Hot Town, Scooter in the City

Special to Seattlest by Sarah Johnston

Photo: Sarah Johnston

It's said Seattle is one of the scooter-friendliest cities in the U.S. Scooter breeding grounds demand a mix of ecological concern, frustratingly limited parking, and dare-to-be-different hipster mentality--all of which our city has in abundance. A quick look down any urban street, and your view is speckled with Vespas, Hondas, and motorbikes galore. You probably notice them a lot as pedestrian or a four-wheel driver. You'll notice them way more if you join the club.

Purchasing a two-wheeled motor vehicle with a 50cc engine or less comes with almost no other preparatory work before instant fun is a kick start away. While limited to non-interstate driving and a top speed of around 35 mph, 50ccs require no insurance, no motorcycle license endorsement, and can get up to 100+ miles per gallon. Cruising Craigslist paired with a stop at a motorcycle shop for a helmet can put you in business over a single weekend. There are tons of great shops around town to provide advice and answers. Don’t forget eye protection!

Before you know it you’ll be breezing through side streets, brainstorming your own unique handwave for fellow scooterers, and gliding into parking spots you didn’t even dream existed. The infamous passive-aggressive Seattle driving, where four-way stops equal "No you go first!" "No, you go!!" remains. But those folks are so much easier to swallow when you have the breeze on your face, your feet on the ground, and the ability to skirt around them if need be.

While parking citations can still be issued to two-wheel fun machines, it’s almost worth the price tag to see the creative ticket placement chosen by the meter maid. Around the handle bar with a rubber band is best practice, but tucked into the lining of a hanging helmet is so much more avant-garde.

You’ll quickly learn that aside from being a great and affordable transportation option, scooters come with a built-in brotherhood of culture, style, and fun. If you’re ready for your biggest transportation concern to be finding $1.32 to fill up the gas tank (or for the ladies...trying to fit your helmet over a ponytail, because ZOMG, girls, it can get rough), it sounds like scooter time. Toot toot, vroom vroom!

Seattle Scooter links: Sound Speed Scooters, Interbay Scooters, Vespa Seattle, Scooter Gallery. Who else?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@seattlest.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By MvB in Miscellaneous on August 12, 2009 4:30 PM

Comments [rss]

Nate MC

Those that want to meet other scooterists, the Vespa Club of Seattle is open to ALL makes and models of scoots.

They meet the 2nd Tuesday of every month at Cafe Venus.

www.vespaclubofseattle.info

Then you can learn the joys of riding with 100+ scooters in a rally someday.

bilco

Ban 2-cycle scooters. Rave for 4-cycle. The former are the most polluting beasts you can imagine - something that's very clear if you've ever been on a bicycle keeping pace with one (which isn't hard). Banned by the EU several years ago, I've come across several in Seattle recently. God forbid we ban anything because it's a polluter, especially something as cute as a scooter.

The 4-cycles however, rock.

Juli

Who else?? The Capitol Hill Scooter Society, that's who! We would love to have you join us some time~

www.myspace.com/capitolhillsco...

We're on Facebook too!

Scooters

Welcome to the world of scootering.

There are a lot of women who scooter.

You should join the forum at http://www.scooterdiva.com

They will give you great tips, including how to put a helmet over your ponytail

tenshiemi

You actually do need an endorsement for most 50cc scooters. The law define mopeds (which are excluded) as no more than 50ccs AND doesn't go over 30mph. Almost all 50cc scooters go over 30, mine goes up to 42mph.

Even if they weren't legally required it's worth taking motorcycle/scooter safety because it can really improve your riding ability.