Less is more: Group rides, good gas mileage have led to a scooter swarm in Seattle

Susan Richardson likes her scooter's gas mileage, but what she loves is the freedom she feels while riding it.

The founder of Scoot About, a scooter rental and sales shop in Seattle, Richardson has ridden for about 15 years and now drives her "dream scooter," an Italian-made Aprilia she got about two years ago.

"You're out there, it's open, the wind is blowing, and you can smell and see things," Richardson says with a smile. "It's freedom."
Scooter basics

* A scooter can be identified by its step-through space that allows riders to sit upright on top of the motor. Traditional motorcycles usually require riders to straddle the motor when riding. Mopeds are similar to scooters, but they include manual pedals.
* If you're interested in buying a scooter, some experienced riders recommend buying new or used from a store that also can service the scooter. That makes it easier to get annual maintenance checks and replacement parts
* Be sure to check with the state on requirements for riding a scooter. Models must be registered as either mopeds or motorcycles depending on size and speed. Larger scooters require an endorsement that can be obtained after taking a basic rider course.

Richardson and other local riders say they've seen a surge in scooter interest in recent years, mostly from people wanting another commuting option. When gas prices spiked last year, Richardson says more customers sought scooters that could deliver 100 miles on a single tank of gas.

Now, Seattle ranks as one of the top U.S. cities for scooter sales, and when compared with other metro areas, it offers riders a safe, enjoyable experience, Richardson says.
"In Seattle, it's a pretty friendly town," she says. "There are an awful lot of people using [scooters] as their primary transportation."

Another draw for scooter owners is the social aspect. Riders can join groups such as the Westenders Scooter Club, Vespa Club of Seattle and Capitol Hill Scooter Society, among others. Moped riders have their own groups, including the Mosquito Fleet, Moped Army's Seattle branch. Groups often plan themed rides, charity events and other activities.

Bob Brown, one of the founding members of the Westenders, says his club members support each other like family. The group organizes one or two rides a month, plus a large rally each August. Club members hop on their scooters and travel together to shows, gather at favorite eateries and pubs, and take long trips on their motorbikes.

"The camaraderie is my favorite part of the Westenders," says Brown, who rides a red Vespa.

Bainbridge Island resident Jennifer Raines purchased her first scooter this fall and says it's a convenient and cost-effective way to commute to her classes in Bellevue. She says that in the past she rode motorcycles, but her shiny red scooter is a practical tool for getting around.

"Unfortunately, with motorcycles, the temptation is speed," she says with a laugh. "I like [my scooter]. And it looks cool."

Brown, of the Westenders, also says he likes being able to travel efficiently around the city, and that he doesn't have to battle cars for parking. For him and other scooter enthusiasts, there is joy even in a simple ride to the store.

"When you're on a scooter, you have to smell the roses," he says. "Life becomes an adventure on the back of a scooter. Everything old is new again."

Ktm motorcycles pictures

Motorcycle Accidents

Did you know?

* The number of ACC claims for motorcycle injuries has increased 637% since 1999 – from 684 to 5044
* The number of claims per annum per 100 motorcycles has increased 352% from 1.2 to 5.2. Yes there is an ACC claim for 1 in 19 motorcycles.
* In 2008 1314 motorcycle drivers were injured and 48 died.
* The injury rate per 1000 motorcyclists is 14.4 and fatality rate is 0.52
* For all vehicles (incl motorcyclists) the injury rate is 4.7 and fatality rate 0.11.
* Motorcycle riders (and a small no of passengers) account for around 13% of all fatalities and 9% of injuries, despite making up just 3% of the vehicle fleet
* That of the 211 drivers killed in 2008, almost 25% or 48 were motorcycle drivers.
* In 2008 there were 1,237 motorcycle drivers hospitalised with injuries for 8,571 days and only 2,764 car drivers hospitalised for 13,795 days.
* There are 2.63 million passenger cars and vans registered in NZ and only 71,648 motorcycles (plus 25,304 mopeds).

It amazes me that the same people who support banning pies from tuckshops on the basis it may extend someone’s life by a few months in 60 years years time, don’t think incentives to reduce the number of motorcycle accidents are justified.

Now don’t get me wrong. If people want to ride motorcycles, good on them. Unlike Labour/Greens, I don’t believe in banning things just because they may be bad for you.

But if you choose to drive a motorcycle, then you should at least cover the costs of the greater accident risk. At the moment car drivers massively subsidise the cost of ACC for people who choose to drive a far more risky form of transport.

We already have the rationale with employers levies. You don’t make employers with clerical staff pay the same ACC levy as employers in dangerous occupations like construction.

Now as I have said before, the exact levies proposed by ACC are open to legitimate scrutiny and criticism. You don’t want to ping owners of multiple motorcycles (or multiple vehicles of any sort). But the principle of motorcyclists paying more than car owners is sound. Not to do so, actually subsidises motorcyclists and means we end up with more people dead and injured, because safer modes of transport were subsidising the more dangerous modes.

Yamauchi: Motorcycles In GT5 Is A "Possibility"

NASCAR. Rally. Road races. A variety of inclement weather. Gran Turismo 5 has a number of features to make any racing fan smile but perhaps it's still missing one major piece: motorcycles.

Now, this could pose a problem in terms of authenticity and realism, as Polyphony would really have to work hard to adapt; a motorcycle is nothing like a car so if the physics are to turn out just right, this addition might take some time. But according to an IGN Q&A with series creator Kazunori Yamauchi, if there's enough of a fan outcry for cycles in GT5, there's every possibility that the team may include them in the future. Or, and this may be a better idea in the eyes of many, they could simply start work on Tourist Trophy 2. Said Yamauchi:

"...if that's what users really want in the game, I think that's a possibility. Or we could consider making a Tourist Trophy 2 as well."

Obviously, we wouldn't expect Polyphony to halt production and suddenly focus on motorcycles, thereby pushing GT5 further into 2010; we expect that if they really do toy with the idea, it might show up as DLC some time down the road. But actually, we're behind the Tourist Trophy 2 idea; GT5 will already feel very different with the inclusion of NASCAR, so we don't need to toss in more changes or additions. Besides, motorcycle fans have been waiting for a new Tourist Trophy for...well, for a damn long time.