Personal green transportation with style

Want to get to from point A to B quickly, in style, off road, and use green transportation?

Segways are the total solution.

Not sure what a Segway is?

No worries, vendor Ride the Glide – Segway Tours and Events, the self-balancing specialists, will be showcasing the personal transporters at the Sept. 17 CFB Esquimalt Industrial Supplier Trade Show.

“We love the fact that they are green technology with their rechargeable lithium ion batteries,” says Corinne Besler, co-owner of Ride the Glide Segway Tours and Events, Victoria.

“Rather than hop in your car, you can hop on a Segway. Plus it’s just so much fun,”

Besler says Segways and other self-balancing products are a great form of travel for the average person who needs to commute a short distance, such as to and from work. Segways are a staple in warehouses, airports, and can assist anyone who owns a large property to get around quickly.

“They actually decrease the fatigue of people who need to get from point A to point B multiple times a day; so they can increase productivity as well,” she says.

On display at the tradeshow will be the Segway x2, an off road model that can travel between 15 to 19 kilometres on one charge, and has large wheels that are perfect for traversing multiple terrains on a property.

Also showcased will be the Segway i2, which can carry a person between 30 and 38 kilometres on one charge, and the Chinese version of the Segway, the Ninebot Elite, which has smaller wheels and a more streamlined shape for commuters. Also on display, the Ninebot

One, an electric unicycle that uses Segway technology.

“They are all highly maneuverable and take up about as much space as your own personal body space. Plus, they can stop on a dime or go as slow as crawl and then pick right up to the maximum speed,” says Besler.

For a small fee, attendees can trial a two-wheeled, self-balancing, battery-powered electric vehicle around the Naden Drill Hall. Those who try the Segway products at the tradeshow will be entered into a draw to win an electric unicycle, the Ninebot One C+ valued at $1,295.

The draw itself is free, but the only way to enter is to try one out.  

“Being on a Segway allows you to have a higher sightline than sitting on a bike, and once you get the hang of them, they are incredibly easy to use,” says Besler. “Segways are a method of transportation that actually let you stop and smell the roses while you travel.”

You can also check out Ride the Glide at the Saanich Fair from Sept. 4 – 6. 

If you don’t get a chance to demo a Segway at the Saanich Fair or the Industrial Supplier Trade Show, they will also be at the Cowichan Valley Exhibition in Duncan from Sept. 11, 12 & 13th, where you will have your last chance to demo a Segway and be entered into the draw. 

The draw will take place on Sunday Sept. 13 at the Cowichan Valley Exhibition.

Ride the Glide offers Segway tours, corporate team building events, birthday parties, and other personalized events – your imagination is the only limitation, says Besler, adding, they service what they sell and are committed to customer satisfaction both before and after a sale.

For more information, visit RideTheGlide.ca or SegwayVictoriaBC.ca, or call 250-418-0812.  To watch their product demonstrated online, visit YouTube and search “Ride the Glide.”

Rachel Lallouz
Staff Writer