There’s a meteoric rise in scooter use since gasoline jumped the $4 mark. I’ve been scooter commuting since 2002 and I’ve got a lot more company these days. Scooter registration is up 33% over the period June 2007 to June 2008 in King County.
Fuel costs for your car range between $1200 -$4200 per year. (That’s the difference between a 1984 Corolla and 2008 Hummer with gas at $4.20 per gallon and 15000 miles per year). Calculate your own yearly gasoline tab . Factor in maintanence, insurance and depreciation and we’re NOT saving a bundle on our car ownership.
Parking is more costly and more scarce. The Department of Transportation is considering limiting the number of parking permits to one per household in dense residential areas of the City.
Let’s face it: using a car in Seattle is getting more difficult and a lot more expensive. Combine that with the return of Piaggio/Vespa to the U.S. market in 2005, the popularity of the retro, U. S. – made Buddy and Stella scooters, the venerable Honda and Yamaha brands and you’ve got a recipe for soaring scooter sales.
Washington law classifies any two or three wheeled vehicle with a motor displacement over 50cc as a motorcycle; those under the 50cc limit are defined as a moped. You need an endorsement added to your driver’s license to legally drive anything over the 50cc limit. But don’t refer to your neighbor’s Yamaha Zuma as a moped-in the U.S. it’s just not cool, though in Europe the term “moped” is much more universally applied.
Washington state has a great safety program for motorcycles and scooters. Find about safety training courses, read the online manual, take a practice written test, and get information about getting your endorsement.
Seattle is making the effort to become a more scooter friendly city. City Council’s Sally Clark wants to know your favorite scooter parking spot. The Council just passed legislation making it illegal to move a scooter so that you can park in the space it occupied.
Here are just a few of the resources at the Seattle Public Library to keep your scooter humming and get you steeped in scooter culture and lifestyle:
Scooters service and repair manual
The scooter bible : from Cushman to Vespa, the ultimate history and buyer’s guide
Vespa Manuals (we have Honda and Cushman manuals too)
Scooterama : café chic and urban cool
Scooters are more than an inexpensive way to get to and fro. There is scooter sub-culture as well. Here is just a sprinkling of the online scooter treats to enjoy:
Seattle scooter blog (Scootin’ Old Skool)
Peace activist’s mission to draw the peace symbol with her scooter route
Time to get your scoot on?
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