What is that zipping down the road? Is it a bee? Is it a mosquito? No it's a scooter, Scooters are becoming more and more prevalent on American roads as the yearning for low cost transportation hits the masses and gas prices rise. At around 80 miles per gallon, you can see why scooters are becoming an attractive option.

But scooters are nothing new to American roads. It was its pedal equipped cousin, the humble Moped, that opened the way to the modern day scooter revolution in the 1970's. You, know... The last time gas prices caused us to choose between food and driving to the supermarket.

My love affair with these mini-motored creations began in the 1970's. Family trips to Italy whetted my appetite. I found it simply amazing to see young men and women (just slightly older than me) hop on that bicycle that needed no peddling. How neat! The end of end of the summer of '78 was when I started my campaign. I begged. I pleaded. Finally I got my trip to the new-in-town moped shop. My generous Dad plunked down $700 for a top-of-the-line French-made Motobecane 50B in red. I'm sure he couldn't wait to shut me up and $700 was a bargain. I was in love. My Mom was not. Her nail biting and my conscience only allowed me short trips around the block. So much for my adventure.

Later trips to Italy yielded much more helmet-free fun. I was older, so it was somehow acceptable to hop on my uncle or cousin's Vespa with shorts, flip-flops and hair flying in the breeze at 70 kilometers per hour. Yes, Mom had become numb, and aggressive Italian drivers fazed me not! It was certainly a summer to remember.

Well, that's not where it ends. About 2 years before my Dad's passing, he brought me a surprising gift. We live a few states away and He and Mom would come to visit a few times a year. The car was always packed with gifts for the grandkids and supplies for the week or two they would spend with us. It was on one of those trips where I noticed something red hanging out of the back of the trunk of their packed Nissan Altima. I couldn't believe my eyes. The old Motobecane came back to me, complete with license plate plastered with the appropriate stickers for 1978 through 1983!
"It doesn't run, but it's in really good shape" Said Dad. Ok, I tend to be a bit nostalgic, but I also realize he was just cleaning the garage and looking for a place to dump it. No problem! I had a new project on my hands.

Amazingly, all it took was a new petcock,

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about Testimonies: My experiences with scooters?
We want to hear your view. Write now!