You'll have to duck to avoid low-hanging branches, swerve to miss bumps and potholes, and smile at everyone who does a double-take.
This is the fun new way to see downtown Lancaster, by gliding around on a Segway.
Red Rose Seg Tours will allow locals and visitors alike a unique way to experience the Red Rose City.
Riders stand on two-wheeled battery-powered Segways moved by shifting your body weight forward or backward. The key is to stay loose, keep your knees bent and remain balanced.
Owners and tour guides Bob and Terri Stauffer, of New Holland, knew Lancaster would be the perfect place for the Segways after using them in several cities including Philadelphia, Gettysburg, Bethlehem, and Washington, D.C.
The Stauffers "fell in love" with Segways about three years ago, after talking with Segway owners in North Carolina. "We went, 'Of course'! This would be great for our city! And here we are," Terri said.
Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray's office approved the tours, which Terri hopes will "make more people come into the city, stay longer, and spend more money."
New riders may feel shaky at first, but it doesn't take too long to feel comfortable enough to pick up speed and zip around like an old pro.
Tours begin at 305 N. Queen St. and continue downtown past Gallery Row, Central Market and into Penn Square.
Tours are conducted using a portable sound system, with each rider equipped with an ear piece and receiver to hear the guide during the tour. The trip is fully narrated.
Riders can take pictures, and there are several stops for interesting local stories and water breaks. Tour guides point out city murals, historical churches, local favorites and prominent buildings like Fulton Theatre.
City residents are not used to seeing these futuristic-looking scooters on their streets, and during tours comments ranged from "Cool! What do you call that?" to a man on a bicycle who yelled "I'll trade you!"
Terri has been in the tourism business for more than nine years; working at All-In-One Tours and Cruises, managing bus groups coming into Lancaster, and at the Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and Visitors' Bureau as tourism sales manager.
"My experience in tourism helped me choose the best places to include in this tour," said Terri. "You don't realize what you have in your own backyard."
Bob has worked in information technology and that, combined with his self-proclaimed "gadget curiosity and fascination," was a perfect fit with Terri's tourism expertise to begin their Segway business.
They choose downtown sites and Terri said it was difficult choosing what to cut and what to include. "We decided to keep it centralized, where the history is," she said.
Segway tours will appeal to both tourists and locals.
"We have talked to many locals who say they live in the city and know nothing," Terri said. "This is a great opportunity for them to glide around and see what's out there. It's an awesome city."
Segway tours of downtown Lancaster will begin Wednesday, July 15. Tours cost $65 a person, which include a safety and orientation session. The tours last about 90 minutes. There will be up to six customers and one guide per trip. Tours leave from the Red Rose Seg Tours office at 305 N. Queen St. Call 393-4526 for reservations, or e-mail info@redrosesegtours.com. Hours are Wednesday- Sunday 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Mandy Stoltzfus is a Sunday News staff writer. E-mail her at mstoltzfus@lnpnews.com. 
