Let’s ROLL..on the Segway P.T.!

Posted on August 19, 2014 by thetravellinggourmet

Story and photos by Dr. Michael Lim The Travelling GourmetTM

All rights reserved

The intrepid and indomitable Travelling GourmetTM goes to Marina Bay to…

MOVE around effortlessless on a Segway Personal Transporter…and tour the Marina Bay precinct! The occasion was the Official Launch of the Marina Bay Segway Tours held at the Marina Bay City Gallery on Tuesday 19 August 2014. In the Marina Bay City Gallery I gawked at the impressive models and interactive display of the Marina Bay area featuring landmarks like the Singapore Flyer, the ‘Two Durians’ – Esplanade Theatres by the Bay, Ascott Raffles Place, Clifford Pier now the Fullerton Bay Hotel, Marina Bay Sands Resort and more…At the mere touch of a sensor, the important attractions lit up in psycheldelic lights. After a thankfully short and sweet speech by the MD of GoGreen Holdings which runs the Segway Tours, I was very eager to go on the Segway. I asked the GM, Michael Tan, “How much does it cost to buy one?” He replied with a smile, “The retail is $13,800 or $148000. There are two models..” One is an onreaod model and the other is an off road model with bigger wheels to tackle more uneven terrain.

The Travelling GourmetTm and Michael Tan of GoGreen Holdings

 

IMG_0196

 

After signing the Idemnity Form electronically, I put on a cherry red helmet, clicked on the helmet straps, donned the elbow and knee pads with velcro straps… I went for the obligatory short orientation and training on how to operate the high-tech Segway Personal Transporter.

Then it was “Let’s roll!”

The Segway PT can go up to a top speed of 12.1mph which is quite fast. I found that it does not come to a complete stop and very slight movements of the handle bar will move you back and forth very marginally. Charge the Lithium ion batteries for 8 hours and it can go for 8 hours. The device weighs 47.7kg. It can be stowed in the boot of your car.
Invented by Dean Kamen in 2001, the name Segway actually comes from the French word “segue”. ‘Segue’ means smooth transition from one thing to another. That is the aim of the Segway P.T.: to move you from one place to aonther seamlessly and smoothly. Equipped with 5 gyroscopes and a computer, the P.T. is very sensitive to your movements. Very easy to operate, just leaning forward or backward gently will make you roll forward or backward. For the first few minutes when I was on it, I felt a little bit wary and unstable…

 

 

IMG_0201 The Travelling GourmetTM on a Segway…The Big Surfboard in in the background…

 

 

Using a Segway can be hazardous, although it is a very safe device. In 2010, The owner of the company that makes the Segway, Jimi Hedelsen, 62, died tragically after a bizarre freak accident when he was on a Segway in West Yorkshire in the UK. He fell off an 80 foot high cliff into a river. President George W. Bush also had an accident with his Segway in 2012.

http://www.bikexprt.com/witness/product/bushfalls.htm

It is really a very nice and unconventional way to tour the area, feeling the sea breeze cool and rustle your clothes as you glide along like skating. I felt like I was in a science fiction movie…EXHILARATING!
Go try it out soon! 🙂 ENJOY!

 

View from a Segway…

IMG_0206

 

Tours
1. Highlights of Marina Bay 60 minutes for S68
and
2. The Signature Marina Bay 120 minutes for $98

Buy your tickets at:
Marina Bay City Gallery
11, Marina Boulevard
Singapore 018940
Tel; 911 7239
Nearest MRT Station is Marina Bay (Exit B)

About thetravellinggourmet

As a renowned Travel, Food & Wine Writer he has travelled the world in a keen & indomitable pursuit of exotic delicacies & fine wines. His articles have been published in over 20 prestigious publications, both local & international. Dr. Lim has toured and trained in Wine Evaluation & Oenology in most of the world's top wine producing areas from France to Australia. The Travelling Gourmet says, "Gastronomy has no frontier. These are the gastronomic voyages of The Travelling Gourmet. My unending mission. To explore strange new cuisines, to seek out new wines and new culinary experiences, to boldly go where no gourmet has gone before...." Have pen, will travel. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any other information storage & retrieval system, without permission from Dr. Michael Lim The Travelling Gourmet and/or MSN. Material may be works of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents may be true but may also be products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance whatsoever to actual person or persons, either dead or living, events, or locales may be entirely and purely coincidental and unintentional. No part of this website may be used to villify others or for criminal purposes. Interests: Travel, Food, Wines, Cooking, Wine Appreciation, Parachuting, Languages, Music, Reading, Swimming, Hunting, Ballet, Fencing, Archery, Anthropology and more... The Travelling Gourmet is a copyrighted trademark. All rights and photos reserved. No part may be reproduced without permission.
This entry was posted in Entertainment, History, Hobbies, Organizations, Travel, Voyages and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

2 Responses to Let’s ROLL..on the Segway P.T.!

  1. Lelia says:
    August 20, 2014 at 03:44

    I really like what you guys tend to be up too. This type of clever work and coverage!
    Keep up the amazing works guys I’ve included you guys to our blogroll.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment