When was the last time you had a fun commute? Parked for free in the Greater Toronto Area? Filled your gas tank with a smile? Felt smug about your contribution to the environment?
Seldom, right?
That could change as easily as trading four wheels for two, as I did, test driving a Vespa scooter for six days.
The Vespa has curb appeal. It’s not uncommon to have bystanders gawking and motorists starting conversations at stop lights.
One truck driver gave me a synopsis of his youthful experiences on a similar scooter.
A van driver offered an approving thumbs up. It craned the necks of a gaggle on a school bus.
Of course, a motorcycle licence was required. An eye and written test at the test centre in Aurora was relatively quick, albeit not easy.
The styling of the LX150 model is instantly recognizable. Not much has changed esthetically in the six decades since Enrico Piaggio, an Italian fighter plane designer, introduced the first of 17 million sold models.
Mechanically, the scooters have evolved dramatically. With twist and go technology, the Vespa is simple to operate, with an electric starter.
The single cylinder, four stroke 150cc engine over the rear wheel is quiet and quick. Despite a speedometer suggesting a top end of 140 km/h, the LX150 will max out at around 95 km/h, more than enough boost for urban traffic.
One of the many guilty pleasures of the scooter is its responsiveness off the line.
A check in the rearview mirrors often reveals a driver looking for a lane in which to evade what’s perceived as a two wheeled turtle.
A crank on the gas and you’re up to speed, usually faster than fellow motorists.
That’s not an endorsement for jack rabbit starts. But the deceptively smooth delivery of power gives you a comfort level when keeping up with traffic and in the event you have to avoid trouble.
As 500-cc Vespa owner Rollin Burkholder advised, scooter pilots must ensure they put enough time and space between themselves and larger vehicles.
“You have to learn where to be on the road to minimize any danger,” the retired Thornhill educator said. “You have to pay attention and look farther down the road than normal.”
The little scooters are all about green — as in envy, the environment and economics.
The GTA’s 5.1 million people take 6.1 million car trips a day, City of Toronto Urban Development Services said. The average car belches four tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
Switching from a car to a Vespa would reduce your emissions by 80 per cent. And if just one in 10 North American drivers used eco-friendly scooters, we would use 68 million fewer litres of gas daily.
Daily traffic congestion could be reduced significantly, as would the hours commuters waste.
Financially, scooters, which each major manufacturer offers, make sense. My tester from Vespa retails for about $5,700. Yamaha’s Vino, comparable to the LX150 but with a bit less horsepower, is about $2,000 less.
The Vespa tanked up for $5 worth of regular gas. That covered 160 kilometres at various speeds. The informal calculation suggests the scooter costs about 3 cents a kilometre.
Compare that to a new Honda Pilot’s city gas consumption, for example, and you’re saving a dime per click.
Parking is another bonus in the GTA. Toronto adopted global best practice by allowing motorcycles and scooters to park free at street meters.
First-time scooter driver and land use planner Ann Balaban commutes from Whitby to Markham.
Her Vespa GT200 is insured for an extra $300 on top of her auto coverage.
“I’ve wanted one since the 1970s,” she said. “I started looking last year and bought used. The economy is excellent.
“I don’t need a car all the time and, in good weather, the scooter is my main mode of transport.”
Vespa Markham owner Brian Price has seen sales rise steadily since opening in 2006. His York Region clients tend to opt for more horsepower than downtown drivers.
“Our demographic is 30 years and up,” said Mr. Price, who loaned me a scooter handbook and helmet. (Distributor Canadian Scooter Corp. provided the LX150 Vespa.)
“Generally speaking, our bikes are too expensive for teens, but we’re seeing more students on them.
Vespa buyers, Mr. Price said, base their decision on three factors.
“Economics, environment and fun,” he said.
Scooters are fair weather friends. Rain, cold and occasional helmet hair can be a drag.
But, if you were born to be mild, they’re an exceptional way to do yourself, your bank account and the planet a fun-filled favour.