A convoy of the yellow, three-wheeled tourist vehicles known as "GoCars" traversed the western span of the Bay Bridge yesterday, ending up at Treasure Island according to the company's founder.
Video of the Monday incident hit YouTube shortly thereafter. The English-accented, GPS-guided "talking" cars are categorized as "motor-driven cycles" akin to mopeds. Company founder Nathan Withrington said that customers are explicitly debriefed that the device they'll soon be piloting is not freeway legal.
And yet, yesterday, "a convoy" of three Go Cars put-putted across the Bay Bridge, reaching Treasure Island, and earning a date with the California Highway Patrol. The vehicles are visible toward the end of the above video, in the extreme left of the screen.
The offending trio was also separated from a substantial "tow fee."
That came out to $100 per motorist, said Withrington.
"I think once the cops get involved, [drivers] don't particularly enjoy it much," he said. "The CHP contacted us and guided them into a safe spot. We had to go get them. It ruined their fun tour and didn't particularly entertain us much, either."
Withrington says he believes this is the first time a GoCar ended up on the freeway this year. In the nine years since he founded the company here in the city, he says this is a once- or twice-yearly occurrence. Another video of a GoCar on the bridge was posted to YouTube on Jan. 2 of this year.
The larger version of GoCar has a 150 cubic centimeter motor and tops out at 45 mph. A smaller car is only 50 CCs and can travel 30 mph. Witherington is unsure which version was towed from Treasure Island Monday.
"I think they accidentally got on the on-ramp -- and once you're on the on-ramp, you're funneled onto the freeway," surmised Withrington. "They left the tour. And once you leave the tour, you're on your own."
Until the CHP get involved, that is.
