It seems like a bright yellow golfing cart or one of those electric automobiles that expert around airfields. You cant help smiling when you see it – and you dont stop grinning when you are in one. The Gocar Barcelona is an exciting new vacation idea set to take the worlds visitor hot-spots by storm. Its atiny talking vehicle that takes you on a personal steered tour of a foreign city.

I went to Barcelona to try it – but theyre also already available in Lisbon, Miami, San Francisco and San Diego. Next up is apt to be Amsterdam, Madrid, Rome, Paris and London. All of a sudden open-top buses and coach tours look boring.
I drove my tiny two-seater round the Catalan capital being directed to the sights by its inbuilt satellite-navigation Personal computer concealed under the dashboard. The car even gives you a chatty guide to attractions as you pass and tells you where to cease if you would like a more in-depth look.

Add in the proven fact that its a bright yellow, three-wheeler with no roof or doors – and your guided tour becomes hilarious fun. GoCar makes you the envy of all of the pavement plodders.

Even on the famous Ramblas – Europes liveliest street, packed with 24-hour performance artists, pavement cafeterias and travellers from all parts of the globe – people smiled, waved and pointed cameras my way.

Sadly , I knew it wasnt me they were admiring – it was my revolutionary car. When I paused for a moment outside Boqueria Market, a complete stranger – a pretty Spanish girl – jumped in the passengers seat. It was nothing to do with my winning smile or new Primark shirt – she only wanted her husband to photograph her in her astonishing automobile. As soon as he did, she jumped out again without a word to me.

Anybody over twenty-one with an auto or bike driving licence can lease from Gocar Barcelona city centre office. You got a swift lesson and thankfully its a doddle because there arent any gears or pedals. You steer with a handlebar, accelerate and brake using hand-grips like a motorbike or scooter. The tiny 49cc petrol moped engine behind you permits you to keep abreast of traffic but , with a top speed around 30mph, it isn’t quick enough to be threatening.

GoCar launched in San Francisco in 2004 where they were an immediate success. Now theyre spreading around the world. The idea is always the same. You select you language you need and create your own tour by selecting alternative routes and stopping when you feel like it.

Its not quite the best wind-in-your-hair experience though. Barcelona authorities insist GoCar drivers and passengers wear helmets. Theyre provided free but I did feel a bit of aloser driving along the beachfront with a large black helmet on.

The vehicles are becoming as popular with neighbors as visitors. And the Barcelona drivers are farmore brazen about their utilisation of the little vacation autos. One local driver had to be rescued after he drove a GoCar right into a shop.

GoCars are available in Barcelona, Lisbon, Miami, San Francisco and San Diego.

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