A lot of you might think that the best reason to purchase a scooter may be the ever-escalating cost of fuel. Although that is a great reason in itself, there are a multitude of other perks one can get from riding a scooter. To my surprise, I actually do not see many scooters around the Charlotte area.  However, other places such as Asheville, NC and Charleston, SC, have at least ten times more scooters than our own fair city.

My first scooter experience came in the early 1980′s on the Caribbean resort island of Cozumel. If memory serves me correctly this particular scooter was probably only 50cc, enough to go 45-50mph on a straightaway. I found it to be the ultimate fashion in which to orbit the tiny resort island.

My second scooter experience took place in the south of France in 1985. I rode from Nice to Monaco and Monte Carlo with my then wife, Jan. This time our scooter was a more powerful one, probably within the 125-150cc range since we were able to conquer steep grades along the French Riviera at a steady 55mph. At the time I was more preoccupied with our personal safety than having the luxury of enjoying my scooter experience to the fullest.

My third time riding a scooter was again in Cozumel in 1986. It was not much different than my first scooter experience in the same location, but I was convinced that it was still the most fun way to get around.

The fourth time was the charm. I accompanied my daughter to Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica in July of 2008. My stay was to be only three nights while my daughter Adriana was going to stay for three weeks to be in a Spanish immersion program at a language school. I went into the town of Quepos, and met a young American gentleman who rented scooters. I selected a Yamaha model which had a 150cc engine. Quepos and Manuel Antonio are very mountainous, and the scooter glided up the hills effortlessly. When I inquired what one may cost, and what kind of mileage it gets, I made a promise to myself to make one of these scooters my very own.

Upon returning to the States, I headed straight to Vespa of Charlotte. After all my questions had been answered as far as price, performance, license and insurance, I put down a deposit and by August 31, 2008,  rode off on my new black Vespa S150. This scooter is no “liquor cycle” that you see riding close to the shoulder going 38mph; however, I have been treated by other motorists as if I was a child on a tricycle. This scooter rides with the big dogs- up to 70mph- but I choose not to travel at that speed. It’s also not recommended to be ridden on interstate highways where speed limits exceed 65mph. Whenever I pull into a gas station, I frequently get asked the same question. “What kind of mileage do you get on that”?  To which I proudly reply, “Between 65 and 70 mpg.”

Aside from the economic benefits from traveling by scooter, there are many benefits that are not realized until you’ve ridden for a little while. When you compare riding inside an automobile, you are isolated from outside sounds, smells, and many small details that you can only notice while riding in a more wide open vehicle such as a scooter or a motorcycle. Only after riding on a scooter do you realize what you’re missing. The feel of the air and the changing air temperatures, the sound of birds, the scents of seasonal flora such as Honeysuckle during May, the Magnolia in June, or the aroma of the Jasmine, Tea Olive, and Gardenia.

One of the things I also realized in my nearly three years of riding is the personal contact you have with people who you pass by. Not being sequestered inside a metal and glass tube brings a more prominent feeling of familiarity. That smile and that wave appear much more personal. Overall sightseeing is much more enjoyable with the fewer blind spots that a scooter has than does an automobile. Scooters are also very quiet- no offense to my Harley friends who are very excited by the sounds their Hogs emanate.

Since I purchased a scooter carrier last year that rides on the back of my minivan, I’ve been fortunate to enjoy riding my Vespa around such locales asMorehead City and Winston-Salem, NC; Charleston, SC;  Daytona Beach andMelbourne, FL; as well as Orlando-Kissimmee and most recently, the Blue Ridge Parkway between Asheville and Little Switzerland, NC.

With all the talk of “Going Green” I can’t think of a better, more enjoyable way to do so than by getting yourself a good quality scooter. I chose Vespa since they are one of the most popular scooters in the world. You may also be content with scooters made by Buddy, Stella, Kymco or Yamaha.  You can expect to go at least 160 miles on two and a half gallons of premium gas. Scooters are also very low maintenance and safe- as long as you keep your eye not only on the road but also on the other motorists around you. It won’t get you around at such high speeds as a motorcycle, but on the other hand, that could be a safer move for you.