Dallas Segway Tours take on downtown two wheels at a time

by Scott Guthrie

DALLAS — Out on the open road, on a vehicle with two wheels and no doors, hair flapping in the wind. Sounds like a scene out of Dennis Hopper’s 1969 “Easy Rider,” but it isn’t.

Instead it’s 55 and 57-year-old Dirk and Cyndi Smith on their 12 mph electric powered Segways gliding through downtown Dallas.

Dirk and his wife Cyndi, the founders and owners of Dallas Segway Tours, started their business full-time in Nov. 2007. However, they didn’t exactly plan to give Segway tours.

The Smiths admit that before starting Dallas Segway Tours, they had been on Segways only a few times. Their experience on the upright scooters was so enjoyable though they bought two of their own. The high-tech toys run about $5,000. Due to the expensive price, they started giving tours to help pay for their purchases and they haven’t looked back since.

Today, the couple owns 10 Segways and thinks everybody should experience a ride on one.

“We recommend it to anyone. You can ride around Dallas all day in a car and not see the same things you can on a Segway,” Dirk said.

This fact is hard to argue. On the West End Tour, one of three tours they offer including a Victory Park and Katy Trail Tour, riders have the opportunity to see the often-bypassed Pioneer Plaza and the Confederate Memorial at Pioneer Cemetery. Also, riders have the pleasure of stopping for photo opportunities outside Dallas City Hall and at the Grassy Knoll.

Didn’t bring a camera? No problem. The Smiths bring their own and stop the tour a few times to take group photos, which they will be happy to share with you. Also, being on a Segway instead of a car gives the rider a perfect view of the downtown skyline without having to lean out a window or poke his head out the sunroof.

The tours aren’t just for out-of-towners either. The Smiths do a wonderful job of pointing out interesting facts that even locals don’t know.

“We have locals all the time that don’t know the Trinity River use to be where I-35 runs now,” Dirk said.

Safety is an issue though and the Smiths not only understand that but also take it very seriously. Whether a rider has been on a Segway before or not, all tours begin with a ten-minute training session. The couple also helps every rider get on and off the Segway at each stop. Not to mention every rider is provided with a helmet.

The safety doesn’t stop there though. Each tour route is cautiously planned out to make sure there are no bumps or obstacles in the way. The West End Tour route took Dirk and Cyndi three months to plan.

“It just took perseverance. A lot of downtown was built before handicap regulations. We wanted a route that had flow and didn’t go back and forth over the same spots.” Dirk said.

Both of them admit that they want riders to have fun but safety is the key issue. They even put themselves in danger’s way to take care of their customers. Cyndi leads the group across intersections as Dirk rolls into traffic to stop oncoming cars.

It is hard to give a tour without knowing the history of the city. The Smiths discovered this in the beginning stages of the company and admit that even though they had lived in Dallas for about thirty years they didn’t have know much about Dallas' history.

“We thought Dallas didn’t have any history. Wrong,” Dirk said. And while they are learning everyday about Big D’s history, they can slip up from time to time on the facts. However, their outgoing and passionate personalities make up for any slight error.

Although they only own ten Segways they can accommodate parties up to 26 just by asking their friends in Austin, TX, to loan them a few. They only have two rules. You must be at least 16 to ride and you must pay. Depending on the tour, prices range from $45-65.

So, as Dirk and Cyndi say, “Come glide with us,” and experience the unique ride for yourself. Dallas Segway Tours offers a two-hour adventure that allows people of all ages, shapes and sizes to try a truly fun new experience while at the same time learning things they never knew about Dallas.