September 12, 2008
Third Coast Rally in San Antonio - October 3-5
Pre-registration is available and it costs just $35. That will get you a t-shirt, a patch and discounts to various things. On site registration is $40. If you didn't get a chance to pre-register by September 15th you will loose the guaranteed t-shirt. T-shirts will cost you an extra $20 if you register in San Antonio only. Oh and the pre-registration closes on October 1st, so make up your mind already!
Below you will find the schedule. Or simply go to the official site for every detail you feel you need in order to win the competition. The best of luck to all of you attending!
Rally participants will receive lanyards at sign-in/registration. These will need to be worn in order to participate in rally activities.
Friday, October 3rd Saturday, October 4th
- 9AM - Meet for breakfast at The Motorcycle Shop (map)
- 10AM - Participate in the Long Ride lead by the Texas Road Rats (site)
- 10AM - Participate in the Short Ride-an eclectic city ride
- 3pm - Rides return and free time starts
- 6PM - Particpate in the Mission Trail Ride leaving from Vespa Alamo Heights (map)
- 7PM - Dinner (TBA)
- 10PM - Ride to entertainment (TBA)
Sunday, October 5th
- 9AM - Meet for breakfast at Olmos Perk (map)
- 11AM - Participate in the Midtown Scenic ride
- 12AM - Compete in the Gymkhana at Olmos Perk
- 1PM - End the Rally with our Raffle and Awards presentation
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August 10, 2008
The Vespatition
The scooter craze is spreading throughout NWA. Fewer scooter parking spots has led to the Vespatition. It's a petition set up for users to sign up online. The company will then send a petition to the City Mayor's office in your area, asking for more Vespa-Scooter parking spots in the area. Supporters say their plan would convert a regular parking spot, into up to 6 spots for Vespas. Think of it as parking numerous scooters in the place of one car.
Owner of Vespa Ozarks, Leonard Zeichiedrich says, "People need to realize it actually gets on the Mayor's desk. They may look at it, or they may look at it, but if we have more asking for those situations, then it will be better."
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August 8, 2008
Bankers on bikes
CAMDEN -- When three local bankers scoot through downtown Camden, they encounter a flurry of reactions ranging from impressed smiles to outbursts of laughter. Admittedly a bit self-conscious at the start, these professionals are now realizing huge savings at the pump, ultimately giving them the last laugh.
Camden National Bank Vice President and Director of Marketing Gino Bona admitted he feels a bit comical, especially when he is riding along on his scooter dressed in a business suit and helmet.
"When school let out, I had a handful of occasions right away riding around town," Bona said. "I've had high school kids just bust out laughing."
Scooter rider and Camden National Bank Senior Credit Analyst Mike Clark said, "I just tap the horn a few times. You've gotta have fun with it, you can't take yourself too seriously."
For the most part, people are curious about the miniature motorized bikes.
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August 7, 2008
Scooter fans head for the Piece Hall
VESPA and Lambretta fans revved their engines at the first Piece Hall Scooter Rally.
Organised in conjunction with the Yorkshire Scooter Alliance, the event attracted more than 35 scooter owners and bike fans.
Phoenix Radio provided sounds of the 60s for the event which Ruth Taylor, Piece Hall events officer, said they hoped would become a yearly fixture.
"We hope this will be an annual event for people to come and show off their bikes. It was a real Quadrophenia style atmosphere with the mods and so on," she said.
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August 6, 2008
Around the U.S. on a scooter
LAKEWOOD -- Alix Bryan left Lakewood Tuesday morning on the homestretch of tracing a 22,000 mile Peace sign on the continental United States.
Today marks day 94 of her journey that has taken 6 months of scooter riding over the past year. From Cleveland it's on to Pittsburgh and then to Washington, D.C.
When she arrives in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 8, 2008, Bryan will have created the largest Peace sign in history.
"We must know what the word means before we can acquire it," Bryan says, "and lasting peace must always come first from the individual."
Proving that women can safely travel alone and that little scooters can do big things, a Patriot's Exhibition Advancing Community and Environmentalism (P.E.A.C.E.) on a Scooter is focused on promoting peace rather than specifically opposing war.
Posted by Frank at 10:29 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 3, 2008
Principal making house calls on a scooter
FEDERAL WAY - Damon Hunter climbed off his scooter and rang the doorbell of Dennis Good's house.
The seventh-grader answered and looked up at the 6-foot-4-inch tall principal of Saghalie Middle School in Federal Way.
"Wow, Mr. Hunter," the 12-year-old exclaimed. "Am I in trouble?"
No, no, Hunter said, as Dennis' mom came to the door. Dennis, whether joking or not, and his mom, Colene Good, had advance warning the principal was coming.
He'd sent an automated voice message to parents, telling him he was coming to visit the homes of his students at Saghalie.
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August 2, 2008
Britain's youngest Mod
DON'T blink or you may miss Billie Lynch whizzing through East London--just a flash of bright red zooming past.
This latter-day 'Billie Whiz' is probably Britain's youngest Mod, a 'born again' Quadrophenia fan just turned 16.
She passed her Driving Test last Wednesday (July 30) to ride a motor scooter, just a day after her 16th birthday... after a few hours getting to grips with her dad's bright red Vespa at East London's Cardrome training centre.
"I was really nervous, really shaking, and sick before the test," she admitted.
"But they were really nice and took me through it carefully and passed me."
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August 1, 2008
City Mulls Scooter Parking
HARRISONBURG - An increasing number of motor scooter riders has spurred the city to look into how to meet their parking needs in downtown.
Jessica Chase, program manager for Downtown Parking Services, expects to present the findings of her study to the city's Parking Advisory Committee in a couple of months.
Chase said downtown officials have noticed a marked increase in scooter traffic around Court Square. Whether it's due to more motorists being concerned about the environment or high gas prices - or a combination of the two - isn't known. The bottom line, though, is that their growing numbers have made dedicated parking space for scooters a priority.
Scooter owners park their vehicles in different places, including on sidewalks, Chase said, which often blocks pedestrian traffic and hinders street cleaning.
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July 30, 2008
Mods march on Sheffield for scooter rally
TALKING about their generation...The mods were on the march again in Sheffield this weekend when more than 800 gathered for a scooter rally at the Davy sports ground on Prince Of Wales Road.
They came from Middlesbrough, Southport, Derby and as far away as Scotland for the rally called Hammered In Sheffield that featured a celebration of scooters and mod culture with three live bands, specialist stalls and karaoke.
The faces aren't as young as they were but many the followers of the 1960s cult - some of them originals - came on immaculate scooters in their parkas and formations that scattered holiday makers in Brighton, Skegness and Scarborough in 1964.
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July 29, 2008
It's easy riding for the Westenders
When a tight cluster of 40 scooters whir down California Avenue on a pleasant weekend morning these quaint two-wheelers of pink, powder blue, mustard yellow and rosy red look about as menacing as a parade of grinning Golden Retrievers and just as fun to observe.
They are the Westenders Scooter Club, a practical and whimsical troupe anchored in West Seattle that operate 70-100 mile-per-gallon toys. This international fleet of Italian-made Vespas, Indian-made Stellas, Chicago-based Buddy's, and Japanese Yamaha Vino's, run lean and clean.
"My Vespa is a two-stroke (engine) but it is important to point out it has a catalytic converter and runs very clean," said Westender president, Robert Brown. He named his bright red PX 150 "Luciana."
"Luciana Paluzzi was the Italian actress in the James Bond film 'Thunderball.' Like her namesake, my Luciana is exotic, sexy, and red," he said. The actress had red hair.
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July 27, 2008
''Scooting'' to Save Gas
Bill Tracy lives in Chattanooga. And eight months ago, he bought a scooter.
With what he's saving on gas, he hasn't looked back.
"I guess my most expensive gas bill, the other day I paid $4.10 worth of gas," he says.
He says he gets nearly 119 miles a gallon on his scooter.
Jen Obal with Scenic City Scooters says the savings on gas, and the relatively cheap prices for scooters have lead more people to their doors.
"Since gas prices have gone up, people have gone from looking at the scooter as something fun to do as something that's more necessary to do to save some money on gas," she says.
Posted by Frank at 11:19 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Do you know your scooter law?
FORT COLLINS - Not a motorcycle, not a car, the scooter has its own set of road rules.
With the dizzying gas prices pushing more and more people onto scooters, police think it high time to let drivers know about the law that surrounds them.
First, a scooter is not a motorcycle. You don't need a motorcycle license - just a regular driver's license - to drive one as long as it's under 50ccs and you stay under 30 miles per hour.
Many scooters are able to go over 30 mph, but if you're caught above that limit and don't have a motorcycle endorsement, you can get a ticket.
Also, scooters must have an automatic transmission to be considered a scooter. If it has a clutch, it's a motorcycle.
Second, helmets are required for any person under 18 years of age. That includes passengers. Still, police recommend them for all drivers.
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Scooter Owners Reccommend the Gas Saving Vehicles
With gas prices hovering near 4 bucks a gallon, many people park four wheeled gas guzzlers and turn to two wheels. If you're considering switching to a scooter, we have advice from the experts. Riders in town for the country's largest scooter rally describe the vehicles' virtues.
They're fairly fast, fun, and fuel efficient.
Craig Huard, "It tops out at about 75 miles an hour."
Bryan Howard, "It's the most fun you can have on two wheels."
Brittanie Holland, "It's less that five bucks to fill up and I can ride for weeks."
It's no wonder more drivers settle on scooters now to beat the gas crunch.
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July 26, 2008
Gas prices drive Valley scooter craze
Walk into the Scooters of Boise showroom, and you'll find a selection of the increasingly popular fuel-efficient motor bikes. But you can't have them.
They've already been sold. Well, there was one available Thursday, but it probably won't be there on Friday.
"I can't keep up," said co-owner Kitty Smith. "We got 20 scooters on Monday and sold out Tuesday morning."
The supply of the little gas-sippers is dwindling at other Treasure Valley stores, too, because of a booming U.S. demand amid $4-plus gasoline and manufacturers' desire to satisfy their longtime customers in Europe and Asia, Smith said.
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July 25, 2008
Chattanooga: Scooter lovers from across nation gather here this week
Scooter popularity is soaring. But scooters are not kid stuff, local enthusiasts said.
With engines up to 800 cubic centimeters and top speeds greater than 100 mph, today's scooters are serious machines that demand real safety precautions.
"A lot of people make the mistake of thinking scooters are toys, but other than your seating position, they're no different than a motorcycle," said Noelle Omer, a 30-year-old magazine editor and member of the Hill City United Scooter Club.
This weekend, as many as 450 Vespa scooter riders from around the country will be attending the Amerivespa 2008 rally in Chattanooga. Events include a ride from Scenic City Scooters in Red Bank to Deals Gap on the Tennessee-North Carolina border, famous for more than 300 turns in 11 miles.
A scooter show from 1:30 to 6 p.m. Saturday at First Tennessee Pavilion downtown is open to the public. Scooters and games can be viewed for free. Registration is required ($70 for today-Sunday, meals included) to try out demo scooters or to participate in games, Ms. Omer said.
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Sydney offers free scooter parking
MOTORCYCLE and scooter riders will be able to park for free on streets controlled by the Sydney City Council in its proposal to encourage smaller, more environmentally-friendly modes of travel.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore today launched a draft of the City of Sydney Motorcycle and Scooter Strategy, which also proposes cheaper road tolls for those travelling on two wheels, and the installation of public charging points for electric motorcycles.
"The city is committed to sustainable transport options and supports the gradual shift away from large, polluting vehicles to smaller, more efficient vehicles to complement walking, cycling and public transport," Cr Moore said.
Posted by Frank at 10:13 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 24, 2008
Amerivespa rolls into Chattanooga
More than 450 scooter riders from across the country and beyond will be taking to the streets this Thursday through Sunday for Vespa Club of America's Amerivespa 2008. Amerivespa is the country's largest scooter rally; it travels to a new city each year.
This year VCOA teamed with Hill City United Scooter Club to organize and host this event. After a year of planning and with support of local and national sponsors, organizers expect this to be an event that brings quite a bit of attention to Chattanooga.
"I have visited Chattanooga several times in the past few years, and through those trips I knew this was a city I wanted to bring Amerivespa to," said J.D. Merryweather, president of Vespa Club of America. "We have an amazing schedule planned, and I encourage anyone interested in riding a scooter, no matter what brand it is, to join us this weekend."
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July 17, 2008
Getting out of the car and onto a scooter
During my morning commute, I don't listen to the radio or talk on the phone.
I mostly play a little game I call "Do you see me?"
Here's how it works: I see someone in a car or SUV waiting to turn left. Often they're talking to their passengers or on the phone. I make eye contact -- death-stare, stink-eye style -- until I'm sure they've seen me. Thusly satisfied, I smile. Sometimes, and this is the shocker, they even smile back.
You see, for the past month, I've been riding a scooter to work.
Like many people, I was looking for an alternative to rising gas prices. I've wanted a scooter for a couple of years, but before, I was considering it more as a toy. Now I'm looking at it as a more serious (if you can call it that without laughing) form of transportation.
Posted by Frank at 2:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 16, 2008
Duo rides scooters for a cause
Nevada was just one stop on the Scootin for a Cure campaign, in which two women riding Vespa scooters across the country are raising money and awareness for breast cancer.
The 6,000-mile journey began on July 9 in Southern California with friends Linda Quinn and Karen Schneider and will conclude on July 24 in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Money raised from the trip will go to the pair's team in the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk later this year in San Diego to benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and National Philanthropic Trust.
"The trip is completely self-funded," said Quinn. "All the money raised will go to our walking team. Teams need to raise money to participate. We raised money with donations from family, friends and businesses."
Posted by Frank at 11:12 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 13, 2008
Cruising without the gas-guzzling
A weekly Thursday night event shows that scooters aren't just frugal, they're fun
From the back seat of a shiny orange scooter, I waved at cars waiting for red lights to turn green and a happy kid on a yellow bike in Brady Heights. Then there was the kindly pregnant lady and her beau strolling through their midtown neighborhood.
Actually, I waved to just about everyone as my scooter gang eased on by -- and the folks waved back.
That's really not my style, waving to strangers and all, but it was hard not to smile and wave as I tagged along with almost two dozen scooter lovers during their regular Thursday night ride through Tulsa.
Heck, you try not to grin like a finger-painting toddler as you cruise with a swarm of scooter riders, who greet passersby with chipper, bee-beeping horns. It's like frowning at a puppy dog.
Posted by Frank at 7:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 10, 2008
Pain at the Pump? Not a Problem for Piaggio Adventurers
Native New Yorker Buddy Rosenbaum (71) and fellow adventurer Bob Chase (72) are proving that age, the price at the pump and America's thirst for adventure aren't mutually exclusive.
Four weeks ago the two seniors set out on scooters from San Francisco at the western end of America's first transcontinental road, the Lincoln Highway.
After more than 3400 miles, just $300 in gas, and a new appreciation for our nation's forgotten past, Buddy and Bob are ending their journey where the Lincoln Highway begins -- in Times Square.
Their message? Don't let age keep you from doing the things you love -- and don't let high fuel prices derail your adventures this summer.
Scores of scooter commuters, members of the New York Scooter Club and scooter enthusiasts from around the Tri-state area will be there to welcome them.
For complete details visit www.noagelimitpiaggio.us
When/Where:
Monday, July 14
9:00 a.m. Breakfast stop at Vespa Jersey City
10:00 a.m. Ride via Lincoln Tunnel to Times Square
10:30 to 10:45 a.m. Welcome at official end of Lincoln Highway, 42nd and Broadway
Why Scooters are Hot:
-- Fuel-efficient scooter sales are soaring -- up 146% for Vespa scooter manufacturer Piaggio during June alone (an all-time U.S. sales record)
-- Press scooters available for media interested in accompanying Buddy and Bob for the ride into Times Square (ride along or join as a passenger)
Source: Piaggio Group Americas
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Scooter cool factor on the up
They might not be quite as popular as they were in the 1960s, but booming membership at a vintage scooter club has shown the hobby still has mileage amongst Norwich motor enthusiasts.
The Splinters meet every Monday at the Duke of Norfolk pub in Sprowston to share tips on scooter maintenance, discuss rallies and go on rides.
Since it was set up just 18 months ago it has attracted 30 members since it was started just 18 months ago.
And the range of members shows the club has united people from all walks of life, as lorry drivers, solicitors, brick layers and policemen all gather to share their hobby.
John Frary, 42, is one of the fans of Lambretta and Vespa scooters, and helped to set up the club.
He said: "The atmosphere is very good, there's never a cross word between anyone, everyone is there to talk about the scooters.
Posted by Frank at 5:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 9, 2008
Green transit on campus
Simon Baek saves some green by going green -- when the weather permits it, at least.
The Seoul, South Korea, senior, rides his moped the four miles from his off-campus apartment to the University as often as possible because the scooter goes nearly 60 miles on one gallon of gasoline.
"It's good to take to campus because it's so much cheaper," Baek said. "When it's cold or bad weather, and I have to take my car, I end up going to get gas twice a week."
Baek's hesitance to drive to school every day isn't unusual. Popular alternative modes of transportation for students include bicycles and mopeds, while on-campus organizations are turning to electric cars and Segways.
With gas at $3.82 per gallon, a four mile commute costs about 25 cents on a scooter like Baek's. In a car that goes 20 miles per gallon of gas, the same commute costs about 75 cents per trip.
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July 8, 2008
Drivers scoot away from $100 fill-ups
OCEANSIDE ---- Record-high gasoline prices have made motor scooters more hip than ever, and the newest riders are more likely to wear neckties than Che Guevara T-shirts, according to dealers, buyers and safety instructors.
Economists have blamed rising costs of gasoline and food for limiting consumer purchases and dragging the U.S. economy closer to recession, particularly in California and other states where expensive houses and rising mortgage obligations have already brought many people to the financial edge.
But scooter dealers along a one-mile stretch of Highway 101 in Oceanside said business has never been better.
While filling the tank of a large truck easily can suck away $100, more drivers see a new $4,000 scooter that costs $12 to fill as a smart investment, dealers said.
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July 7, 2008
Man On Scooter Provides Sober Ride
NASHVILLE, Tenn.- A Nashville man on a scooter wants your keys and your car. Zingo provides sober rides to those who may have had too much to drink.
Carlton Stewart is the President and Owner of ZINGO Nashville. He wants not only your keys, but also your car. Diblasi is the formal name for the portable, pop-up bike Stewart rides around on to get to his customers. Stewart says it's supposed to be called a folding motor bike. His revolutionary idea offers a sober ride that's just a phone call away.
When a customer calls, one of Stewart's six drivers will show up in about 15 to 20 minutes on a scooter. The driver will fold down the bike, put it in the customer's trunk, and then drive the intoxicated person home.
Posted by Frank at 12:25 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Women are safer drivers than men
Data released recently by the National Road Safety Authority have verified the claim that women are safer drivers than men.
According to the figures, men who drive cars or ride motorbikes or bicycles have a better chance of getting killed or injured in a road accident than female drivers.
Posted by Frank at 12:20 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 5, 2008
Cross-country scooter trip makes stop in DeKalb
This trip is not about the distance. Bernie "Buddy" Rosenbaum, 71, of New York and Bob Chase, 72, of Fremont, Calif., have ridden motorcycles across the United States before. They've traveled through Europe.
But the trip they're on now - a cross-country journey along Lincoln Highway that started June 13 in San Francisco and is expected to wrap up July 14 in New York City - is about finding the roots of America, the men said.
The two men - who are riding Piaggio MP3 500 scooters for the trip and plan to blog online daily - stopped Thursday afternoon in DeKalb.
After learning that the 71- and 72-year-old bikers would be cruising down Lincoln Highway on Thursday, DeKalb Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Coordinator Debbie Armstrong said she knew she had to get them to stop.
"It's very exciting to have somebody who's out on the free and open road," Armstrong said. "There's nothing better than a pair of older men riding through the country and having the time of their lives."
Local politicians greeted the two at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the Best Western DeKalb Inn & Suites. The men received gifts of DeKalb Agriculture flying ear T-shirts, hats as well as Illinois road maps and copies of the Illinois Constitution.
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July 2, 2008
Scooters pick up speed in the city
Many inner-city commuters are moving to scooters as a cost-effective alternative to big gas guzzlers. Andrea Mustain reports from New York City, where sales of scooters are up dramatically over the past year.
Posted by Frank at 11:10 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 27, 2008
Touring Rome on a Vespa
ROME -- When it comes to looking classy on a Vespa in Rome, no one did it better than Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn in "Roman Holiday." The classic film helped put Vespa on the map (for Americans) and gave the little scooters a romantic and stylish air, as well as permanent place in popular culture.
Sergio Caggia, founder of Nerone Tours came up with the idea of organizing Vespa tours of Rome after spending nearly a decade giving private walking tours of the city (called "Rome Made to Measure").
Mr. Caggia explained it was a conversation with a friend, who rented scooters to tourists that led him to the idea of incorporating classic Vespas and vintage cars into his own tour operations. A fan of classic cars and scooters himself, Mr. Caggia used his connections with local enthusiast clubs to find owners willing to use their vehicles to tote tourists throughout Rome.
Posted by Frank at 9:00 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 25, 2008
Scooters everywhere!
Ok! It's definitely a new thing this summer. I'm seeing a 10 fold increase in the number of scooters rolling around PB. Let's be careful on our roads! Cagers (people in cars, as we call them) are not always on the lookout for these vehicles. Even though they more noticeable than a bicycle they are still not always ready to see them in the middle of traffic.
Thankfully, in PB, traffic is rather slow moving most of the time and gives the scooter rider ample time to avoid 'situations'. There's three obvious camps about scooters... love them, hate them, and the "Oh My God I Think I Might Kill Them" camp. For the later group, no worries... scooter riders (and all two-wheeled riders) are taught to pretend nobody else can see them when they are on the road and it is their own job to avoid YOU. So long as YOU follow the rules of the road (signal lane changes, stop at red lights ... etc.)
For the haters... get used to it - they are here to stay. Have you seen the size of that scooter store on Garnet and Gresham? Don't get mad when they zip by you between traffic when you are in gridlock. Don't get mad when there are 4 of them in front of you going the speed limit. -Get mad- when they fill up for the week costing a grand total of $5.
Posted by Frank at 4:16 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 23, 2008
Ciao car, hello Vespa
It was an all-too-familiar situation: Ahead, a red light glared, and bumper-to-bumper traffic stretched as far as the eye could see.
Taxis honked. Drivers sighed. Nobody was happy - except the reporter on the white Vespa who slipped into the space between the lanes and nimbly passed among the cars. Pedestrians stopped to watch, and drivers' eyes gleamed with irritation and envy as the reporter made her way to the front of the line, turned right, and zipped off on her way.
She would giddily repeat the move all day. And people would notice, often wistfully.
"That's what I need, a Vespa," said one of them, Garry Rizzuto, as he watched from a sidewalk in the North End.
Posted by Frank at 7:22 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Growing number of commuters on scooters
BLOOMINGTON -- State Farm Insurance Cos. worker Darren Fischer is part of a growing trend in this town: Scooter commuters.
As gas prices climb, some Central Illinois drivers turn to bicycles, city buses or carpools to adapt. Others, like the 38-year-old Bloomington man hop on the two-wheeled driving machines for getting around, saving money and living greener.
"Our scooter customers are getting some looks at the gas pump when their tank is full at $7.50, while next to them an SUV needs close to $80 to fill up," said Robin Juhler, a co-owner of Bloomington-based Sportland, a motorcycle dealership that carries Yamaha, Honda and Polaris scooters.
Fischer laughed a little as he talked of savings since buying his scooter in May. Like most scooter owners, he also has a car.
Gas savings also led Ryan Wilson, 21, of Bloomington to his purchase a few weeks ago. Now, Wilson said, friends and family are inquiring. "I get about 100 miles to a gallon on this. ... Now, some of them are thinking about buying one," said the Maguire's Pub worker.
Posted by Frank at 6:22 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
New scooter club caters to mature riders
If the thought of a pack of two-wheeled fanatics prowling along country back roads and scenic routes in the Chattanooga area worries you, you may want to look out for the Fossils gang on your next Sunday outing.
Don't fret, though; they're pretty easy to spot. Most of the riders are more than 50 years old, they putter along at a serene 40 mph and they're all riding scooters.
The Fossils Scooter Club, a group for motor-scooter riders 50 and older, was founded in March by Chattanoogans Bill Levy, 67, his wife, Maxine, 59, and Bill Tracy, 67.
Beginning in October of last year, these three lifelong motorcycle lovers began trading in their hogs for something a little quieter, a little more comfortable and way more gas-efficient.
Other soon followed suit.
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James McAvoy trades in motorbike for scooter
FILM star James McAvoy has traded in his motorbike for a scooter after an encounter with a road bully.
The 29-year-old Scot fell off his red Hyosung bike after a car driver revving his engine made him nervous.
The Last King of Scotland star said: "I was lost and stopped at traffic lights.
"There was this guy looking at my shiny, red bike and he kept thinking, 'I'm going to make him race.'
James added: "It was kind of scary, so I've gone back to just having a little scooter now. That's so much safer for me."
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June 22, 2008
Couple Offers Chihuahuas For Scooter
Five tiny eight-week old chihuahuas are for sale in Cocoa Beach. The owner is willing to part ways with them to save on gas. Michelle Bandi says she can't afford to drive her car.
So in order to get better gas mileage she's willing to barter a pup or two for a new cheaper ride, a scooter! She put out an ad on Craigslist and hopes someone will swap. If you'd like to help Michelle, you can contact her by email. It's michellecat68@yahoo.com.
Posted by Frank at 11:35 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Scooter riders take gas price protest on the road
RAEFORD -- The sun broke through the clouds just in time for Charles Ragan and members of the Piglet Scooter Club to begin their protest of rising gas prices.
The men put on their "Caution Gas Price Protest in Progress" T-shirts before mounting their scooters in the parking lot of Universal Pawn Shop on Saturday morning. Nine men showed up for the round-trip ride from Raeford through west Fayetteville. Ragan had hoped for a larger crowd, but an early morning thunderstorm stopped some riders from coming out, he said.
The goal of Saturday's ride was to show how more people are turning to scooters and mopeds to offset the expense of fuel.
"There is an economic terrorist attack on our economy right now because of the high cost of fuel," Ragan said. "What we are doing is making a concession to try to cut down on the lost income. To buy gas right now is almost as bad as your light bill. We should have started raising Cain when they jacked the cost of oil up when there was a storm off the coast of Africa. It went up ten cents. Why? It's ridiculous. It's scary. It's really scary and I am scared of the future."
Posted by Frank at 11:33 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 17, 2008
Gas prices pump up scooter shop
LONGMONT - A few months ago, Small Planet E-Vehicles in Longmont was selling two to three scooters a month. Now, two to three roll out each day.
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"The more gasoline prices go up, the more my business goes up," said Tom Wilson, owner of Small Planet E-Vehicles.
His store specializes in electric scooters and bicycles.
"You plug it into a regular 110 outlet and it's ready to go the next day," he said. "You put in no gasoline, no oil, there's no fossil fuels of any kind other than the manufacturing of the thing."
The scooters top out at around 45 mph.
That's fast enough for John James. He bought two electric scooters Monday, one for his wife and one for himself.
"It has to do with high gas prices more than anything," he said.
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Video: Stupid Scooter Stunts
This guy can eat ramen noodles while riding a scooter. Do not try this at home.
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June 15, 2008
'Ludicrous' fine for my scooter
A father-of-four is willing to do battle in court to fight a parking fine he received because his environmentally friendly scooter was too small for an on-street parking bay.
Robin Swailes, who fell foul of wardens when he was ticketed for putting his Vespa scooter in a Beaumont Street parking bay on Thursday, June 5 - claims Oxfordshire County Council's rules on parking encourages people to drive gas-guzzlers rather than greener vehicles.
Despite paying for a two-hour parking ticket, the 42-year-old was hit with a ticket within an hour as he failed to read the small-print on the parking meter banning motorbikes without sidecars.
He now faces a fine of £70, reduced to £35 if he pays within 14 days. But the director of North Oxford Property Services feels he has been penalised for trying to lower his carbon footprint and believes the council's parking rules should be more clearly displayed.
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The joys of scooter travel
My favourite scooter was the one on Havelock Island, in the Andaman Sea. Some Japanese make I had never heard of, nor ever did again. 50cc? 70cc? What the hell is a cc anyway? My girlfriend had to get off the back whenever I went up a hill, otherwise thick black smoke would chug out of the exhaust pipe before we snarled to a halt.
There weren't many hills. Mainly we just glided between ancient forests, mangrove swamps and coconut groves. Hot air, slick with the scent of sea and jungle. No flies on us. The only traffic we ever saw was buffalo. There was a laconic, linen-clad guy in our campsite who came back one night bashed up and bleeding from the head. He'd managed to crash into the island's only bus. Remarkable.
In Pemba, we had something bigger. Do you know Pemba? Off the coast of Tanzania, Zanzibar's weird, wild twin. She was a beefy bastard Bajaj, modelled on the old Vespa. Gears and everything. A foot brake I kept forgetting to use, and a leftside handbrake that was actually a clutch. You don't slow down when you slam on the clutch. Not even a little. You probably knew that. Me, I had to learn.
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June 9, 2008
The best way to scoot down the road
Viva motor scooters! No, that's not an advertising statement, just a heartfelt sentiment from a longtime scooter lover, and it refers to those agile transporters – well known almost everywhere except North America – quietly going about their business at 70 or more miles per gallon of gasoline.
There are several important caveats, of course, about riding motor scooters: They're no-go in snow or ice, they can legally carry only two people or an equivalent load (in the United States), and defensive driving is the name of the game.
What makes scooters such excellent "second cars" is fantastic fuel economy, great visibility from the driver's seat, adequate power and brakes, and they are just plain fun to drive.
My love affair with scooters started when my grandpa had a Cushman scooter with a sidecar for a few months shortly after World War II. My rides in that sidecar were a thrill to a small boy and carried over into later life.
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June 8, 2008
Scooter paves the way for humane society fundraiser
DENVER - The scooters have descended on the Mile High City. This weekend, about 80 scooter enthusiasts have gathered to take part in the 2nd annual Colorado Chaos Scooter Rally.
The rally started Friday and will end Sunday evening. Deb Watts is participating in this weekend's event and says that while scooter riding is fun, there is an additional benefit.
"It costs a lot less to ride a scooter than it does to drive a vehicle, said Watts. "Most scooters get anywhere from 80 miles per gallon all the way up to 120 miles per gallon. So with the gas prices right now, it's a great way to get out and hang out with your friends but at the same time save some money."
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June 4, 2008
Melton Scooter Club ride out
Some 300 enthusiasts joined Melton Scooter Club on a ride out to Rutland Water, nicknamed 'Abscond the the Pond', on Sunday.
They set off from The Welby pub in Nottingham Road and made quite a spectacle as they rode down Scalford Road and headed off towards Oakham. A meet was then held at Whitwell for music, food and a custom show.
Co-organiser Gavin Bates said: "A ride out on that scale is quite a sight and it's a real buzz for those taking part. We were delighted with how the day went given the indifferent weather."
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May 27, 2008
Scooterists to converge at rally
More than 100 scooterists will converge on Waxahachie from June 13-15 for the North Texas Lakes Rally, sponsored by the Cabana Boys Scooter Group of North Texas.
Scooters of all sizes, makes, ages and speeds can be seen, including Vespas, Cushmans, Lambrettas – even the old Sears and Roebuck Allstate scooters will be on hand.
“There will be all kinds of vendors, including a new scooter shop out of Colleyville that will have new scooters on display,” said Daniel Smith, club leader and Waxahachie resident. “We’re also going to raffle off a 1980 Honda Elite 50 scooter. It’s a little rough, but it’s registered and has a clear Texas title.”
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May 18, 2008
Scooter rider pleads with 'intolerant' motorists
DARWIN scooter rider Aleja Perkins has called for motorists to be more mindful of sharing the roads.
The 23-year-old cafe manager, from Bayview, is angry at the way she is treated on the roads and is now scared to use her only form of transport.
"People sticking their fingers up, being impatient, overtaking on merging lanes so I have had to brake and telling me I have to ride on the shoulder is what I deal with,'' she said. "It makes me feel angry and scared.''
Ms Perkins said riding her yellow Jive Bug nicknamed "Bumblebee'' is not only more economical than driving a car but is her way of contributing to the environment.
"I ride for economical and environmental reasons,'' she said.
"Just this week three people have given me the finger -- I don't want to start off my day like that.
"To motorists, give us a chance -- I am doing everything legally."
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Robber Uses A Scooter To Get Away
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Police have a unique search underway. They are looking for a man on a scooter that robbed the Rb2 Lounge on the west end of Huntington.
The robbery happened just after 9 Saturday morning. The video lottery establishment is located on Waverly Road. It's the same business someone robbed back in March. That suspect got away with 11,000 dollars.
The person who robbed the lounge today is described as a tall, slim man wearing a brown jacket. Witnesses tell police he was riding a scooter when he left the parking lot.
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3,500 mile trip on a scooter
A COUNCILLOR is travelling round the coastline of Britain to raise cash for charity - on a scooter.
Coun Alan Neal is aiming to raise £100,000 for two causes close to his heart, with Peter and Michael Parsons of Whitworth Warriors Motorcycle Club.
The team will set off on September 6, hoping to cover 3,750 miles in a week, with a typical day involving 17 hours of riding.
David Dearden, MD of Robinsons of Rochdale, will sponsor the 125CC scooter and an environmental unit, donated from Casey's in Bury, will lead it and provide somewhere to eat, sleep and wash.
Coun Neal, who represents Whitworth, said: "We are raising money for Cancer UK and Leukaemia Research and we're going to split the money we raise equally between them.
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Gas Prices Prompting More To Consider Scooters
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Triangle is a region with streets and highways that are packed full of high horsepower SUV’s and pickups. However, in recent months, more and more people are leaving their four wheeled rides at home.
For Durham resident Paul Friedman, his choice to buy a classic Vespa is not one necessarily rooted in economy.
“I spent some time in Italy and fell in love with the scooters there,” Paul Friedman said.
But over the last few months, he's been getting more and more inquiries from his fellow motorists at the gas pumps, not just about the 1960's styling of his “Roman Holliday” scooter, but about its modern day economy.
“I think it gets about 70 to 80 miles a gallon,” Friedman said.
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May 10, 2008
Making Cents of Vespanomics
The reality this summer is we're on the brink of shelling out $4 per gallon... so, what can we do?
One answer put forth by scooter manufacturer Vespa is a little thing called Vespanomics. For a more entertaining definition of the word check out www.vespanomics.com, but the overall gist is simple - save money and the environment by swapping out your gas-guzzling commuter car for a more fuel-efficient scooter.
The key at this stage of the game is conservation - the reason why congress raised CAFE standards in the automotive industry to 35 MPG. This is where the scooter comes into play. With many designs already claiming 70 MPG figures, scooters are some of the most fuel-efficient transportation options available.
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April 29, 2008
Dawn of the scooter age
How about $4 a gallon by July?
Normally a perfect storm calls for a good roof over your head. But not for this weather-ready commuter. I’m parking my V-8 pickup truck, hopefully for most of the rest of the summer. I plan to pay about $8 a week for gas — not far off from what I paid to fill up back in high school — riding a motor scooter.
Actually, this summer will mark my third full year of riding a scooter to work. And when I say three full years, I mean full, since I ride as often as I can for about nine months out of the year on a 150-cubic-centimeter bike that does 60 mph on a good day.
I know I look like a goof: big alien-head helmet and a too-short two-wheeled ride that sounds like a pair of hedge clippers. But more and more, I’m not alone.
Faced with the prospect of $60 to fill up at the pump and forecasters at AAA predicting even higher, Richmonders increasingly are parking their cars in favor of pedaling their bikes — or revving up motorized two-wheel mopeds, scooters and motorcycles.
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April 23, 2008
Aussie parking costs boost scooter appeal
SCOOTERS remain the choice of the economically and environmentally conscious, even though sales have slowed across the nation.
Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries motorcycle manager Ray Newland said scooter sales were down 3.4 per cent in the first quarter compared with last year's record numbers while Queensland was down 1.3 per cent.
He said the FCAI's new method of reporting sales could explain the drop and that there may have been little or no real decline.
Industry sources said sales also may have been affected by an increase in second-hand scooters on the market.
Major Brisbane scooter retailer Joe D'Ercole said scooter sales had soared for several years as petrol prices, environmental issues, traffic congestion and parking costs escalated.
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April 20, 2008
Scooter fans set to slay dragon
VINTAGE-SCOOTER enthusiasts across Nuneaton and north Warwickshire will be taking part in their annual ride this weekend to raise money for two good causes.
Members of the Treakle Town Scooter Club will be going on their St George's Day Slaying the Dragon Ride Out on Sunday.
They are expecting at least 150 riders - members and people from other scooter clubs - to set off from The Boot pub in Ansley - on their classic Lambrettas and Vespas.
This year, the third annual event, will see members raising funds for the George Eliot Hospital's special care baby unit and the Nuneaton and Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary in Oaston Road.
Gordon Tovey, one of the club's founder members, said: "Last year we had 150 scoot-ers. We're expecting more this year.
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April 18, 2008
Tired Of High Gas Prices? Scoot It!
MINNEAPOLIS -- Gas prices at nearly all metro area gas stations are over $3.30 a gallon. Most of vehicles now cost $50 for a fill-up, another mode of transportation costs about $3.
While most individuals and businesses are having a hard time coping with these prices one business is boasting sales up by 250 percent over the last year.
Bob Hedstrom's Minneapolis store Scooterville is struggling to keep up with demand as customers brag to their friends about their gas mileage. The scooters, whose prices start at $1,800, get 100 miles to the gallon.
The cheapest scooter to operate is the one with the smallest engine. It only goes 30 miles per hour and it uses a moped plate. That means riders don't need a motorcycle license to operate it, just a regular drivers license will do.
Scooters with moped plates can also park at bike racks, thereby saving on parking.
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Segway tries social networking
Segway is hoping to take a page out of Nike's playbook with a new social networking site designed to help product users of its self-balancing electric scooter interact and build a Segway experience.
Called Segway Social, the new community site allows Segway PT owners to create groups, arrange meetings, and share photos and news. While it is geared to owners, Segway hopes to use the site to attract potential buyers by having current users of its devices show off their finer points.
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April 16, 2008
Here's a couple of scooting gas misers
Meet the Brunsons. Bobby and Kathie.
If you don’t know them, chances are you’ve probably seen them cruising around town on their little red and white Metropolitan Honda motor scooters.
With gas at a record $3.35 a gallon now, the Brunsons’ gas-guzzling 1999 Ford F-150 quadcab truck and four-door Ford Focus are spending more time parked under the carport. When the husband and wife team head to work at the Eastern New Mexico University campus, where they are both employed, and even when they go to Wal-Mart, they put on their helmets and motorscoot across town.
The Brunsons estimate they are saving about $100 in gas a month.
“We bought these scooters in 2005, when gas got up to $2.75 a gallon,” said Bobby, the textbook manager at ENMU’s Barnes & Noble Bookstore. “My thought was ‘It’s highway robbery to put that much gas into my truck!’” He estimates that it cost about $100 just to fill up his truck one time.
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