Salem Seggliders Director of Ops facing charges in Boston ... and other stuff

Allan (or Allen, depending on the day) Danley, of Boston Gliders/Salem Seggliders is currently facing charges in Boston for repeated violations of a Boston law restricting use of Segways on sidewalks. I think we've had that problem in Salem as well. I've seen it myself on Charter Street.

Danley is holding the scissors with herhonor.

Well, we did have that problem anyway. I'm not sure we do anymore. The Salem Seggliders location at the corner of Derby and Lafayette is about to be converted into a frozen yogurt shop, and everything inside the store is gone. They may or may not be back. Their old website now redirects to the Boston site, with no mention of Salem at all. I won't say I told you so, but ...

__________

The Salem News article that ran last week touting the "on course" nature of Blaney Street construction is at least a little bit of revisionist history. Construction on the next phase was supposed to begin at the beginning of November, as soon as the ferry season ended. The fact that it is just being put out to bid actually means that they are months behind plan.

Check out this from an earlier Salem News article. " In the late fall, after the ferry season ends, contractors will start building the first section of the T-shaped, 350-foot pier. Work on that phase is scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2012."

That was written by the same reporter who states that work starting in June, and not ending until 2013 is "on course." Um ... OK. The last time I dared to criticize something written by Tom Dalton I took a bunch of crap from some of you, so I'll just leave it at that.

I asked a city official why nothing was going on at Blaney back in early December. The response was that they had hoped to get things going, but MADOT hadn't yet signed off on the plans, which was required for some of the grants. That's the approval that finally came in, after a long wait.

_________

Happy new year, everyone! Tried to watch the Salem inauguration and state of the city address today on SATV, who stated they were broadcasting it live. Of course, they didn't. Fail. Would have been interesting to hear the mayor's take on the state of the city. I've sensed a lot of fail coming from SATV recently. It seems they only cover public meetings if they are specifically asked by the city. Why can't they get on the same email list I am on to get the agendas ahead of time. It's pretty easy to read that an agenda item is approving the hiring of a new school superintendent, and deciding that is worth covering. What am I getting for the franchise fee I pay to Comcast? Don't do it for me, I'm just too busy to get to a lot of these meetings. Do it for those who are physically incapable of attending.

Salem SegGliders still advertising Blaney location

I grabbed a flyer when I visited the Salem Seggliders location this weekend. I just looked at it a little closer, and noticed that they are still instructing people to report to 10 Blaney Street for their training.

You'll be lonely if you go to 10 Blaney Street for your tour

You'd think they'd at least put stickers on them or something.

Updates! Blaney Street and Segway

NEW UPDATE AT THE BOTTOM

I usually try to step away from the keyboard on the weekend, but on my two trips downtown today I came across some important tidbits of information that I wanted to share.

Blaney Street Pier Update: On my first trip, I visited the Common, Cafe Valverde (my favorite downtown coffee), and the Living Green and Renewable Energy fair at Old Town Hall. One of the vendors at the fair was the Salem Ferry. I spoke with the representative from the Ferry, and asked him when the service would start. He informed me that the ferry would start Friday on schedule. I immediately asked him where from. Without missing a beat he responded with "Central Wharf, down behind Capts."

He also informed me that while the city had promised all along that Blaney Street would be ready on time, he's now been told that it will be at least two or three more weeks. Judging by the pictures I've shared, and what I saw from outside the fence last night, I'd bet on three. Maybe more. He wasn't happy at the late notice that they were given that the pier won't actually be ready.

I tweeted this news earlier today, and the mayor responded. "@KlassySalem The contractor is doing his best to meet the schedule, but we r working on a "Plan B" in the likely event the site is not ready"

Let me repeat that, "the likely event the site is not ready"

I've asked the mayor and her aide several times recently about this, and they've both been steadfast that the work would be majorly completed by the start of the ferry season. This was true as recently as two days ago. It's good to see that there has been a plan B, because it was obvious to all but the most idealistic optimist that May 27th wasn't happening. Some previous Salem mayors wouldn't have had a plan B, and we'd really be a mess. Now, commuters used to the easy parking at Blaney St. will be inconvenienced, but many of those who walk to the ferry, and tourists from Boston, will actually have an easier walk for the short term. Of course, there could have been a little more transparency about the likelihood that a short term switch in location would be necessary.

As of 5PM this Saturday, no work was done on Blaney Street today. This makes me question the contract and whether or not there were any non-performance/late delivery penalties. I'm guessing there must not have been. I don't claim to be an expert on government RFPs. It's possible that they frequently aren't used, but it would have been wise with the absolute deadline on this project to have found a way to include one.

I'm glad the improvements to Blaney St. are being made. The dust kicked up in the summer from the dirt parking lot was terrible. It also was frequently used for boozing, drugging, selling, and sexing. Any dog owner in the area has at least one story of unbelievable things they've seen or found. My favorite was the couple having sex inside the open air trolley info booth. There was also the Blaney Street version of the Montauk monster.


Salem SegGliders update: My second trip downtown today was primarily for a haircut, followed by a burrito. Between the two, I stopped into the former West Coast Video location that we discussed as the new home of Salem SegGliders. I spoke with the office manager there, and asked her about the Segways. They don't actually have any yet, but she said they are coming in next week. More interesting to me, and not previously discussed anywhere else I've seen, was what they actually do have on site both for sale and for rent. This business is renting and selling rechargeable electric bicycles that have a top speed of 30-35 miles per hour. A full charge lasts 3 hours. They can be purchased for $1695 -$1895, or rented for an hour, a half-day or a full-day unguided. Some even fold in half. Does anyone else see the possibility of pedestrian and tourist injuries here? Currently these are the ONLY products that this business is offering. All I can say is, make sure you're looking both ways before crossing the street, even if it's a one way. You never know where one of these silent assassins might come from. Bets on how long before one of them has an accident on a sidewalk? If Segways (top speed 12.5 MPH) need special permitting, shouldn't these?

UPDATE: I went back and checked out the manufacturer and model number of the bike. You can see it below.

EZ Pedaler T300

I looked up this model, and it appears that the person I spoke with may have been exaggerating the top speed. According to the web site, this bike has a maximum speed of 20 MPH. I read a review of the bike which suggested that on downhills, or while using the motor and pedaling it was possible to exceed that speed, and the 20 MPH speed listed was specific to the electric motor alone. Apparently in most of the US, an electric bike need not be registered or insured if the speed limit doesn't exceed 20 MPH. So I'm sure the stated speed limit on these is a coincidence, right? Either way, these still sound like a much more dangerous proposition than a Segway.

An update to the Segway situation

As we discussed yesterday, there is a second company looking to bring Segway tours to Salem. Today, former Salem Patch reporter John Zorabedian sheds some more light on the situation.

As we noted yesterday, there seems to be some friction between Salem Seggliders and the city. The story today would confirm this. One of the Seggliders employees even went as far as accusing to city of playing favorites. A battle may be brewing.

As we also told you yesterday, the company had been advertising that their location would be 10 Blaney Street. Yes, their Yelp page still lists this as their address. The Patch piece also confirms this, and illuminates the fact that their may be some city opposition to this. At a minimum, though it has been advertised, it hasn't been approved. It sounds like they won't be able to operate their without a fight. Having reviewed the blueprints for the rebuilt pier, I have to say that they shouldn't allow them to teach people how to ride these things on the pier. Every inch of width of this space is being put to use to the point that the former pedestrian walkway, outside of the parking spaces, is being moved to the center section of the pier, passing directly behind the parking spaces on the water side. Beware walking, and beware backing out of those spaces. Having people zooming around learning how to ride Segways, which travel as fast as 12.5 MPH is not a good idea at all. Take a look at the setup below. (Click on it if you need to blow it up) If we put the pedestrians in the middle, because we needed the full width for parking, do you really think there is room to let Segway beginners zip around? Note that the wide section to the bottom left will remain gravel. The paving starts about where the pedestrian walkway enters from the left, and continues right about across that line.

Green is parking, red is the walkway

As a resident of the area, I won't tell you what I think of the "Approximate location of future pay station" notations on the map.

I took a peak at the West Coast Video location last night. While there has definitely been activity there in the last few days, it doesn't exactly look ready to start bringing customers in. Also, where will they teach people to ride these at that location? I stand by my opinion from yesterday that it appears that there may be some real kinks for these people to work out to really be up and running.

A RELATED NOTE: I was saddened to hear that John Zorabedian won't be writing for Salem Patch anymore. His pieces have been some of their best real news reporting. I fear that I may have been right when I predicted that Patch news coverage might soon suffer from a change in direction from the very top of the organization. I've noticed in the last week or so, an increase in fluffy pieces (they even ran a press release as a news story) and "photo essays." I'm hoping they'll prove me wrong, with a meaty article on the meeting between the school committee and city council committee of the whole last night on school construction budgeting. Simply, there's too much news in Salem for one reporter to cover.

What's the deal with the second Segway co?

Update: I should add that on their Facebook page, Boston Gliders posted the Patch article and wrote:

Well we only wrote the law, and have had tour guides and approvals in place since last November?


If the did "write the law" doesn't that raise a whole different set of problems and questions? If they've had their approvals, why doesn't the city clerk know that?

One of the "deals" available on Groupon today is a discounted two-hour Segway tour of Salem with Salem Seggliders. I have to say, I'm not sure I'd invest in this, for a few reasons.

1. Last I heard, and it was just two weeks ago, there was one Segway company properly permitted to be offering tours in Salem, and it's not these guys. The city clerk was quite clear that Witch City Segway was the only permitted operator.

2. Check out their website. Not a single Salem picture on it.

3. Check out their address. I mean, which one? Their website used to list 10 Blaney Street as their address. It's now been changed to 76 Lafayette Street. 10 Blaney? That's the Salem Ferry terminal trailer. 76 Lafayette? Howling Wolf and an as of yesterday empty former video store are all that can be found. Their Yelp page lists the 10 Blaney Street address still.

4. Speaking of their Yelp page, which lists 10 Blaney Street, they used to have an announcement up on that page inviting everyone to their grand opening celebration on May 1. I hope you didn't try to go. All you'd have found was a chained up construction site.

5. I just called them, and tried to make a reservation for this week, you know, since they opened on May 1 (without permits?), according to the Yelp page. The Patch article stated that tours would start on May 15. I was informed that no tours were available until next week. I also asked what their location was. After about a minute of hemming and hawing I got the 76 Lafayette Street address.


I'm not saying that these guys aren't legit. I am saying that based on some of the things I've seen and read at this point, I wouldn't buy the Groupon before I saw them up and running. Maybe they've straightened out the licensing issues. Maybe the address issues are just start up pains. If it were me, I'd take a wait and see approach before booking my ride.