A young man from the local PBS affiliate, WPSU-TV, did a little piece on the Top Secret Scooter Club this evening. I listened carefully to the questions he asked everyone and those questions draw a little picture of what people think of scooters…

“Why did you buy a scooter instead of a real motorcycle?” and “How do you feel at the gas pump when buying gas?” And always “How fast can you go?” I’m not sure what they’ll make if it but I’m always fascinated by how people perceive the Vespa.

This Friday evening at 11:30 PM on WPSU-TV. We’ll see….

I was going to get my baby a Vespa for her birthday. What could possibly be better than that??? Alas, she seems to have no interest at all! I’ve begun thinking there was a mix up at the hospital—how could she possibly not want a scooter….

I put together this collage as I struggled to understand her nature on this day of celebration of her birth. She loved Bucky the Wonder Horse and her Big Wheel so I thought the scooter would be a natural progression. Oh well, at least she likes chocolate…

But I love her anyways and extend to the scooterless child a Happy Birthday!

My Vespa LX150 transported eight tomato cages home from the store today. Could easily have transported twice that….

Making choices can be simple or difficult. Issues of right and wrong are instilled early and give each of us a foundation on which to make choices. Consumer culture can add series of messages providing other foundations on which to make decisions, decisions that seem appropriate and personal. Making a choice between a scooter or motorcycle to many in a simple one and basis on a solid foundation. For a moment I want to look at some of the rationale that may stand behind these choices.

Traditional arguments in favor of scooters suggest economy, reliability, and ease of use. Arguments against them and in favor of motorcycles are performance, capability, and safety in a wider range of road types. I won’t debate these points.

Decisions are personal and as such it seems something personal should enter into consideration of a choice between motorcycle and scooter. My own criteria for making a choice had little to do with the arguments suggested above but instead teeter close to a moral and philosophical belief exposed only after riding a friend’s Vespa ET4.

Initially my plan was to purchase a new Triumph T100. I’ve always warmed to Triumph’s classic look. After spending a weekend on the Vespa ET4 something happened that caused me to question why I was choosing the Triumph and what I discovered was the basis for my personal decision.

I had recently taken a new position as part of a management team. My new responsibilities created more chaos and noise in my life than I had anticipated. Everything seemed to speed up and I was always trying to go faster to get everything done. Seeking advice from others it was suggested that the way to deal with the every increasing pace of things was to turn in the other direction and slow down in order to catch up. Suspicious of this line of reasoning I finally made the leap of faith and “slowed down” only to find myself accomplishing more. One of life’s paradoxes…

In the showroom looking at the Triumph sitting next to the Vespa I ask myself “What will happen if I choose the scooter and am forced to slow down?” Will something positive emerge from a choice that seems a negative? Choosing the Vespa embraced intentional slowness, intentional challenge, and would be a step away from the mainstream of riders here in central Pennsylvania. The scooter can travel as fast. A Saturday afternoon ride on a motorcycle would be a major day long event on the scooter. The scooter would present more challenges and frustrations—-direct Interstate routes available to a motorcycle would be unreasonable on a scooter so more circuitous routes would have to be found. And owning a scooter would be seen by most other males as a toy, a poor bastard cousin to a real motorcycle. I would be an outsider.

It’s been eight months since I purchased the Vespa. 3500 miles later I can say that the same paradoxical choice that eased my professional life has delivered benefits on the road. Each 10 mile trip on the scooter becomes a challenge to be handled and thought out, something that would be a yawn for a motorcycle. A 100 mile ride is an adventure of body, mind, and spirit. It has kindled a passion not just for riding, but for almost everything I do. The lack of power and performance makes everyday riding a lesson in being alive.

One last observation about scooters and motorcycles. I’ve watched the culture of riders carefully—speech, dress, machines, and actions. There is a spirit and culture among many riders of independence and self reliance and it is well deserved. But there is also a tendency to not stray farm from normative behavior whether it be choices of when to ride or what to ride. Choosing to ride a scooter of any kind is outside the comfort zone of many—it does not allow you to conform and leaves you an outsider. Riding in winter is another step outside normative behavior. A scooter is NOT for someone who is uncomfortable being different, riding another road, being a rebel. For those who need to blend and conform, that’s what Harleys and Hondas and cruisers and sportbikes can offer among many other things.

I’ve pondered the addition of another machine, a motorcycle, but I’ve finally concluded that it has nothing to offer me today.

I rode to work everyday this past week—almost right to my office door. Reflecting on the week has reminded me of some of the more powerful benefits of riding to work. Parking is cheap and easy. The permit is $24.00 per year and I can park in any designated motorcycle spaces around campus. I’m fortunate that there are three spaces against my building. Since I get to work early I always get the first space. I have displaced some other rider who used to park there I suppose, but there are more nearby.

I put a gallon and a half of 93 octane fuel in the Vespa this week for about $4.50. The same amount of travel in my Ford Ranger would have been considerably more. And a parking permit is $34.00 per MONTH. There is no doubt that the scooter is more economical.

Nothing of great note on any of the rides. The mornings were cool, in the 30’s, and the rides home were warm, usually in the 70’s. I have to admit I enjoy riding in cooler weather than warm. Not much time for any “recreational” riding since I have been preparing to hang my MFA Thesis Exhibition. With extensive help from my daughter and friends it is all on the walls of the gallery and ready for the reception this evening. With this work behind me I am looking forward to developing a Vespa/riding/rider/landscape photography project. Just have not figured out what it will be….

Hurtling is not a word one would associate with a Vespa. It implies speed and energy resevered for more massive and powerful machines. This morning I was walking the dog in a park along US Route 322 when a Harley Davidson Ultraglide went by. This road is four lanes but not limited access and the speed limit is 45MPH. I looked over when I head the motorcycle coming—a green machine with a white haired rider, no helmet, short pants, and leaning back in a comfortable cruising postion with feet up on high cruising pegs. He was in the left lane and closing fast on a line of cars in the right lane. The cars were moving at around the speed limit. The Harley was easily traveling 20 to 30 MPH faster than the cars as he roared by.

I stood there watching and wondered what he would do if one of those cars decided to pass and pulled in front of him. What were his options? And I thought about how I ride. I endeavor to ride defensively and manage the risks that I identify on the road. Passing a line of cars is always a risk I assume responsibility for and plan an “out”.

I’m amazed at how much faith some riders have in the behavior of others on the road. I don’t trust anyone. I won’t say I ride with by backside clenched to the seat but I am wary of what could happen next. The performance nature of the Vespa LX150 won’t allow for the range of situations that a motorcycle can get into but it has sufficient power to find trouble. And I guess this points to the fundamental question I ask myself today—am I over doing things?

I’ve been thinking of the accident that claimed the life of motorcycle safety expert Larry Grodsky and am reminded of how many things are outside of our control that we at least should do what we can about those that are.

Larry Grodsky obituary

I ride defensively always, even on isolated country roads. As the weather has warmed I am still wearing armored clothes when the rest of the riders I see are in jeans or less. Before I purchased my Tourmaster Overpants I rode with jeans. Now the thought of nothing between my legs and the pavement but a bit of denim is unacceptable. Now, everytime I get on the scooter I have on leather boots, jeans, Tourmaster armored overpants, shirt, Mountain Hardwear Windproof jacket, Triumph Armored Mesh Jacket, gloves, earplugs, and full helmet. More if its cold or raining. A lot of stuff to put on for a run to the grocery store. But I have made it a habit, a ritual, and I am confortable.

A motorcycle rider asked me recently why I had so much on for just a scooter. I thought about it for a second and said “because when I hit the pavement it doesn’t care whether I have high-sided from a Vespa or a Ducati.”

I had a nice ride this morning. Dark clouds threatening rain but just beautiful. The roads were largely empty and passed several other riders enjoying the day. Rode about 50 miles around the local area through such notable communities as Centennial, Stormstown, Loveville, Half Moon and Scotia. Central Pennsylvania is just a motorcycle heaven…