Nothing makes local motorists angrier than being stuck behind a tour bus and thus the lumbering vehicles are a popular target of complaints. But those who hate on the “tourist trolleys” are missing an important point: If it weren’t for the buses, many of the people riding them would instead be behind the wheels of their cars, making traffic and pollution much worse. And for cyclists, the lethargic pace of the buses slows other motor vehicles and makes the streets safer.
Despite these benefits, there is a tourist conveyance that yields even greater sustainability benefits: their own feet. The advantages of this mode are not just environmental, but economic as well. After all, tourists who explore Savannah by foot don’t have to get off the bus to spend money. They can wander in and out of stores and other businesses at will.
A demonstration scheduled for tomorrow in Johnson Square could
provide a way to get butts off buses and feet on the street. CityTrex aims to allow Savannah visitors the chance to “experience history in immersive and interactive iTours,” according to Burton Sauls, cofounder of CityTrex. “Using iPods and handheld GPS units, visitors gain so much more than from being passive listeners.”
Sauls said the system will allow users to “map out points of interest” and “customize a walking tour will create a richer visit.” What’s more, CityTrex claims the goal of making Savannah “a more pedestrian-friendly destination.” That would be good for tourists and locals alike.
