GLENWOOD SPRINGS — A complaint about a popular summertime attraction for Glenwood Springs visitors that makes use of city trails has posed a bit of a quandary for the City Council.
Technically, the patented two-wheeled, electric-powered personal transport devices known as Segways are considered a motorized vehicle under the Glenwood Springs municipal code.
All motorized vehicles are prohibited from using routes that show up on the city’s official trail map. That includes the Rio Grande Trail and the portion of the Glenwood Canyon Trail within city limits that heads to No Name.
It was a recent encounter on the canyon trail that prompted a citizen complaint and triggered a police enforcement action, Mayor Matt Steckler informed the council at the regular Thursday night meeting.
“To my knowledge, we’ve never gotten any complaints before,” Steckler said. “These devices have been used for this purpose for several years now, and it’s another way for tourists to get around and experience Glenwood Springs.”
The Segway tours have been offered through Glenwood Adventure Co. for the past three years, and for about three years prior to that by another outfitter, said Glenwood Adventure owner Ken Murphy.
The tours are led by a guide, so specific routes are always followed. The devices, which go about 5 to 7 mph, are not rented out individually, Murphy said.
Steckler got support from the other council members to change the ordinance and allow an exemption for Segways and similar types of devices.
Other types of motor vehicles would still be prohibited on trails.
However, an ordinance change would take at least six weeks to accomplish, city attorney Jan Shute advised. That would leave the outfitter in violation in the meantime.
“I’d hate to see that much of the tourist season lost,” said Councilman Ted Edmonds.
