Greetings travelers! This week we thought we would weigh in on the best ways to tour a new city. Sure, you could take a bus or huff it on foot, but there is another option you may not have considered before…

Yes, we’ve all seen them. Perhaps raised an eyebrow questioning the smiles and laughter coming from a crowd of two-wheeled tourists cruising down the street at a breakneck max speed of 12 m.p.h.. But are Segway’s the new double-decker tour bus? We pondered the question and did some research so read on as we parse out the good, the bad, and the ugly of Segway city tours.

Setting the Scene
We have a great selection of furnished apartments and corporate housing available in Washington D.C., so we thought this blog post on Jack and Jill Travel the World was perfect.

In the post they travel the National Mall of downtown Washington D.C. which encompasses a large area containing many of the famous historical monuments, museums, and buildings associated with our nation’s capitol. Being one of the hottest travel destinations right now, Washington D.C. was the perfect stage for a partisan showdown between those in favor and those opposed to the much maligned devices.

A Quick Sidebar…
Wait, we should stop there and get something out of the way. You know what we’re talking about. “The dork factor.” The eternal measuring stick of the acceptable and unacceptable. Segway’s have been notoriously labeled “lame” because of how unavoidably goofy people look when cruising around on them. But, like roller blades and fannypacks, they serve a valuable purpose in the right context.

Think of it this way, there are only a few small differences between riding your Segway and riding a Harley-Davidson Chopper. They both have two wheels, handlebars, and require a helmet (bandanna and sunglasses are optional but encouraged). See, now don’t you feel just a BIT cooler?

Getting From Here to There
All joking aside, the benefits of exploring a new, unfamiliar city aboard a sweet set of wheels with that sweater tied around your waist blowing in the wind far outweigh fears of losing out on some cool points.

In the blog post mentioned earlier, the authors took to the streets of D.C. for a day of Segway-ing and recounted their experiences.

The pair were able to traverse the entire National Mall area, hitting major stops like the Martin Luther King monument and Capitol Hill in a mere 3 hours. Trying to to do the same on foot would take the better part of a day and leave you with sore arches and blisters almost guaranteed!

The Verdict Is In
Our final judgment, handed down after hours of debate, arguments, and a private counselling session with SCOTUS is…..

Do it!  (just don’t take any pictures of yourself doing it)

The ease of travel combined with the ease of use make exploring a large area like the National Mall a no-brainer for first-time travelers and those who want to pack the most into a short period of time.

They aren’t just great for tourists, either. New to the city? Business traveler with a day off and nothing to do? Maybe you’re staying with a group of fellow road warriors in a furnished apartment in Washington D.C. from PC Housing that literally has everything but a tour guide.

We honestly can’t think of a cheaper, quicker, or more fun way to leave work at home and enjoy a day out with your fellow travelers. Also, a big thanks to bloggers Jack and Jill for putting up a great post!

Image: Jack and Jill