Walking down Avenida de la Playa recently, Terry Kraszewski saw something alarming — 12 to 15 people on Segways “booking it” through the business district toward the beach. “People were trying to get out of the way and drivers didn’t know what [the Segway operators] were doing,” said Kraszewski, sharing her experience with the La Jolla Shores Association (LJSA) at its monthly meeting Oct. 13. “I was stunned.” It’s against the law to ride a skateboard or bicycle on business district sidewalks, said Lt. James Filley, who oversees the San Diego Police Department’s Northern Division. But operators of Segways, the two-wheeled, self-balancing, personal transportation devices that have become increasingly popular for tours, are treated as pedestrians. “By law, 15 people on Segways is no different than 15 people walking on the street,” said Filley. “Of course, it cuts a wider path down the sidewalk than walking in toe does.” Safety concerns about the two-wheeled upright vehicles have also arisen worldwide, since the owner of Segway Inc. died last month while riding one of his company’s electric scooters off a cliff and into a river. CNN reported that the body of James Heselden, 62, was pulled from the River Wharfe in Northen England on Sept. 26, and a rugged-country version of the Segway was recovered at the scene. Although LJSA members have not taken action on the issue of Segway traffic, the concern is on their radar after Kraszewski brought the issue to the table last week. LJSA President Joe Dicks said since skateboards are regulated, he’d be surprised if there aren’t regulations that could be put on Segways, such as time, location and speed. But Filley said skateboards and Segways are “like apples and oranges.” “Skateboards are more out-of-control and often move at greater speeds,” Filley said. It would take a strong push from the community, Filley said, followed by the approval of the San Diego City Council, to put any kind of ordinance in place — which Filley doesn’t see happening. “I haven’t had any complaints about Segways,” he said. Another Side of San Diego Tours, headquartered downtown, gives Segway tours in the La Jolla Shores area. Beginning with a half-hour training session, the tours make a visit to the Scripps Research Institute, roll by mansions and cottages and end with a “gourmet, California-style” picnic in Kellogg Park. According to www.tripadvisor.com, the company is ranked the “No. 1 thing to do in San Diego.” It’s hard to say if Another Side of San Diego Tours is the company behind the large tour Kraszewski saw one day heading down Avenida de la Playa, because they normally give tours with about four to eight participants. Any more than that, said manager Chris Riedy, wouldn’t be enjoyable for guests because it would be hard to hear the guide. Parties larger than eight are normally split up, he said, although there are rare instances in which larger corporate groups may want to stay together as a “team-building” activity. Assistant manager Hillary King said the company utilizes a number of safety precautions for riding on sidewalks, such as traveling in single-file lines and equipping each personal scooter with bicycle bells to alert other pedestrians. “We take it very slow,” she said. “We don’t have people parading down the sidewalks, running over small children or anything.” Albert Galura’s La Jolla-based Segway tour company, We Love Tourists, doesn’t conduct tours of more than six people, he said. Their tours begin at the company’s headquarters at the corner of Fay Avenue and Pearl Street and travel through the Village area to La Jolla High School and down to the beaches of Windansea. Galura said the tours run mainly along back streets, as to not disrupt foot traffic. “We stick to where the sidewalks aren’t congested,” said Galura. “We don’t want to be rolling around Prospect at noon in August.” We Love Tourists Meets at 908 Pearl St. (619) 512-3491 Tour includes La Jolla Cove, La Jolla Village, La Jolla homes, legendary surf spots and beaches. Price: Fall special $69 Another Side Tours, Inc. Meets at 7870 Girard Ave., parking lot of Union Bank (619) 239-2111 Two hour journey along La Jolla Cove: $149 Four-hour La Jolla Shores tours include a Segway trip, as well as either a kayak ride or picnic: $249