KNYSNA NEWS - One year after the introduction of Knysna Segway Tours as a lagoon-side tourist activity, they have been shut down by the municipality, according to owner John Innes. He says the municipality has cited his operation as being a "danger to the public", his vehicles are "too heavy" for the road and that a structure he had put up in Long Street is illegal.

As if this is not enough, Innes laments, he feels he's getting the run around from two contradictory sections of the municipality regarding the issue. While Mayor Mark Willemse denies that the municipality has closed down the business and is supposedly assisting in the search for a more suitable setting to operate from, Innes claims traffic department has told him that should he set up his business again, they would remove his equipment.

“I have been involved in tourism in Knysna for 14 years and it is a continuous struggle to operate peacefully in Knysna. There is always an issue with the municipality,” he says, clearly fed-up with what he calls a deliberate attempt to disrupt his means of income at every possible avenue.

'Quirky tour of Knysna'
Innes operates a service where clients can enjoy a more quirky guided tour of Knysna's beautiful scenery along the lagoon while exercising their bodies in a unique fashion on a Segway personal transporter. He says he received a permit to operate in the vicinity of Cathy Park in September last year. A couple of months later he moved along the lagoon, to Costa Sarda. “Cathy Park gets too busy on weekends, people are drinking and it's a safety risk for myself and clients,” he explains.

He first set up a gazebo at Mitchell's Brewery with their permission, and operated there for about seven months. And then, some three weeks ago, he erected another gazebo in Long Street, to increase visibility for his service. 

“No one bothered me until last week (16 October), when members of Law Enforcement approached me and informed me that I need to go to the municipality as the chief of traffic wanted to see me,” says Innes.

Upon arrival he was told that there have been complaints regarding his service. “The municipality gave me a very vague overview of complaints and refused to elaborate when I asked for details. They said I was operating illegally in Long Street, posed a danger to pedestrians and members of the public, and that the Segway was too heavy for the road. Their claims are ridiculous,” he says.

'Not my first fight with muni'
He claims he was then told to remove all his equipment or the municipality would have it removed. On Tuesday (16 October) he packed up everything and effectively shut down his entire operation. “This is not my first fight with the municipality,” he says.

John Innes of Knysna Segway Tours claims he has been shut down by the municipality. Photo: Yaseen Gaffar

Last week Willemse posted the following message on Facebook: “He (Segway Tours) has not been closed down but been referred to our LED department to see where there are sites that better suit his business. He is still able to occupy his current site on the Costa Sarda walkway until a new site, possibly on George Rex, is made available. All these sites require operating permits but there are no issues with the routes he uses”.

But Innes says he was told otherwise by municipal law enforcement, and doesn't want to risk operating again lest his equipment gets confiscated. “This experience has left me uncomfortable to explore Knysna as a tourist destination. I've been bullied enough and I am seriously considering leaving Knysna,” says Innes.

Willemse clarified this week that the municipality supports local economic development, and that Innes could continue his business provided that he adheres to his designated area.

“There's no problem with Innes operating in the Costa Sarda vicinity, but he was not authorised to move to Long Street near Thesen Island and that is why he was approached by the municipality,” Willemse said.

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