Scooter Travel

You have to "have it bad" for motor scooters, according to one website dedicated to the Vespa brand. Vespa, in fact, may be the quintessential example of the scooter one visualizes when thinking of these personable, two-wheeled vehicles, perhaps reminded of "Toad" crashing his into Mel's Drive-In in the classic cruising film, "American Graffiti."


But that would be unfair to all owners and enthusiasts of motor scooters. The joy of scooter ownership extends to all those who love the open air ride, who have a great deal of self-confidence and don't feel threatened or intimidated by their bigger motorcycle brethren, and are comfortable with sharing the road with all the other traffic out there, including oversized SUVs and trucks pulling multiple trailers.


Today, however, perhaps the most relevant benefit offered by motor scooters is their incredible fuel economy. Since gas prices began climbing so significantly, so have sales of the various scooter brands sold in the U.S. New owner/riders have included many people who rely on their vehicle for their job, above and beyond the traditional commute to and from work. Got a paper route? Get a scooter. Appraisers, meter readers, couriers—the list could go on and on; the delight felt directly in the wallet.


Another clear advantage for scooters is their size. Intimidating when coming up against an SUV perhaps, but those feelings quickly evaporate when the rider is in search of parking. For those with a short commute, particularly college students, the ease in securing a parking space is simply an added bonus. And depending on the location, a parking permit for a scooter is a lot less than for a car.


And let's not forget insurance. Add another check in the plus column.