your money, however, then tips will be gratefully accepted.
  
  
• DEPOSIT POLICY: In most cases, a deposit is NOT required for a reservation so it is to your advantage to make a reservation as soon as your travel plans are finalized. This policy is subject to change at the sole discretion of SegTours, LLC. In particular, a 50% non-refundable deposit may be required for large groups or during peak tourist season. You will be notified at the time of a reservation if a deposit is required. Please contact us to discuss your circumstances.
  
  
• INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY: When necessary to avoid thunderstorms, snow, or ice, SegTours, LLC will cancel a tour in the interest of safety. In the case of other predicted inclement weather (e.g., rain, wind, or temperature extremes), we will generally consult with you and we will decide together whether or not to cancel or reschedule a tour.
  
  
• CANCELLATION POLICY: We understand that unforeseen circumstances arise and your travel plans may change. So, as noted above, we generally do not require a deposit in order to make a reservation. Equipment and staff will be allocated on your behalf, however, and will be unavailable to other customers. Therefore, in the interest of preserving our no-deposit policy for future customers, we ask only that you please notify us as soon as possible if you must cancel or reschedule a reservation.
  
  A tour may be cancelled by SegTours, LLC with or without notice for reasons related to weather, equipment, staff or other unexpected circumstances. Such a decision rests solely with SegTours, LLC and no compensation will be provided for the inconvenience or other claims arising from a cancelled tour. However, (except when a deposit is required as noted above), you will not be charged for a tour that you do not take.
  
  
• PAYMENT TYPES: We accept cash, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and Travelers Checks. Gift certificates are also available.
  
  

  List of Gettysburg Segway Tours