Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/126959
drive smart: Ti Adoro Sexy scooters are also eco-cool M aybe it's his Italian heritage, but Lorenzo Avignoni loves scooters. He started riding at age 16 and his devotion has never wavered. Currently he has a huge crush on vintage Italian models, though, as sales manager for Vespa Metro Vancouver, he has his pick of any shiny new model on the lot for his daily scoot-commute. Of course, a scooter zipping through the streets of Rome or Paris hardly ever draws a second look. But Avignoni was quite the anomaly in Vancouver traffic when he first began cruising the city's downtown in the 1980s. Today he is not so alone. Research from the Motorcycle Industry Council shows scooter sales have more than doubled since 2000 in both Canada and the U.S., and the Motorcycle & Moped Industry Council concurs: its annual registration numbers for moped-type vehicles in Canada have doubled from 21,703 in 2001 to 42,214 in 2010. Lower Mainland urbanites in particular have discovered that scooters are more than a stylish toy. Nostalgia still lingers around the charming scooter, forever linked to images of Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in the 1953 MGM hit Roman Holiday. But today's little two-wheelers are increasingly chosen for both practical and pleasurable benefits. Not a car, but not a motorcycle, either, the scooter has its own identity. They're a symbol of "progressive thinking," says Avignon – of living sustainably and sensibly. "Scooters say, 'I believe in saving the environment with lower emissions, in saving on gas, insurance and parking. And I believe in doing all of that while looking good and having fun.'" Still, scooters do come with limitations. They're slower than cars and motorbikes, open to the elements and offer limited space for passengers and cargo, plus no airbags, air conditioning or heater. While maintenance costs are less than those of small cars, a scooter's brakes, cables and tires must be kept pristine for safety. And sharing the road with larger vehicles has its hazards due to reduced rider visibility. ICBC, for istock p18-19_DrivSmrt.indd 19 example, warns that motorcyclists are eight times more likely to be killed in a crash and 41 per cent more likely to be injured than other road users, and its motorcycle category includes scooters. As for parking, unlike scooter-friendly Toronto where scooters park free in any metered location, Vancouver offers only a limited number of free designated parking spots – and these are for electric scooters only. It is legal, however, to park two scooters in one space, providing they fit. But beware: if the meter runs out, both scooters will be ticketed. On the plus side, scooters get an amazing 60 to 120 miles per gallon. They're far less intimidating than motorcycles and easier to drive (no hunched posture, straddling a gas tank; riders sit upright as if in a chair, relying on their "natural" sense of balance). Unless driving a vintage model, shifting is also automatic, a simple twist-and-go, while motorcyclists must master manual gearchanging. Scooters also have smaller wheels than their motorcycle cousins, making them more manoeuvrable (if less stable at high speeds). Or, as Avignoni puts it: "It's like driving a helicopter versus a plane." –Lisa Ricciotti Matchmaking RESEARCH IS KEY — before hitting the showroom. Match choice to driving speed and distance needs; the smaller the engine, the higher the fuel savings (and lower the retail cost). The big three Italian, Taiwanese or Japanese, subdivided by engine size. • Minis: 50 cc and under Topping out between 50 and 60 km/h; not legal on highways. Most popular with urban buyers, cheap to insure ($400 to $600 annually in Vancouver). Big selling point: no special licence required (engines bigger than 50 cc require a motorcycle licence in B.C.). $2,000 to $4,500. • Midsized: 150 to 300 cc Approved for highway and city use. Can comfortably hit 110 km/h. $4,000 to $7,000. • Maxi: 400 to 650 cc Can reach 120 km/h with friend on back, but pricey: $8,000 to $12,000 (cheaper, smaller motorcycles offer the same fuel economy and speed). also key Good helmet with full-face visor ($100 to $400); protective gloves ($45 to $125); jacket ($200 to $300). Locks ($30 to $75); cargo box for extra storage ($75 to $250). Insurance mandatory; lessons highly recommended. • Westworld >> S U m m e r 2 0 1 3 19 13-04-26 9:59 AM