The scooter has been a very popular form of personal transportation since its inception at the turn of the 20th century. It takes its appeal from that of the lowly bicycle but taking it a step further by motorizing it and making it accessible to a wider market than even the cheapest automobile can do. It's not surprising when countries like India, China and many developing countries find the scooter most practical in both urban and rural commuting. It is without doubt, the cheapest mode of transport anywhere on the planet.
Soaring Popularity
It goes beyond being just a poor man's vehicle. It's a couple of steps down from the modest 4-wheel models of the "people's car" you see coming out from Taiwan, China and Japan. There was a time when the Volkswagen Beetle had the reputation of being the cheapest car on earth. Not anymore. You have an assortment of cheap private cars from Korea and China these days. Scooters take that even further down. With today's worsening road congestion and pump prices at their highest ever, the 2-wheel scooter makes the best economic and practical sense when driving in the city.
It's also for the enthusiast. There are pricey models out there, especially those made form Italians companies like Piaggio Vespa that has assumed iconic status symbol for kids from wealthy families. Each model can cost the equivalent of small Korean car but without the thrill and excitement riding on a scooter.
Advantages of Going Scooter-Commuting
For those living close to offices and schools, the scooter is your best mode of transport. It won't protect you from road pollution, though you can wear a face mask for that, nor from a rainstorm, though you can wear a raincoat for that, but it gets the job done with the utmost efficiency and speed.
It doesn't have the trunk space to put in your luggage or other hefty stuff. While users have been known to have creative ways strapping even a small 17" TV on it for repairs, the scooter is really meant just to get you to the office, the grocery for light shopping or your kid to school. It's not meant to get you to the airport with your luggage on it.
The most compelling reason for getting a scooter is sheer economy and practicality. Governments, eco-friendly movements and companies have taken to task fuel efficiency and getting rid of carbon emissions on the road. With gas pump prices at their record highs, only the wealthiest families on the planet couldn't care less about fuel efficient vehicles. The most fuel efficient mode of transport belongs to the motorcycle category and scooters with small engines that can reach 70 mph remain the most sensible solution to getting from point A to B
