Comhic, the company created in January 2007 by Amine Merad and Bertrand Ollagnon, specialises in the sales, marketing and rental of Segway machines as an alternative mode of transport. For anyone who has never heard of the Segway, it is a recently-launched type of electric-powered self-balancing transporter with a two-wheeled platform for the rider. It is equipped with five gyroscopes that make 100 calculations per second to work out its vertical position.

The Segway operates at a speed of 20 km per hour and can go for a distance of 38 km before needing to be recharged. Its distributor, Comhic, confirms that the transporter has no problem with the hills going up to Fourvière or La Croix-Rousse ! Already taken on by Lyon’s city police force, which uses it mostly for patrolling the Parc de la Tête d’Or, the crafty Segway has already sold more than 50,000 models worldwide, and the only obstacle to it selling more quickly is its price – fixed at 7000 € (inclusive of VAT).

It’s expensive, so the sales are slow to take off, admits Amine Merad. However, it’s used increasingly by companies that specialise in urban marketin, and organisers of seminars and team building operations in Lyon often come to us to hire our Segway transporters .  In reponse to this demand, Comhic has a fleet of 13 Segways available to hire, one of the largest in France. In order to promote our products, we take part in a couple of shows – Séminaires et Business and Events, adds Amine Merad. Last year we organised five events for corporate clients. It’s ideal for groups of about 10 people, but we can handle larger group even up to 100 people, making use of transporters hired from other dealers. We can also split the group into two, each of them taking their turn on the Segway or electric bikes. And we also work in partnership with Kart’in based in Venissieux for go-karting activities .

A one day’s event for 30 to 40 participants, including use of between four and six machines and one or two instructors, works out at 1000 €. There are several courses available too – speed, agility and parallel slalom – all of which take place in private areas such as the I Way car park or the Cité Internationale.

Comhic also markets tours of Lyon for six people, costing 50 € (inclusive of VAT) for a six-hour tour and 70 € for three hours. Working together with Galerie Artae, Lyon Parc Auto and the Communiquez group, Amine Merad is also planning to launch a programme known as Déambulation Contemporaine , which is something of a nod towards the forthcoming Biennale d’Art Contemporain. His initial thoughts are of a project using the Segway to take images whilst on the move, following one person.