January 25, 2007
Classic Child's Vespa
Made by Peg Perego and licensed by Piaggio, inventors of the original Vespa in post-WWII Italy, this is the childs version of the classic European scooter that sells for $329.95.
The sturdy molded plastic frame fully encloses the motor, wiring, and gearbox for safety, and evokes the iconic monocoque, or single-shell, unibody steel-chassis design of the original models, intended to protect riders from road dirt. The scooters two-speed electric motor propels children up to 85 lbs. at 21/2 and 5 mph on a 12V battery across dirt, grass, and sidewalks with a press of the foot accelerator.
A foot brake brings the vinyl-capped non-skid wheels to a safe stop. Includes working headlight, horn, flashing hazard lights, and electric engine sounds, and a glove box in the dash and a rear storage box. Two rear-view mirrors provide additional authentic detail. With removable training wheels and kickstand. Ages 3 to 7. Requires two AA batteries for sounds and lights (not included). 42 L x 20 1/2 W x 30 1/4 H. (42 lbs.)
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Video: Piaggio MP3
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Piaggio's MP3 Positioned As Practical Scooter For Earth-Lovers
WHERE THE HUGELY HYPED SEGWAY Human Transporter failed to catch on, Piaggio is hoping to succeed: luring commuters frustrated by climbing gas prices and gridlock to a vehicle that is friendlier to the environment, but easier to maneuver than a traditional two-wheeled scooter.
Piaggio's new offering is, in fact, a scooter--but one with two wheels in front instead of one. The wheels on Piaggio's tripod moped, called MP3, tilt in parallel tandem when the bike takes a turn or the rider leans to the side--so it takes a turn just like a two-wheeled bike. The 200cc bike tops out at around 75 miles per hour, and is highway legal. (See it in action on this video.)
Paolo Timoni, president and CEO of Piaggio Group Americas, which is the North American arm of the Italian parent company of Vespa, Aprilia, and Moto Guzzi, said the bike/trike targets urban and suburban commuters worried about global warming, gasoline prices and gridlock.
The approach isn't new to Piaggio sibling Vespa, which has for the past two years been trumpeting its scooters as green machines in urban centers through mass transit poster ads promoting the iconic two-wheelers as gasoline and time savers in U.S. cities.
Timoni said that the company ran a study prior to launching MP3, based on a hypothetical situation in which 20% of car volume in New York City was replaced by scooters. "We learned that each of those drivers would save ten days a year," he said.
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Carolina City Lets "Scooter Girl" Back On The Streets
"Scooter Girl" will be rolling again soon. An 11-year-old Fayetteville girl ordered to abandon her delivery business because a city ordinance outlawed scooters on the sidewalk hopes to return to work this week after the city amended its rules.
The city council voted 9 to 1 Monday night to allow scooter delivery services to operate under the same rules as pushcart vendors, downtown restaurant owners and street entertainers.
Savanna Nelson's parents own a chocolate shop in downtown Fayetteville that has an outdoor dining permit, so it is already in compliance with the rules for scooter delivery. Savanna must still get a city business license and a zoning permit.
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January 23, 2007
Two wheels: Highly contagious - get bitten by moskito mania
Power .... to the Moskito! It’s just a fun bike to scoot around town in. Definitely brilliant in a jam and great for that quick dash to your local 7-Eleven or Giant for a six-pack or junk food.
And after you get back home safely, others will still be looking for somewhere to park. Great for grocery shopping too – all you need is to slap on a top box and you’re good to go.
MZ’s venerable MZ Moskito is no newcomer to the scooter scene. The 125RX is a revamped version of their popular Moskito line. It would seem there is a healthy scooter scene in this country.
MZ looks set to take a slice of that cake.
The scooter craze has defi nitely caught on, the younger generation, especially college kids, seem to have taken to this mode of transportation due to it’s excellent fuel consumption. The Moskito’s 4-stroke SOHC 125cc powerplant pumps out some impressive power for a scooter.
We pegged the top speed at around 90km/h on the straights. You can get past 120km/h going down a hill though.
Still very impressive for a scooter.
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Buy high octane, win a Vespa [for Vietnam customers only]
Petrolimex to give Vespa motorbikes to A95 petrol buyers
VietNamNet Bridge – Petrolimex has announced it will give Vespa motorbikes as gifts to buyers of A95 petrol in an effort to encourage the consumption of this kind of petrol.
The Vietnam Petrol Import – Export Corporation (Petrolimex) began putting high-quality petrol A95 into circulation late last year to replace A90 petrol to ensure the safety and raise the life expectancy of engines. However, the total volume of sold A95 petrol just accounted for 15% of the total 3mil cu m of petrol sold in 2006. The main cause of the slow consumption of A95 is its high price, despite the fact that it has advantages like low consumption fuel level and higher engine life expectancy.
Petrolimex has decided to launch a sales promotion programme worth several billions. When customers buy 20 litres of A95 petrol at once, they will be given a voucher to join a lucky draw. The prizes will be 10 Vespa LX125 motorbikes and 20 Sony 32-inch LCD TV sets.
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January 18, 2007
Consumers getting more two wheel choices
Sleek motorcycles with high performance and prices may be showcases for their makers' technical and aesthetic prowess, but lately cycle companies have been pushing new smaller, less-expensive models meant for basic transportation.
Manufacturers are rolling out a wider range of midsize sport models, low-slung cruisers and scooters with storage compartments big enough to hold a briefcase and gym clothes. The result is more choices for consumers who may be considering two-wheelers for commuting, running errands and other basic daily missions.
Italian scooter maker Vespa has boosted the number of models in its lineup to include more stylish machines with enough power to take on highway traffic.
Other makers including Honda, Yamaha Motor Co. and Suzuki Motor Corp. are selling more large scooters that have as much power and speed as motorcycles but offer automatic transmissions and large storage compartments that make them more like cars. Their designs even make it practical to ride while wearing a skirt. Vespa's parent company, Piaggio & C. SpA, is even planning to sell a three-wheel model designed to help riders conquer fears of tipping over.
The wave of new models has helped to boost the overall market for two-wheelers. Motorcycle sales rose 57% since 2000 to 1.1 million in 2005 while car sales sagged over the period.
It is happening in part because sustained high fuel prices are driving consumers to look for ways to cut their commuting budgets, and motorcycles and scooters can travel up to 70 miles on a gallon of gasoline. Makers are also looking for ways to attract buyers who they feel are on the verge of trying two-wheel transport but have shied away because of cost, impracticality, or the perceived difficulty of learning to ride.
Makers also know their potential customers' demographics are changing, so new models are meant to appeal to older, more-mature riders looking to bikes more for their everyday usefulness than as recreational outlets. The median age of a scooter buyer today, for example, is 46, compared with 37 in 1998 and 26 in 1990, the Motorcycle Industry Council says.
Buyers are also getting wealthier. In its last owner survey in 2003, the trade group said 13% of riders reported household incomes of more than $100,000 -- up from just 6.1% five years earlier. So while they may be looking to spend less on fuel, buyers are more likely to consider more expensive, better-equipped models than before.
Piaggio's three-wheel MP3 scooter has been on the market in Europe since last year and the company plans to begin selling it in the U.S. in March. The MP3 has two side-by-side front wheels with a complex suspension that allows both wheels to lean when making turns. The company says this design gives twice as much front-end traction, allowing faster turns and shorter stops. The third wheel also eliminates some of the tippy feeling one can have on a two-wheeler.
"You can throw yourself into a turn with confidence and stability that you don't get with a traditional two-wheel vehicle," says Paolo Timoni, president and chief executive of Piaggio Group Americas. The MP3 can also stand upright without a kickstand, which can make it easier to park. Piaggio says the MP3 will cost $6,999 in the U.S.
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January 17, 2007
Piaggio MP3: A very sexy scooter
Three-wheeled vehicles don't get the best press; just think Trotter Independent Trading's Reliant Regal van.
But that could be about to change with the arrival of Piaggio's MP3, the bike that thinks it's a trike. Only instead of having the pair of wheels at the back, the Italians have chosen to double up at the front.
It's best not to take too close a look at what's there. Extra braking power there may be, but that doesn't negate the fact that, seen head on, the MP3 looks more like a moon buggy than a stylish accessory to city commuting.
Once astride it, though, everything changes. Even though it is a mere 125cc machine (a 250cc engine is also available), I was taken aback by the feeling of riding a decent-sized bike. Never on the A2 have I felt less like the Susie-scooter filling in a truck sandwich.
Piaggio designed the MP3 hoping that it would tempt potential but nervous scooter-owners. As gimmicks go, it deserves to work. As well as the extra wheel, which gives extra stability, the bike has two natty parking-brakes - one that stops it toppling sideways and one doing the same job as a car handbrake.
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Piaggio showing at Motorcycle Expo
The Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows are roaring into 13 cities around the country, and while the event is mostly for big bike riders, Piaggio will be showing its MP3 three-wheeler, and there will be other scoot-related machines and accessories on hand.
Press release follows:
New 2007 Models and Added Features Promise to Appeal to Every Industry Segment
The Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows® presented by Toyota is hitting the road for its 26th year and will be bigger and better than ever with a number of newly added features including an interactive Welcome Center for new riders, bigger display areas for all industry segments – such as custom sportbikes, cruisers, ATVs and motocross, and exciting entertainment. Kicking off November 3, in Phoenix, this 13-city nationwide motorcycle extravaganza will bring motorcycle fun and hundreds of 2007-model street bikes, dirt bikes, cruisers and ATVs from more than 17 manufacturers to motorcycle lovers across the country.
“This year’s series is bigger than it has ever been, as there is truly something for everyone, even new riders looking to learn more about riding and bikes,” said Show Director Jeff D’Entremont. “We have created expanded showcases with awesome displays for the ATV/outdoor, cruiser, custom sportbike and motocross enthusiast, as well as unique features such as the world’s fastest, smallest and tallest motorcycles, BOSS ‘Ball of Steel’ Stunt Show and Motocross America – ‘The Tour’ to really wow the crowds.”
For more info: www.motorcycleshows.com.
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January 15, 2007
Electric bicycles gaining traction
LIKE a lot of folks on the Peninsula, Brian Howell is concerned about the environment. So, when Howell's Acura Integra died last January, he started shopping for a Toyota Prius.
But Howell, who has degrees in physics, mathematics, material science and engineering, found the Prius a disappointment. He wanted a car that didn't rely on the petroleum that sets U.S. policy and spurs international wars; he wanted to be free of the carbon dioxide bringing our planet toward climate catastrophe. What he wanted, he said, was an electric car.
When Howell couldn't find one, he purchased an electric bicycle and began commuting 7 miles from his home in Belmont to his job as a Sony engineer in Foster City.
Now, he's a convert. "I was always planning on buying a car, but I was addicted to these (electric) bikes," says Howell. "They're easy to operate. They allow you the convenience of a motorcycle. They give you exercise and fresh air. It has radically changed my life."
Last year, as gas prices soared, congestion worsened and concern for the environment heated to a fever pitch, more commuters began to leave behind their cars. Sure, many have wisened up to public transportation, but some were wooed by light electric vehicles (LEVs) — a broad range of contraptions that don't putt-putt-putt so much as zoom-whir-zoom. The LEV field is broad, including scooters, pedicabs, Vespa-like motor scooters and even miniature cars.
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January 12, 2007
Massachusetts Motorcycle Fatalities Decrease
Motorcycle fatalities decreased in Massachusetts in 2006 despite a 5% increase in registrations, reported the State's Motorcycle Association.
"We are encouraged with the results, but we still have a lot of work to do," said Kevin Griffin of Plymouth, Chairman of the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (MMA). "The trend is going in the right direction."
The Registry of Motor Vehicles year end report showed 48 motorcycle fatalities in 2006, with over 167,000 registered motorcycles in September. There were 54 fatalities in 2005 and 60 deaths in 2004. Motorcycle registrations continue to increase each year. In 2002, there were about 135,000 bikes.
"These stats show training, education and awareness help save lives," claimed Joe "Sarge" Komola of Tewksbury, who directs the MMA's safety & education efforts.
The MMA praised the work the Registry of Motor Vehicles does managing the State's Rider Education and Awareness Program.
"They work with us in developing new strategies and messages each year, targeted at drivers and riders to reduce accidents," said Paul W. Cote of Amesbury, the MMA's director of government relations.
"The RMV, along with the Transportation, MassHighway and the Turnpike Authority work well with us," claimed Cote. "We are hoping this relationship will continue and flourish under the new administration.
Two dollars of each annual motorcycle registration goes into a Fund for motorcycle safety. The MMA is working with the Governor's transition team to fully Fund its program in 2007.
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January 11, 2007
Honda Bringing Concept Scooter to Tokyo Salon
TOKYO — The Honda Fit Daily Active concept vehicle, complete with an "aroma diffuser" to add your personalized scent to the cabin as well as a portable entertainment system, will be one of three Honda concepts unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon, which runs January 12-14.
The Forza Smart two-seater concept scooter, which has an inter-communication and music system for passengers, and the Stream Hyper minivan will also be on display.
The Forza is a 250cc scooter with the same portable entertainment system as the Fit Daily Active. The Stream Hyper is described as a medium-size minivan formed around a "sculpted by the wind" theme. Honda says this minivan "offers a glimpse of what 'premium' could mean in the near future." The interior is set up to feel like a lounge with leather lounge seats, 17-inch-wide screens and a high-end audio system.
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Bajaj launches gearless scooter
Targeted at youngsters in the age group of 16-25
CHENNAI: Bajaj Auto has launched a four-stroke 95cc un-geared scooter — Kristal — signalling its comeback into the scooter market. The ex-showroom price (Chennai) of Kristal is Rs. 35,417.
Targeted at youngsters in the age group of 16-25, Kristal will come with the patented DTSi technology along with ExhausTec for a superior pick-up and mileage. The scooter will be available in red, black, blue and silver.
Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, S. Sridhar, Vice-President (Marketing and Sales), said Bajaj Auto was hoping to sell 10,000 Kristals a month within six months of its launch. Though the un-geared segment constituted only 10 per cent of the two-wheeler market, Bajaj Auto had chosen to enter this arena to `win over the youngsters.'
Around 85 per cent of the two-wheeler market comprised motorcycles, Mr. Sridhar said.
He claimed that Kristal was the first un-geared scooter with front fuelling, side stand alarm, maintenance free battery and automatic lamp feature.
Bajaj Auto had readied a product codenamed `Blade,' a light sports scooter. It could hit the Indian roads in six months, he said.
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Honda scoot subsidiary buys RFID tech
RFID boost for IBM as scooter co gets on board
IBM is set to announce it has won two new customers for its RFID tracking software - an Italian subsidiary of Honda Motor and packaging maker Pliant.
Honda Italia Industriale, which sold 12.7 million scooters last year, plans to use the chips and IBM software to track motorcycle parts and tools circulating within its manufacturing plant in Atessa, Italy.
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Scooting opens a new look at life
It's 6 a.m. on a chilly August morning when I open my garage door and wheel my motor scooter into the driveway of my South Side home. I make final adjustments to my jacket, gloves and helmet and push off for the first time. I have just learned to ride this scooter. Ahead of me is a 40-minute drive to Tucson's Northwest industrial area.
I experience sights and sounds that I've never known before as I buzz along Euclid, passing through the university area in the darkness. I realize that a restaurant is nearby because I smell someone cooking bacon. Then the aroma of fresh bread surrounds me, and then it too is gone. Next thing I know, I'm awash in the scent of fresh-brewed coffee. Three blocks later, someone is grilling peppers!
Normally, as I drive in a car, I think about other things. But on la moto I drive in the present. I have to watch the road and the traffic more carefully than ever before. As I make my way through the darkness, I'm usually alone. I may see a cluster of white headlights behind me, and then I'm in the midst of moving vehicles, but they pass me soon enough and I find myself looking at a swarm of red taillights as I bring up the rear once again.
I tend to cross paths with five to 20 riders every early morning. Bicycles whiz by in silence, while motorcyclists' engines make a much more impressive zoom than I do on the moto. On this day I see 12 riders by the time I get to work.
I wonder why I see so few women on cycles. Among women of my age, I seem to be riding alone. Is the scooter more dangerous than I realize? Am I taking my life in my hands every time I ride? Or are we are so accustomed to cars that we don't think outside the box?
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Lower fuel costs take pain out of daily commute
City dwellers say arrivederci to the daily grind, hello to a zippy mode of transport
"ON THE seventh day God created Vespas and the parking was easy," says Brian Scott, a Vespa enthusiast from St Kilda East.
The property restorer has been riding his coffee-coloured 1957 Vespa 125 — numberplate Latte — for the past eight years. It costs about $4.50 to fill the five-litre tank.
Mr Scott said he only fills up a couple of times a month and he gets a good 300 kilometres out of a tank.
"A lot of people who are thinking about getting scooters come and ask me about it," Mr Scott, 50, said.
"And I've tended to use it more, as petrol prices have increased."
Northcote resident Daimon Brunton is another enthusiastic convert. He bought a Vespa LX125 in April last year and found two wheels instantly appealing.
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Aussie city dwellers welcome zippy mode of transport
SCOOTER sales across the country approached 13,000 last year as soaring petrol prices and congested roads prompted a revolution in the way Australians travel. Victorian growth led the way, with scooter sales to November increasing by 77 per cent on the same period in 2005.
The figures, compiled by research company ERG International, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and others in the industry, show more than 1770 Victorians bought a scooter last year.
National sales grew by almost 42 per cent in 2006, with 12,925 scooters sold. Queensland and Western Australia — where scooter drivers do not need a motorcycle licence — topped the sales figures.
The numbers follow record bicycle sales that outpaced car sales last year.
The Cycling Promotion Fund said 1,273,781 bicycles were sold last year, while car sales numbered about 962,500 in the same period.
VicRoads motorcycle registration figures — which include scooters — jumped to 123,258 in 2005-06, up from 96,223 in 2004-05. Motorcycle licences issued last year numbered 18,590, up from 14,200 in 2005.
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Peugeot's 250cc scooter
Peugeot has launched a 250cc version of the Satelis 125, which has been praised for its build quality and performance.
This new model takes the French manufacturer into new territory as it is the first model in this capacity sector.
This contains a modern 22 HP four-stroke liquid cooled four-valve motor, dual cradle chassis and 37mm front forks to give accurate and consistent handling. The potent 260mm front disc brakes can stop it in a hurry too.
The 250cc Satelis’ seat will carry rider and passenger in comfort, while the dashboard features an LCD display, a glove compartment capable of holding a litre size bottle of water and even a 12V power socket.
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Prosecutor DUIs into couple on scooter
Longtime Miami-Dade assistant state attorney George Cholakis, who helped prosecute members of the notorious John Doe drug gang, has been charged with drunken driving after his convertible crashed into a motor scooter on New Year's Eve, sending two people to the hospital, authorities said Tuesday.
He has been suspended without pay.
On Sunday night at about 8, Cholakis was driving his 2003 Chrysler east on the Venetian Causeway at a ''high rate of speed'' when he hit the motor scooter, ejecting the two people on the bike.
Cholakis, 47, had a ''blank stare, flushed face, bloodshot eyes and the smell of an alcoholic beverage,'' Miami Beach Police Officer William Watson wrote in his arrest report.
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Bajaj to re-enter scooter segment with `Crystal`
Two-wheeler major Bajaj Auto is set to re-enter the scooters segment with `Crystal` - the automatic scooter built on the DTSi platform, reports Business Standard.
Managing Director, Rajiv Bajaj said in a statement on Monday that the new scooter will be launched later this month and is the result of the company`s research and development efforts over the last one year.
Bajaj had said that the company had achieved a breakthrough in terms of the DTSi technology and a highly environment-friendly product would be introduced in the near future. The company will increase its motorcycles production to 300,000 per month by March 2007, in response to the increased demand from the market.
Owing to growth across all segments and regions, Bajaj motorcycles sold 187,000 units in December 2006, registering a 26% growth over December 2005 sales of 148,000 units, in sharp contrast to the flat or negative sales growth registered by other major motorcycle manufacturers. At 738,000 2- and 3-wheelers, Bajaj sales in October-December 2006 were the highest-ever. The rise in sales has led to a significant gain in market share for Bajaj motorcycles to 35.5%.
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Scooter firm 'ambushed' -- Dutch ban Segways
Dutch police have banned Segways from all public roads, bike paths and walkways as of New Year's Day, surprising the country's official importer of the two-wheeled, self-balancing scooters.
Segway Nederland director Piet Kruijt said yesterday the company was "completely ambushed" by the decision, first announced by national police on Nov. 27. He estimated that "a number of hundreds" of Segways have been sold in the Netherlands. For now, they are legal only on private property.
Police said that with no approval of the vehicles by the country's Royal Traffic Agency, they could not be allowed to continue using public streets.
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Two Years After Launching Brand Blogs, Vespa Forgets Them
Nearly two years ago, Vespa parent Piaggo USA and its PR firm CooperKatz began recruiting writers for two blogs singing the praises of its scooters. One was conceived as an "urban lifestyle" blog, the other was about "life's journey."
Today, both sites have been abandoned. The last of their remaining writers, Crystal Waters of Vespaway, walked away from the project in November. Her final post offers a simple apology to the community, along with an explanation that the company failed to respond to several of her queries about the site's future.
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January 2, 2007
The Incredible Story Of French Scooter Taxi
As a tourist in Thailand and the Dominican Republic, Cyril Masson hopped on unlicensed motorcycle taxis to get around. Back home, the 33-year-old Parisian and two friends hit on a business idea that some might consider just as crazy: running a two-wheel-taxi operation in one of the world's most genteel cities.
Motorcycle taxis are the developing world's limos. Scooters, mopeds and motorcycles offer a fast, cheap and risky way around snarled traffic and scarce mass transit. Mr. Masson, who ran sales to French Internet companies for Britain's Cable & Wireless PLC, had also faced clogged streets and a shortage of traditional taxis in Paris, and he realized it offered an opportunity for taxi-bikes, which can squeeze through jams.
What he didn't expect were hurdles faced by entrepreneurs world-wide: the complexity of executing a simple idea, and of translating a business concept from one culture to another. Many overseas franchisees of successful U.S. companies, for instance, have failed because they didn't adapt the American model to local habits.
High-End Challenge
Mr. Masson knew that positioning his high-end service would be tough: The motorcycle taxi could suffer from its association with the less-developed countries, poverty and reckless drivers. Lining up insurance and finding qualified drivers proved surprisingly difficult. Protecting passengers in natty business attire from rain and cold posed additional challenges, as did little details, like how to keep the passenger's helmet clean from one rider to the next.
In December 2002, Mr. Masson and two friends pulled together €165,000 ($200,244 at current exchange rates) of their own and from friends and family, quit their safe jobs and started planning their company, Citybird. "There were many people who thought we were crazy," Mr. Masson recalls.
Citybird works like any radio-taxi service -- except that instead of a black sedan arriving on call, a sporty motor scooter pulls up. The company today employs 11 people and expects revenue of around €420,000 for the year ending March 31, up from €175,000 in its latest fiscal year. Mr. Masson expects an operating profit this year, after Citybird's current fleet of nine scooters reaches 15, around midyear. Managers hope to increase the fleet to 25 in 2007 and eventually operate as many as 200 bikes.
Mr. Masson and his friends weren't the first to try taxi bikes in a developed nation. Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group whisks celebrities and executives around London on nine fat red Yamaha motorcycle taxis. At least one other company operates in Paris, where thousands of locals already zip around the city on their own motorcycles and Vespa-type scooters.
From the start, Citybird's target customers were an upscale crowd, like Mr. Masson and his co-founders, Guillaume Raif, then a banker at Sociйtй Gйnйrale, and Emmanuel Pery, who worked in advertising and communications. They believed taxi-bikes would appeal to harried executives who can't waste time stuck inside a limo. To hone their concept, the partners quizzed managers at Virgin Limo Bikes in London and studied other small motorcycle-taxi services. One tip they gleaned: They'd have to have a supply of disposable paper helmet liners.
A quick analysis also indicated that large motorcycles were too big to squeeze through traffic jams and too costly to operate. Instead, they selected top-of-the-line Piaggio and Suzuki motor scooters, which are cushier than the compact and classic Vespa. The models use about half the fuel of a large motorcycle and offer lots of storage space for bags. And the partners figured that for most trips, it wouldn't matter that scooters don't move as fast as motorcycles.
"Traffic is so dense that we don't need to go very fast to gain a lot of time" over a regular taxi, Mr. Masson says, sitting in Citybird's storefront office not far from the Eiffel Tower.
Citybird's founders also knew that to woo serious professionals as customers, they needed equally serious drivers. Lots of motorcyclists applied for the job, and they whittled the pool down to a handful of former police motorcycle instructors, Tour de France camera-crew drivers and similar specialists.
But obtaining insurance for their service created big headaches. French law doesn't mention two-wheeled taxis, so the founders faced a legal vacuum. Most underwriters rejected Citybird because they equated the service with motorcycle couriers, "who crash around 10 times a year," Mr. Masson recalls. Finally, the specialized insurer that covers Paris taxis consented, but at rates five times those of normal motorcycle insurance.
Both Mr. Masson and managers at Virgin Limo Bikes say they get calls from U.S. entrepreneurs who want to start similar services. But high U.S. insurance rates, extreme weather, and strict American traffic laws that forbid motorcycles from overtaking cars in slow traffic have thwarted many of those efforts, the Europeans say.
Foul-Weather Gear
Paris rarely faces blizzards or torrential downpours, but light rain is a frequent nuisance for two-wheelers. So Citybird managers spent a long time finding the best gear to protect passengers. Each scooter carries riding gloves, boots to cover nice shoes, a loose-fitting jacket that can slide comfortably over a business suit, and a waterproof leg wrap to protect against splashes.
The first bikes rolled in September 2003, promoted by targeted ads, brochures and direct mailings touting the service at flat rates of €20 for rides inside Paris and €45 to Charles de Gaulle Airport.
"It was difficult at first," recalls Mr. Masson. But by targeting people most likely to accept the concept, especially in less conservative media circles, word spread and early customers became regulars. The main appeal: guaranteed punctuality and significantly shorter trips. During rush hour, Citybird promises it can slash the travel time between central Paris and the airport from around 90 minutes to 30 minutes.
Within a year, business was picking up. One early customer was Patrick Malval, commercial manager in France for British Airways, who liked the service because of its speed and punctuality. After a tough audit of safety and service quality, Mr. Malval struck a deal in early 2004 for Citybird to carry the airline's passengers to and from the airport. "At first we thought it would be a niche service," Mr. Malval recalls. Today, he says, demand is taking off and those who try the service are hooked.
As business grew, Citybird moved to expand. Tapping a circle of successful Internet entrepreneurs whom Mr. Masson knew from his previous career, the founders in 2004 raised 300,000 euros to build their fleet. The company even landed a second insurer.
Today Citybird has around 2,500 clients and adds more than 150 each month, Mr. Masson says. Its bikes total around 70 trips each day.
Down the road, Mr. Masson figures Citybird and its growing field of smaller rivals could equal around 4% of the total Paris taxi market. He wants to maintain Citybird's 50% share of the taxi-bike market. "In a few years we could have 200 motor scooters," he predicts.
http://www.city-bird.com/
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