Motor scooters are now a regular element of urban life in Seattle, both on the street and crowded together in unlikely parking nooks and crannies. Their numbers are growing daily.
Sales of small motorcycles, meaning those with less than 500 cubic centimeter engines, were up 66 percent in Washington state during the first six months of 2008 compared to the first half of 2007, according to Steve Stewart, manager of motorcycle safety program, for the state's Department of Licensing. That includes mopeds and motor scooters. There have been 30,762 new driver's license motorcycle endorsements issued during the past 18 months.
"Four-dollar gasoline seems to be the magic number," Stewart said.
The figure does not give the complete picture because vehicles with less than a 50cc engine, ones that will not exceed 30 mph on level ground, do not need an endorsement. For them, a regular driver's license is sufficient.
Bronwen Serna, a barista at the Joe Bar café on Capitol Hill, has been using her new moped since April to commute to work from Fremont.
"I love it," Serna said. "It's fun, seeing it's summer, and it's a lot more convenient to find a parking spot."
She frequently parks on the sidewalk next to a bicycle stand, but it is not legal to park any licensed motor vehicle on the sidewalk, according to the Seattle Police Department.
Serna said it takes 15 minutes to travel from home to work by motorbike or car, and 45 minutes by bus. Her bike is getting "close to 160 miles per gallon," and she only fills the half-gallon tank once a week.
Steven Vroom, another Capitol Hill resident, said his brother sold his car and bought a little, red Vespa motor scooter recently when he moved to Capitol Hill.
"He was tired of buying gas for his car, and he didn't like the hassle of parking on Capitol Hill, but he can't stand taking the bus," Vroom said.
A motor scooter, according to Wikipedia, is a style of two-wheeled motor vehicle traditionally defined by characteristics such as a step-through frame, wheels less than 16-inches in diameter and an engine located below the rider and to the rear. However, there is no legal definition and the designs can be quite flexible.
"We're selling as many as we can get in," said Tom Wicken, owner and sales manager of University Honda/Yamaha, 420 E. Pike St. He said the 125cc Yamaha Vino sold out, then his inventory of 50cc scooters began "selling like crazy."
"With scooters [customers] it's a lot of first timers, it's a lot of students," Wicken said. He said that in high-density urban areas, scooters are popular because they are easily parked, sometimes even in the same spot with a car.
"They are real practical and convenient," Wicken said. "Plus, they are just a lot of fun to ride."
Wicken expects to have 50 of Yamaha's new 125cc motor scooter arriving between September and December, and he already has a waiting list.
"Put a deposit down on it and you get in line," Wicken said.
Steve Calvo, sales manager for Vespa Seattle, 93 Denny Way, said he is selling lots of them.
"I think our business is up something like 200 percent compared to last year," Calvo said, sounding like a very happy man.
Calvo figures about half of his customers are new riders. Or new-old riders, those who say they rode them years ago in college and are taking it up again. Sales have been brisk, but Vespa Seattle has no waiting list.
"Piaggio is the largest vehicle manufacturer in world," Calvo said. "I just got 50 new scooters last week. I'm in a good position now because I do have inventory."
About the scooter
In 1894, the Hildebrand & Wolfmueller company produced the first successful motor scooter in Germany and France, followed with the Auto-Fauteuil in 1902. In the United States, the Motoped of 1910 is likely the first production motor scooter. During World War II, the Cushman motor scooter was widely used by American forces. The Cushman claimed 75 miles per gallon and a penny-a-mile operating cost. It remained popular after the war.
Also after the war, in Italy, the Piaggio Vespa became the world standard for motor scooters. The name came when the company president said, "Sembra una vespa," which means it looks like a wasp. In much of Asia and Europe, motor scooters are more popular than cars.
Motor scooters are like motorcycles in that they don't provide the same level of safety as a car. Besides more exposure in case of an accident, drivers are also vulnerable to bugs, puddles and rain.
"Rain and motorbikes are not a good combination," Serna said. "I'll use the bus or my bicycle in the rain."
Wicken thought that with a full-face helmet and good rain gear riding in the rain is not so bad.
"Riding a scooter in the rain is a little better than motorcycles," Wicken said. "You have the floorboards to help protect your feet."
Commuters can try out driving motor scooters without going to a dealer by going to one of several scooter rental businesses.
Susan Richardson began her rental business about three years ago, and with the price of gasoline as high as it is, this year has been her best so far. She said her 20 scooters tend to rent out completely on the weekends, but she does make reservations.
"We have a real mix of customers," Richardson said. She said most of her weekend business, on nice days, are joy riders. However, some of her customers are out-of-town tourists looking for a fun way to see Seattle, some are just trying them out as they consider whether or not to buy one and some are scooter owners who want to have a friend drive around with them.
"I really like the rental business," Richardson said. "It's way different from selling, and you give people a chance to do something their mothers would never let them do."
Parking a motor scooter or small motorbike may be easier than a car, but there are unique problems, as well. The Seattle City Council is considering an ordinance that would fine perpetrators $38 for moving a motor scooter that is not theirs.
"It is kind of a problem," said Parking Enforcement supervisor R. Leonard. "People with cars think, 'that stupid little thing doesn't belong there, my car belongs there.' So they move them."
Sometimes scooters are damaged in the process, and sometimes they've been moved into no-parking areas where they may get a ticket. Of course, a ticket could only be written if an officer saw a scooter being moved illegally.
And what about parking meters?
Leonard said that if you can fit four motor scooters into a metered parking place you only have to pay for one vehicle. Unfortunately, with pay-station parking, every vehicle must have its own parking receipt. He conceded that it does not seem very encouraging to alternative commuting styles.
There have also been instances of the parking receipts getting stolen, because instead of being inside a locked car, the receipts are stuck to the headlights of motorcycles and scooters.
"Yeah, in fact that happened to me," Leonard said. He drives a motorcycle. "Make sure that you pay with a credit card, that way you will have a receipt to show in court.
In court? Bummer, dude. But that's where you need to go to contest parking tickets.
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