New London - The City Council Wednesday approved an ordinance allowing electronic assistive mobility devices on city streets, paving the way for a couple of entrepreneurs to offer Segway tours of historic city landmarks.

"I'm so excited about this," said Councilor Efrain Dominguez, who admitted that he didn't know what an electronic assistive mobility device was when he first read the proposed ordinance. "I can't wait to see Councilor Marty Olsen on one of these things."

Dawn Harkness and her partner Kristin Harkness, who recently moved to New London, want to open a Segway tour business on Bank Street to bring the city's historic buildings closer together for tourists.

The Harknesses - Dawn is an attorney and Kristin is a software engineer - envision tours to Riverside Park, the Shaw Mansion and along Whale Oil Row, State and Bank streets and Waterfront Park. Segways also could go to Fort Trumbull State Park, the Eugene O'Neill homestead and New London Harbor Light on Pequot Avenue and Ocean Beach Park.

"We want to get people to see the New London we've fallen in love with," Dawn Harkness said after the meeting.

Before the vote, Harkness told the council she could bring a Segway into City Hall for a demonstration.

"I'd love to get the opportunity to ride one," said Council President Wade Hyslop.

Harkness said she has a five-year lease for a storefront in the rear of 36 Bank St., which opens onto South Water Street and faces Waterfront Park. How much the tours would cost and where the routes would be have yet to be determined.

"We've going to start on Waterfront Park and then see what options are available," she said.

She envisions guides leading three to eight sightseers on tours across the city and working with New London Landmarks and other historic groups in the city. The Segways would share sidewalks with pedestrians, who would have the right-of-way on all sidewalks and crosswalks.

The ordinance includes an application fee of $100 for a three-year license. The police department will review the application and issue the license, and the city will have to approve tour routes. The company will be insured and riders will have to sign liability waivers.

Segway riders must be at least 12 years old and will be required to wear reflective vests and helmets.

k.edgecomb@theday.com