Scooters are getting more and more fashionable

The advantages of scooters have long been appreciated by the world. Now these elegant cars are becoming more and more fashionable in Poland. Why? Is a scooter the ideal vehicle for the city? It was created specifically for smooth movement in the urban jungle.

What is worth knowing

The typical scooter is light and small, so it can be parked just about anywhere. Ideal for commuting to work or school, as well as for shopping trips. Of course, large and luxurious scooters are now being produced that can be used even on a long journey. However, its main role is still to move around the city, where it easily squeezes between cars standing in long traffic jams. This is its main advantage. Under these conditions, it is as agile as a bicycle, except you don't have to pedal. It can also carry a passenger or passenger. And one more thing ? the regulations allow scooters to be driven as early as the age of 14 with the recently introduced new AM driver's license category.

But more on that in a moment, let's first look at the design of this car that makes it so versatile. In a typical motorcycle, there is a fuel tank behind the front fork and handlebar, and under it is the engine, but on a scooter, there is nothing in this place? And actually, there is an empty space there, the so-called step by experts. Thanks to this, the driver does not sit as if on a horse (or on a motorcycle), but rests his feet on the floor.

This design was invented a long time ago, especially for women, so that they can sit on a scooter even in long dresses. Now it is less relevant, because the fair sex mostly wear pants, but is it still easier to mount a scooter than a motorcycle? no need to move your leg over the seat.

In turn, you can even fit a large bag between your legs. This design is possible due to the fact that the engine is located behind and to the side of the vehicle or under the driver. Therefore, in modern designs, there is enough space under the seat for a roomy compartment for one or two helmets.

If you put a topcase on the rear trunk, i.e. closed plastic trunk (many companies offer such kits as accessories), then the possibilities of transporting various kinds of luggage become really great. In many European countries, on rainy days, scooter owners put on a special waterproof outfit for ordinary clothes, which, after reaching, for example, work, they hide in a topcase, taking out a briefcase. Now it is enough to put the helmet under the seat, and no one will know that we arrived at work on two-wheeled vehicles.

Even the shoes will not be wet, because there is a cover in front of the feet. Thanks to all these advantages, the streets of European cities are full of scooters, and in an era of ever-higher traffic jams, scooters are also valued here.

How did it all start?

In fact, the German two-wheeled bicycle Megola, produced in Munich in 1921-1925, can be considered the ancestor of the scooter. He had an unusual design solution. A five-cylinder rotary engine was installed to the side of the front wheel. As a result, there was an empty space in front of the rider, as in today's scooter. But this vehicle was born more than 20 years later.

As World War II ended and life returned to normal, people in Europe increasingly needed simple and cheap means of personal transportation. Cars and motorcycles were expensive and therefore difficult to obtain for the average person. It had to be something cheap and mass-produced. And so, in 1946, Vespa, which means “wasp” in the language of this country, entered the streets of Italian cities. This completely innovative single-track vehicle was invented by the Italian company Piaggio, which has existed since 1884.

The aircraft designer Corradino De Ascanio (Piaggio was just an aviation concern) designed a machine that could be produced on a large scale at a low cost. Instead of the typical tubular motorcycle frame, he constructed a self-supporting chassis (and body at the same time) from steel stampings. Small disc wheels (cheaper to produce than conventional spoked wheels) came from the aircraft. The two-stroke engine mounted on the rear suspension had a working volume of 98 cm3.

The presentation of the prototype at an elite golf club in Rome caused mixed feelings, but the owner of the company, Enrico Piaggio, took a chance and ordered the production of 2000 units. Was it a bull's eye? everyone went like hot cakes. Vespas soon filled the streets of Italian cities. Another concern from this country, Innocenti, started the production of scooters called Lambretta.

These cars were also built in other countries (like the French Peugeot), in Poland we also made our Osa at the Warsaw Motorcycle Factory. The Japanese entered the fray in the early 70s, followed by the Koreans and Taiwanese. Within a few years, countless scooters have been produced in China. Thus, the scooter market is very rich in various types and models. They are also of very different quality and at different prices, but we will talk about that another time.

What the law says

Polish law does not distinguish between motorcycles and scooters, but divides two-wheeled vehicles into mopeds and motorcycles. A moped is a vehicle with an engine capacity of up to 50 cm3 and a maximum speed limited at the factory to 45 km/h.

This is a scooter that meets these conditions and can be driven from the age of 14. You only need to complete the course and pass the AM driving test. All scooters with higher capacity and performance are motorcycles and you must have an A1, A2 or A license to drive them.

Depending on the age and condition of your wallet, you can choose from a wide variety of designs, the simplest ones for PLN 5000 and less, and the more luxurious ones for PLN 30000 and up. In any case, scooters are a very versatile vehicle.

When someone learns about the benefits of this smart two-wheeler, often he no longer wants to bother standing in traffic jams in a car or a crowd in public transport. Want to know about the versatility of a scooter? Order a pizza by phone and pay attention to what transport the supplier will bring it to you.

You can find more interesting articles in the April issue of the magazine