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Members of the local media got to cruise in style on a Personal Transporter (PT) on July 15, keeping the City of Poughkeepsie green while on a two-and-a half-hour tour along the Hudson River from Waryas Park to Longview Park onto the Marist Campus.
The tour was led by Segway of the Hudson Valley president Jack White and vice president Jason White, his son. Their business is located in Dooley Square near the Poughkeepsie Train Station. The exclusive tour was roughly six miles long and was the first authorized tour in New York State.
What makes the Segway PT unique is its ability to be powered by two lithium-ion batteries that take between eight and 10 hours to charge. Both Whites said that using a Segway PT is just like riding a bicycle, but without the added expense. It requires balance, spotting and the right footwear, preferably sneakers.
Jason White said using a Segway PT is a viable transportation option compared to what one spends on gas. The PT can go for up to 24 miles on 10 cents worth of electricity. The range depends on several factors, including terrain and how fast one goes. The PT can go as fast as 12 miles per hour.
While passing several landmarks in the city, including the Poughkeepsie Post Office, one mailman said he “needs one of those (PTs).”
Jason White added that the Segway PT is ideal for short-distances, gives off zero emissions, and cited the fact that 80 percent of car trips now are fewer than 5 miles. It is reported from Segway press materials that the PT is 11 times more energy efficient than the average American car, and 17 times more energy efficient than a large SUV.
Catch a ride
For the general public, an assisted Segway tour costs $65 per person for a ride that offers between an hour-and-a half and two-hour tour. The company assists small groups as well as corporate events. It costs an average of $5,200 to purchase a PT.
Ask where you can spot such alternative vehicle, look no further than this summer’s Dutchess County Fair, Dutchess County Balloon Festival or the Rosendale Street Festival in Ulster County.
“We’re appreciative of the City of Poughkeepsie and Mary Kay Vrba (director of Dutchess County Tourism),” Jason White said.
“Dutchess County Tourism has helped Segway of the Hudson Valley lay the groundwork along the Poughkeepsie waterfront, and has worked with them for about six months now,” Vrba said, adding that for her first time, six months ago, she got the chance to get on a PT at the tourism office on Neptune Road.
There is no license or registration requirement to operate a PT.
For more information, visit www.segwayofthehudsonvalley.com or call 845-255-7867.
