I just bought a scooter (max speed 60) for those trips that really don’t require a PU or car. It’s great!! The one problem as many bicycle and motorcycle riders will tell you is that some car drivers have an attitude problem. It seems better in N Kitsap than farther south since lots of locals started driving below the speed limit when gas prices shot up. Plus, you do have to think about routes a bit more. Even though my scooter goes 60, I stick to non-freeway routes — risk minimization.

I’ll use it when it makes sense from a weather, route, and transport perspective. This also means I can take the ferry without worrying about scheduling around the tourist runs, can save a few bucks on fares, and leave space on the ferry for more folks. Imagine if 50% of the daily ferry car commuters that drive alone decided to drive a motorcycle, scooter or bicycle — voila, the need for and cost of ferries for the taxpayers would drop substantially. Maybe instead of passenger only ferries to Seattle we need Smart commuter ferries that just exclude cars and trucks.

Scooters, motorcycles, and bicycles could also reduce the cost of road maintenance since weight on the roads pays a significant part in the wear and tear.

So I figure, by converting to a scooter I’m doing everyone a favor including myself.

I also think they are much cooler! Basically this is sort of my early mid life crisis toy.. But being a big liberal I am I want one that make me look cool and gets 70 MPG. Also I think it would be good for commuting since about 90% of my driving is too and from work. I could do light shopping with a back pack or the under seat trunk.

I am also going to get a weather cover for it at home and another one for work.

I am going to wait to get a 150cc Vespa this spring and take a cycle safety course. My friend has a classic vespa from the 60s and she offered to teach me to ride before I start commuting with it.

Thanks for the input. It was essential in me deciding to go with a more powerful scooter.

I agree that if you get a scooter you would want to keep up with traffic.
That being the case, what makes the scooter differ from the motorcycle?

I didn’t get a chance to ask him about his Kitsap scooter driving adventures, but it was raining and he was out on his scooter. He was in complete rain gear, I might add.

The more I think about it, I have seen scooters in Kitsap, but only in line to head back to Seattle on the Bremerton ferry. I think the three or four people on the scooters were tourists that had rented them in Seattle, taken the ferry over here, and puttered around for the day.

My only other experience with scooter drivers has been in Italy where they are just crazy! Rome probably had the highest number of scooters on the road…they zip in and out of traffic and most drivers don’t obey traffic laws. They go between cars, up on the sidewalk and basically through any light (red or green) they want. Surprisingly I never saw a single scooter-car/scooter-pedestrian accident the various times I visited Italy.

Jake I do think you’re better off with a Vespa, solely for the reason that you can reach higher speeds. The drivers in this area can get pretty impatient and I would hate to write up a CODE 911 item where some impatient SUV or pickup truck driver tried to run you off the road.

Maybe you’ll start a new trend and raise awareness about scooter commuting in Kitsap!

I am probably going to save up for a 150 CC Vespa
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vespaclub/

At the other end of the spectrum is the recumbent trike. Comfortable, great exercise and they make wind and rain ’shields’ for the front.

Some can be used and assisted with electric or gas assist motors. Another neat option is the velomobile…human powered or with an assist.

Silverdale Bike Shop sells one or more brands…or I can give you a long list of places to check different companies and different models….or good urls.

I might want to save up for one of those and have more power to drive the Kitsap roads. Being Rear ended after a blind turn by a car driving 60+ on Brownsville HW while I am scooting around at 35 is my main fear of a 49cc scooter. If I was going 60 on Brownsville I think it would be safer.

It is a shame that the US auto makers don’t have anything similar to a Vespa and they are now asking the public for a corporate welfare bailout . It is unfortunate that there is this escalation of metal on the road.

I grew up driving a 80 Honda Civic and I currently drive a 97 Neon and I don’t ever see myself owning a larger car but I think a Scooter would be a lot of fun and save a lot of wear and tear on my car.

I have friends that ride motorbikes to and from Keyport in the rain but they bundle up and be careful with reflective vests over their jackets. There are no bus service that goes to Keyport. I would stay off the freeways and I know how to get around Kitsap without using the highways.

I was going to wait for March and I have to take a Washington state Motocycle safety class first. I’ll let you know how things go in a couple months.