Frequently asked questions

Is it hard to ride a Segway PT?

Not at all. Most participants will complete the training in less than 30 minutes. Safety is our top priority and we are dedicated to making sure you're comfortable before we begin the tour. Guests will practice on the Segway PTs until everyone feels comfortable and ready to tour Halifax!



Are there age/weight/height restrictions for riders?

Yes, Segway tour participants must be at least 19 years of age for any of our tours. Riders must weigh between 100 & 260 lbs (45 & 118 kg). The handlebars are adjustable, so height is usually not an issue.



Who can ride a Segway PT?

Riding a Segway PT is similar to riding a bike — it's intuitive but nobody is born knowing how to operate it. That's why we offer comprehensive training so you can get familiar with the device. A Segway PT 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 PT 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 here. It is important to note that the Segway PT has not been designed, tested, or approved as a medical device. Riding a Segway PT is not recommended for pregnant women. Unfortunately, pregnant guests will not be permitted to participate due to fall risk. This activity may not be suited for some older guests age 70 and up. Please review information about disabilities and mobility issues listed below. Safety is very important to us. Segway PT tour participants must be 19 years of age or older for any of our tours. Riders must weigh between 100 & 260 lbs (45 & 118 kg). For the safety of riders and those around you, minimum age and weight requirements are strictly enforced. Riders must be able to stand on the Segway PT for the duration of the tour. Riders must wear a helmet. Please no high heels, loose sandals or flip flops. Riders must sign a liability waiver. Riders must complete (and pass) Segway PT training. Riders must respect road signs, pedestrians, bikes and cars for a safe enjoyable ride. Arrive 10 minutes early to check in and be ready for fun! IT IS THE SEGWAY PT RIDER’S RESPONSIBILITY TO YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS. PEDESTRIANS HAVE THE RIGHT-OF WAY. I or a member of my group has a disability or medical condition. How do you evaluate and /or handle a guest with a disability / medical condition? It is important to note that the Segway PT has NOT been designed, tested, or approved as a medical device. Our staff are not professionally trained to recognize or evaluate disabilities. We want everyone to have a safe experience. We have had guests with some physical challenges do well on the Segway PT. The Segway PT 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 session 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 rider's 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 a 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 training area rather than go 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 can also be a problem for riders.



What if it rains or the weather is bad?

Segway PTs are designed to run in any weather that does not impede traction, but if the weather is not cooperating we have some options. Our tours do operate in fog, light rain and on windy / chilly days, but we leave it up to you to decide if you'd still like to ride in the rain. We will contact you an hour before your scheduled tour to discuss your intentions. If bad weather is forecast or weather warnings are in place, we will contact you ahead of time to delay, reschedule or even cancel the tour. Halifax is famous for the fog and chilly summer days! We always suggest multiple layers of warm clothing for outdoor actives, especially near the ocean.
We have rain gear and gloves for those rainy or colder days. Segway PT handlebar storage bags are available for smaller items like cameras, light jackets and purses. Weather reschedules or refunds:
In the rare case we cancel due to the weather, we will offer space on an alternate date or time (if space is available), or provide a full refund. Helpful Hint:
Please make sure we have a good phone number to reach you in case the weather forecast calls for rain.



What should I wear?

Wear comfortable, flat shoes as you will be standing for the duration of the tour. Clothing should be comfortable and suitable to the weather conditions, realizing that you may generate a breeze when riding the Segway PT. Each rider is required to wear a properly fitted helmet. We provide helmets, but riders are welcome to bring their own. It can get windy / chilly near the ocean. Dress comfortable and in layers. Gloves are recommended for colder days. Segway PT handlebar storage bags are available for smaller items like cameras, light jackets and purses. We have a supply of rain ponchos and lightweight knit gloves.



What if I need to cancel my reservation?

As you can appreciate, we have limited spaces available on our tours. We reserve Segway PT(s) and schedule a tour guide specifically for your reservation. Therefore, cancellations must be made 48 hours in advance. Any cancellations made within 48 hours prior to the scheduled tour time may be charged the full tour price. No-shows will be charged the full amount. Cancellations can be made by calling 902-880-6630 and receiving a cancellation verification. Email notification of cancellations will not be valid unless acknowledged by Segway Nova Scotia.



What if I need to change my reservation or I am late?

Reschedules may be accepted up to 2 hours prior to the scheduled tour. Additions to party numbers are subject to availability. Reduction of party numbers are subject to our cancellation & penalty policies. No-shows or non-notification of reduced party numbers will be charged the full amount. For changes to your reservation please call us at 902-880-6630. IMPORTANT: Be on time. Please arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled tour time to check in and start your tour and training on time.
If you arrive late we may 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.



In what situations do you offer (and not offer) a refund?

You will not be charged and there are no penalities if the reservation is cancelled 2 days (48 hours) or more prior to the scheduled tour time. Any cancellations made within 48 hours prior to the scheduled tour time may be charged the full tour price. No-shows or non-notification of reduced party numbers will be charged the full tour price and will not be rescheduled. Anyone that does not meet our rider weight or our rider age requirements will NOT be refunded or rescheduled. Reschedules may be accepted up to 2 hours prior to the scheduled tour, without penalties. Reduction of party numbers are subject to our cancellation & penalty policies. If you elect to discontinue the tour for any reason, or if the tour guide ends your participation in the tour (for any reason), there will be no refund. Gift Certificates are not refundable.



Can I just rent a Segway PT and go on my own?

Generally, we do not rent out Segway PTs.
All Segway PT tours and events are guided or supervised. Book a tour - it's fun! Occasionally rental requests can be accommodated, but only after you have already taken the guided tour.



Do I have to book in advance?

Advance bookings are strongly recommended, as tours often sell out quickly. To maximize your chance of getting the day and time you prefer, please book your tour well in advance. You can do this online or over the phone using Visa, Mastercard or American Express.



How will I hear the tour guide’s commentary?

Riders are given the choice to wear a top-of-the-line radio headset unit, making it easy to hear the information being offered by the guide and guaranteeing an optimal tour experience. Smaller groups sometimes determine it is not necessary to wear the headsets and decide not to use them.



Do I have to sign a waiver?

All Segway PT riders must sign a liability waiver before participating.



Where does the tour start & end?

We start and end our city tours at our kiosk on the Halifax Waterfront - Sands at Salter, located at 1521 Lower Water Street. Tour routes are provided on our tour maps page.



Do Segway PTs have the ability to store bags, purses?

With an optional handlebar bag, you can transport necessary (smaller) items i.e. camera, phone, medication, wallet, etc. All other personal belongings will be kept in the meeting location. Segway Nova Scotia is not responsible for lost or stolen articles.



Are restrooms available?

Yes, public restrooms are available near our Halifax Waterfront meeting location, and there are also accessible restroom stops along the tour route. If you should need to stop, please let us know and we will try to accommodate you.



What is a Segway Personal Transporter (PT)? How does it work?

The Segway Personal Transporter (PT) is the first self-balancing, electric-powered transportation device. With dimensions no larger than the average adult body and the ability to emulate human balance, the Segway PT uses the same space as a pedestrian, and can go wherever a person can walk. Easy to use and operate, the two-wheeled Segway PT sports high-tech angular rate sensors 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. The rider glides smoothly as the Segway senses where you want to go.



How safe is the Segway PT?

The utmost care and research has gone into ensuring that the Segway PT is safe. The Segway PT’s balancing technology is truly revolutionary and provides an exceptional riding experience. The Segway PT has redundant systems and sophisticated alerts built into its design, and many thousands of hours of use have demonstrated that the Segway PT is safe when used appropriately. It is important that Segway PT riders understand their responsibility to ride safely. Proper skill level and understanding of the Segway PT prevents injuries caused by loss of control or misuse.



Can I arrange for a private/corporate/business event?

Yes we offer private VIP tours, team building packages, scavenger hunts, games/rides, etc. for company functions, groups, special events, and families.
Private tours can be reserved for 2 to 25 riders. Larger groups can be split. Prices will be quoted after we customize your tour or event.



How fast & far will the Segway PT go?

On our city tours the Segway PT is limited to 13.5 km/h but will travel up to 20 km/h when ungoverned (e.g. on our trail rides). On sidewalks we reduce our speed for safety and a relaxed cruise. The Segway PT's range depends on speed and the rider, but generally speaking is about 38 km on a full charge.



What days are you open?

We are open seven days a week (weather permitting) from May 1st thru October 31st. We may be able to accommodate groups outside of these dates - contact us to discuss options.
We are closed on July 1st (Canada Day).



Where are you located, and what about parking?

Please check out our locations page.



Can I test drive a Segway PT for 5 minutes?

We do not offer test drives. Take a tour it is fun! Depending on schedule and staff availability we can offer a pre-tour evaluation and abilities discussion for guests that are just not sure, or with disabilities / medical conditions that may impair their riding abilities.



Are there restrictions? What's the law regarding Segway PTs?

Segway PT use on our city streets is regulated by the City of Halifax and the provincial Motor Vehicle Act. In Nova Scotia, riders are required to use sidewalks if available, and if it's safe to do so. Segway PTs are classified as pedestrians and the maximum speed limit for use on sidewalks is 7 km/h. Where a Segway PT is operated on a roadway, the operator of the PT is deemed to be a cyclist. We will review the key Rules of the Road for Segway PTs as part of the training. A minimum of two participants is required to conduct a tour, but we do take individual bookings.



Are tour guide gratuities included in the tour price?

Guide gratuities are not included in the tour price. 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 across Canada, gratuities are a small part of the compensation the staff receives. If you choose to tip your guide, it would be much appreciated.



Didn't the inventor die while riding a Segway PT?

Nope, Dean Kamen is still kicking. The owner of Segway Inc. at the time, Jimi Heseldon, did ride off a cliff and drowned. This situation certainly proves that it's worth reading more than the headline.