Air Car

How about a cute little car that runs all day on a tank of compressed air? The Indian automobile company Tata plans to make these in America. The tank can be filled by plugging it in while parked, or by an on-board compressor while running. That compressor will run on anything from vegetable oil to gasoline. Range is 60 miles without the using the compressor, or 800 miles while using a tank of fuel. It is suppossedly capable of highway speeds.

The 3-wheel configuration wiil probably classify it as a motorcycle or scooter. The cabin makes it more all-weather friendly than a bike, but it doesn't seem like it has the crash protection of a car. Oh well, you have to give up something. Read a longer article here.

Robotic Legs From Honda

Alright, these are cool. But is this why Honda is not releasing any new scooters this year?

Fall Scenery

After riding the motorcycle to work exclusively for a month, this week I was able to return to the scooter. The contrast was a reminder about what is fun about scooters. With the automatic transmission, there is less to occupy your mind and you can be more aware of your surroundings. You can forget about shifting gears, the tachometer, and the sound of the engine and just take in the scenery.

Friday was another one of those days for which I carry a camera. Take a look at these photos.

A New Start

Factory recalls, mechanic mistakes, presidential elections... the last month has been crazy. Thank goodness that's over. Or is it?

Last night I took the motorcycle in for regularly scheduled service, actually a glorified oil change, and my sister was supposed to pick me up. But when she got there, her car was heavily leaking coolant. So we had to call for a tow, and now she has my car. I'm down to the last vehicle in the garage. The scooter saves the day.

And here's an endorsement for AAA Plus RV membership: if you need a tow, the Plus is worth it. I have the Plus RV because it covers motorcycles and scooters. My sister just has the regular membership, and it was going to cost extra for every mile over the first five. Once the tow truck arrived, we asked if me, as the passenger, having a Plus membership changed anything. Boy, did it. From that point on, nothing was too much trouble. Want the car towed to a garage near your house? No problem. Want dropped off somewhere along the way? Sure. "I'm on a Plus membership now. I don't mind.", said the driver. This kind off thing is like insurance. You hope you never use it, and you resent paying it when you don't. But if you need it, you won't regret having the best.

I know I've been a bad blogger. But I'm riding the scooter to work today for the first time in over a month. Perhaps it will rekindle my enthusiasm.

This Saturday

If you are planning to meet up with us for our Fall Ride this Saturday morning, I suggest you not approach Lancaster from the North. Govenor Sarah Palin will be holding a rally at Clipper Magazine Stadium. Traffic is bound to be heavy.

On the other hand, after the ride, I suggest you check out the Art Walk going on this weekend.

Genuine Previews Future Models

The Genuine Scooter Co. has released some teasing information about some new Buddys. The Eco Buddy is very intersting because it is a 125cc scooter that they claim will get 110MPG. Read more here: link.

Burgman 400 Sport Concept

This is a concept bike by Suzuki. It's a sport version of the Burgman 400 with graphics inspired by the GSX-R. Read more about it here: link. I like it. I hope they produce it.

Annapolis, MD

Sunday I took advantage of the beautiful weather and rode down to Annapolis, MD on the motorcycle. It's a place I've heard a lot of nice things about, and I've always wanted to check it out. It lived up to all I'd heard. See the pictures at the end of the post.

I quickly noticed that Annapolis is a scooter town. I saw this area marked specificly for step-through scooters. Note the graphic painted on the ground. Judging from the number of scooters I saw around town, I bet it gets a lot of use. This area must be relatively new, as it doesn't show on aerial photographs. It's a clever use of space, around a corner, at the front of a line of angled parking.

View Larger Map

This website says that there are other areas like it around town.

The Chart House Restaurant.

Fall Ride, October 18

Here is route we'll be riding.

View Larger Map

It's about 43 miles, and will take 2-3 hours. There are no gas stations along the way, so fill up before we leave. Bringing a beverage is suggested. This ride is do-able on a 50cc scooter.

I rode the route today, and it is beautiful. There is a lot of great scenery that should be even more colorful next weekend. There are streams, farms, forests, challenging roads and Face Rock Overlook. Hope to see you there.

Meet 10:30am, the corner of Orange and Water Streets, Saturday October 18.

Gas drops below $3.00

OK, clearly I was wrong about gas prices. I just came form the Turkey Hill store on Harrisburg Avenue where the sign said $2.99. I went to fill up and noticed the pump showed $2.97. Sure enough, while I was there, a woman came out to change the sign.

I didn't foresee the global credit crisis. Investors are worried about future demand for oil, so prices are falling. If that were an isolated case, we could feel good about it. But in light of the cause, well..., let's just focus on the bright spot. Cheap gas! Wooo!

Scooter-jacking

Late last night there was a scooter-jacking at the Turkey Hill in the Grandview Plaza on New Holland Avenue. Apparently, at 12:30am, a man borrowed a friend's blue Honda Metropolitan to go to the store. While there, he was approached by a second man (the robber) who started asking questions about the scooter. The robber then pushed the first man off the scooter and took off on it into the City. Read more here: link.

I have heard about scooter-jackings before, but this is the first I can recall in Lancaster. I hope this isn't the start of a trend.

Use the same common sense when out on your scooter as you would when in a parking lot carrying valuables to your car. Note who is around you. Evaluate people approaching you as a potential threat. If they want to talk, turn off the engine and pocket the key. Use the kill switch... anything that would make it take longer or make it harder for them to get away on it. And here's another reason for ATGATT (All The Gear, All The Time): You want to fight me for my scooter? Go ahead... I'm wearing body armor and a helmet. Hope you brought a weapon.

Speaking of weapons... what if this guy had a concealed gun under the seat? Now the robber has your scooter AND your gun. Be smart out there people.

Scooter Rental in Amish Country

Somebody asked me if there was a place to rent a scooter. Why, yes, there is! Country Road Cycles (a friend of this site, BTW) rents scooters in Lancaster County. Steve Horst, the owner, recently told me that they now have 4 Zumas and 1 C3 at a scooter shack behind Bird-In-Hand Family Restaurant.

Frozen Road Apple Ride

Drew Emailed me about this yesterday: Road Apple Ride IV? : The Frozen Road Apple Ride. It's a moped ride, but Drew said that all are welcome, and that it would be fun to see some scooters along. It will gather at Conestoga Valley Middle School on Sunday, October 26 between 1 and 2pm. Then they will leave on an ambitious ride that promises to go through the City and on to the river. The event is organized by a group calling themselves the "lancaster human beans". They sound like a fun group. They are even offering loaner mopeds!

Save the Date - Fall Ride

October 18 there will be a scooter ride featuring the natural beauty and fall foliage of the County's Southwest. Hopefully we'll catch the scene here in glorious fall colors. Meet at the corner of Orange and Water Streets in the City of Lancaster at 10:30am, depart at 11:00am. Watch here for details.

Xebra Zaptruck

Xebra cars and trucks from Zap are now for sale in Lancaster County. Mike Cronin of the Lititz Car Co. had all kinds of trouble with PennDOT red tape getting these things approved for sale, but he finally prevailed.

These all-electric, 3-wheeled vehicles are plated as motorcycles, mostly to get around that the safety requirements of normal automobiles. So think of them as plug-in scooters with hauling volume.

Peugeot HYmotion3

The ultimate green commuter vehicle. Since I have nothing to add to this article, just click through and read it. Why? Look at it. It's part MP3, part Prius. And it is 3-wheel drive.

First Friday, October '08

It was another great First Friday in downtown Lancaster for October. I started out parking next to another C3. That red is a fun color for these little scoots.

From there, I walked down Prince Street to Here To Timbuktu. I've always like that store. I knew they carried Hamilton watches, and I wanted to take a look at them. Hamilton used to be a major industry in Lancaster... I even live on Hamilton Street. What I didn't expect to find was some Vespa clocks!

It turns out that scooter paraphenalia will show up in unexpected places. And look at the other fun clocks... if you are looking for some kooky kitch to decorate your place, check out Here To Timbuktu, 46 N. Prince St..

After you have your Vespa clock, add a little more MOD cred by heading over to Britian's Best on Market Street and picking up this MOD lisence plate. Who knew there was so much scootery goodness to pick up downtown?

Honda News

No new scooters from Honda for '09. There. That's out of the way.

But there is this. The Honda DN-01. It's a motorcycle with an automatic transmission. It's a scooter without storage. It's a sporty cruiser. It's all things to all people, and I'm afraid that it will appeal to very few. It's exciting on paper, but a bit weird in reality. It's like what the people of the past thought the motorcycle of the future would be like... and I think it's still ahead of its time. But the transmission is interesting.

Ridley Gets Into The Moped Business

Wow, these are sweet. Ridley, the American automatic motorcycle company, is selling a line of retro-styled mopeds. They are 2-stroke motorbikes. They come in either 50cc or 70cc versions. Ok, so they aren't particularly cheap, fast or "green", but they look cool. And riding a moped gives you some distinct advantages in Pennsylvania: like no inspection and the right to park on the sidewalk.

Suzuki News

It turns out that the rumors may be true: Suzuki is planning to bring a 125cc scooter to America... next summer. It's called the VZ125, it's a 4-stroke, and fuel injected, and.. and... well, that's all we know. According to www.motorcycle.com.

Meanwhile, take a look at this. It's a brand new UJM! UJM stands for Universal Japanese Motorcycle... or at least they used to be universal. Lately, if you wanted something like this, you had to buy the British Triumph Bonneville. But Suzuki is bringing it back in the TU250X. And it's fuel-injected with a catalytic converter monitored by an oxygen sensor. That means this classic-looking 250cc is good for the environment and fuel-efficient too. The perfect commuter, or a great starter bike. Well done, Suzuki!

Gas prices down... for now.

Yesterday on CNN.com, there was a story about how gas prices had been going down for the last few days. There was a story about gas shortages and panics in Southern states. And there was the news about oil's largest price increase ever. Record oil price increases, gasoline shortages, and falling gasoline prices... one of these things doesn't belong here.

Gas prices aren't low, but they are low compared to where they were. And they can't stay where they are. Oil prices and gasoline shortages (perceived or real) have to bring gas prices back up again. That's the way I see it, at least.

I was up at Trans Am Cycle the other day and they had some new Kymco scooters in stock. A salesman was telling a customer that scooters had been flying out the door over the summer, and they were finally getting some back in. The 08's were sold out. These were 09's. He said that if gas prices stayed low, they would probably sit on his floor for a while. But if gas got above some magic number (he wasn't sure what that number was), people would be in to buy up every scooter he had.

Well, read the writing on the wall. Gas prices will be going up. And scooters are in stock. There is still plenty of riding season left; with arguably the most beautiful scenery of the year. So get that scooter you've been thinking about and enjoy it.

Stella's friend: Death

Sometimes on the way to work, through the City, I pass this little sidewalk diorama and it make me wonder; are these bikes owned by one person? If so, they must have an great sense of style. Or are these the rides of a boyfriend and girlfriend?

I imagine the the young girlfriend struggling at her first job... convinced that her rocker boyfriend's band is going to make it, because "he's sooo talented!". Maybe he's a tatoo artist during the day.

Then I notice the Apple logo on the battery box of the bobber and think of a couple of hipsters that like to ride to the coffee shop and blog about politics.

Or maybe he's just a motorcycle mechanic who wanted his girlfriend to learn to ride, so they bought a scooter.

You can't buy that scooter (a Genuine Stella) in Lancaster... did they move here from somewhere else? Or did they do research online, find a Genuine dealer in Philly and bring it back from there?

Bikes have so much personality. Would a couple cars parked along the curb inspire this speculation?

Let's Get Small

I recently bought the September issue of Cycle World and the October issue of Rider magazines. Both of these motorcycle magazines had articles focusing on fuel efficiency. Rider’s cover article was a 9-bike shootout comparing which one had the best fuel-efficiency. For a motorcycle magazine to devote this much space to small bikes is pretty significant. (Although the bikes range in style significantly and that would be the bigger factor in choosing one to buy, the bike with the highest MPG was the Star V Star 250 at 77.0). That article was followed by 10 tips to get better fuel efficiency.

Cycle World’s cover story was a 14-bike Superbike shootout. But they also ran a story about best first bikes; it features a number of 250’s, including the Aprilia SportCity scooter. An editorial shares the story of Craig Vetter who is trying to modify a Honda Helix 250 to get over 100MPG at 75MPH into a 25MPH headwind. All this in a sport bike magazine?

It seems that America is starting to rediscover the practicality and fun of small bikes. People are starting to whisper that they are embarrassed that most motorcycles aren’t getting much better mileage than cars. The size inflation that led soccer moms to drive huge SUV’s happened to engines in motorcycles. During the 70’s gas crisis, a big bike was a 750cc. Now there are models over 2000cc. For comparison, my Chrysler PT Cruiser has a four-cylinder 2400cc engine.

Small bikes are starting to be touted as great commuter vehicles. But that is not a new concept. Take a look at this: a 1950 BSA Bantam. It was a part of Lancaster Museum of Art’s motorcycle exhibit during Barnstorming Weekend. The Bantam was introduced as a commuting bike for the British working class. It’s a 125cc.

The 1961 Arial Leader was more curious. It's a motorcycle, but this 250cc 2-stroke looks like a scooter with its leg protection, big screen, and bodywork.

So if you commute on a scooter or a small motorcycle, take heart! You are smart. You are continuing a well-established tradition that is coming back into vogue.

Wheels 2008

Wheels weekend grows a little each year. This year was helped by better-than-forecast weather. If anything it was too hot. Or maybe that was because the addition of scooters to the event! This line of Italian-styled goodness was courtesy of the SPB Scooter Club of Lancaster. Mostly made up of vintage Vespas, there was one modern GTS and a couple Stellas thrown in for good measure.

The SPB Scooter Club is an informal club dedicated to vintage and/or metal scooters, with the purpose of keeping them on the road in running condition. If you own one these beauties and it's not so beautiful, they'll help you bring it back to life. You do the work, they provide the expertise. Just drop by most any Wednesday night, in the alley between the 500 blocks of State and Race.

Tom of SPB was at Wheels, acting as the Skooru, answering questions. That is if you could hear him over the Elvis(es?) providing the afternoon's soundtrack. The Lancaster Parking Authority also had a table set up, signing up people for the free scooter parking around the spiral ramp of the Prince Street Garage. I heard somebody refer to the ramp as "the Guggenheim", which gave me a chuckle.

A Harley Davidson Topper showed up to prove that metal and vintage doesn't have to mean Vespa. It caused quite a stir because you don't see a lot of these, let alone being ridden.

Ride Report

Turn out was light, probably due to the many conflicting activities going on yesterday. It was cool to finally meet Rewdey after reading his comments. His 2-stroke Honda Elite from the ealy 90's proved to be a champ after some initial trouble.

The weather turned out to be beautiful after the threatening forecast. The theme was "small towns" and we went through a lot of them: Lancaster, New Holland, Terre Hill, Ephrata, Akron, Rothsville, Lititz, and East Petersburg. Passing through New Holland, we stopped at the Hollander Motel which had its sign welcoming "BUSA Scooter Rally" (BUSA is BurgmanUSA). At Terre Hill, the Smith family met us at the park with cold water, which was welcomed at that point. Thanks again!

We passed through so much of scenic Lancaster County; beautiful farms, bridges, streams... and I forgot to take pictures of them. I was too busy enjoying the ride. That's what it was about anyway... a relaxing ride on a beautiful day. We had so much fun that there is already talk of a fall foliage trip around the southern part of the County. Keep checking in for news on that.

Don't forget that today is the vintage car show downtown, including scooters. I believe the scooters are supposed to be in the parking lot of Lebzelter's, the country's oldest Goodyear dealer, at 300 N. Queen. Lebzelter's has been serving Lancaster since before the Civil War (established in 1854, a year before Penn State!). For their sake, I hope this "horseless carriage" thing doesn't turn out to be a fad.

Let's Ride!

The weather has cleared up considerably and the forecast is much more promising than it was yesterday. Only about a 30% chance of rain, and the radar looks pretty clear. So throw your rain suit under the seat and meet us today at the corner of Orange and Water streets between 10:30 and 11am. We're going to tour the small towns of northeast Lancaster. We'll be riding all the way out to Terre Hill. Your leaders will have 50cc scooters, so we'll be taking it slow for maximum fun. Anticipated length of ride: < 4 hours.

Brews and Bands

The Mayor's Office Of of Special Events (MOOSE), the people bringing you Wheels Weekend this weekend, will host a Brews and Bands event October 11 in Binns Park. The event will feature live bands and a variety of beers from local breweries. This will all take place under an inflatable dome. Tickets are available in advance for $35. Two seperate sessions are offered; 5 - 8pm and 9pm - Midnight.

I've added a link to MOOSE's website on the right, under Lancaster Links.

Hey! I scooped TenPints on a brewfest in our own back yard!

Suzuki To Expand Its U.S. Lineup?

There is a rumor that Suzuki will be bringing some of its smaller scooters to America soon. Right now, they only import the Burgman line in 400cc or above. But that line actually goes down to 125cc. It could also mean that America will see the SIXteen 125 and the Address 125.

This is exciting to me because Suzuki's technology is great. They are all fuel injected and the Burgmans are liquid-cooled all across the line. The Address 125 is cross-breed: a step-through 4-speed. This could challenge other scooter manufacturers to raise their game.

Honda is also expected to announce its new lineup this month. No word yet on whether that will include any new scooters. Now, if we could just get Kawasaki scooters...

Yamaha TMax Hits Lancaster

Here are some photos, taken at B&B Yamaha, of the Yamaha TMax. It is a 499cc scooter that blurs the line between scooters and sport bikes. Performance takes priority over storage on this scooter. It is not a new scooter to the Yamaha lineup, but it is new to America for '09.

It's the perfect thing to ride to the New Holland Fall Scooter Rally this weekend. Remember, if you aren't into the maxi-scooters, there is an alternative ride planned, and the Wheels event downtown this coming weekend.

Ephrata First Sunday, Spetember '09

I was up at the Ephrata First Sunday Ride-in today, and talked to a couple scooterists. I heard some things that contribute to my theory of critical mass. Apparently there is a someone starting a database of scooter riders in Lancaster. It’s not a conspiracy thing… I guess you could call it a potential member/mailing list. I have a feeling that this coming Wheels weekend will sort things out. Keep checking in here and I pass on what I find out. Right now details are vague, and I didn’t ask permission to publicize anything.

Back up at Ephrata, they had a contest this weekend. There was a scooter in the vintage category. I’ve seen this same one parked downtown once, outside a tattoo parlor. I don’t know whether it beat the Ducatis… personally, I like the café racer. You don’t have to be Italian to be vintage, but it helps.

Dude...Wanna start a club?

Here’s how I feel about clubs…

Just over 10 years ago, I was involved in another hobby, and was an officer in a club. We went to the equivalent of rallies, where multiple clubs would meet. The whole thing turned political; “you’re hanging out with that club too much, you should be representing us”; there was an expectation that you would go to every event. It turned into a huge obligation and the expectations sucked the fun out of the hobby. I quit the club, and shortly after, the hobby.

I like scooters. I enjoy playing around with this website. Part of the reason I started it was that if an active scooter scene arose in Lancaster, it would benefit me as well as the City. But I’m not interested in leading a club. I’d join, and I can do the internet stuff if needed, but somebody else is going to have to lead the effort.

The fact that Tom Toczek hasn’t really publicized his informal club suggests to me that he feels similarly. It’s fun, as long as it doesn’t get out of hand.

Whomever does take it on is going to have to deal with the issues of vintage vs. modern, maxi vs. mini, stock vs. hoppers, etc.. Plus the usual issues involved with formalizing events; liability, manpower, sponsors, etc. Do they have dues? Is it an organized non-profit organization? Does it have a charitable aspect? Money changes everything.

But there’s also what I referred to as “critical mass” in the previous post. There are enough scooterists around to support a club. The varied support skills exist, especially now with the addition of a scooter dealer looking to generate interest on this side of the river. The Mayor’s Office Of Special Events is including scooters in City events. The time is ripe. All it needs is for a leader to step up.

Another Vespa Dealer!

No, still not in Lancaster. This one is in Lebanon. Vespa Lebanon is on the grounds of Ebersole Truck Center. They sell American trucks and Italian scooters: nearly opposite ends of the vehicle spectrum. Yes, they are aware of the irony, thank you. Their address is 2014 West Cumberland Street, Lebanon. That's on Rt. 422. Telephone:717/274-8675. They are open weekdays until 7pm, so there is enough time to check them out after work. Their website isn't active yet, so for now they are rockin' a MySpace page.

They have been open only for about a month and are still stocking the accessories. But scooters are already flying out the door. The MP3's especially seem to be big sellers.

I heard about them when Janet, otherwise known as "Nettie" from the Three Mile Island Scooter Club, Emailed me about the new shop. She works there as a Sales Representative. She says that the Vespa shop is a scooters-only showroom operated by people who want to create an alternative to the "motorsports center". If you are looking for a scooter and you aren't interested in being up-sold to a liter-bike, this is the place for you. (Don't be fooled by the red motorcycle in the picture.... that's mine. Lebanon's a bit far on 50cc!)

Nettie says that they are looking to serve Lebanon, Lancaster, and Dauphin Counties. She asked me if I knew of any scooter clubs on the East side of the Susquehanna (York and TMISC serving the West side). I said I didn't know of any formal clubs, but I passed on what I know about the scene. I think that the density of scooterists is reaching a critical mass, and we are ready for a scooter club over here on the fallout side of the island. If you are interested in getting something organized, Email Nettie or myself.

Ride slated for September 13

This will be a ride for small scooters (50-200cc). We will tour the small towns of Northeast Lancaster County.

Meet Saturday, September 13 between 10:30 and 11am at the Sunoco Station in Lancaster City at the intersection of Orange and Water Streets

It is recommended that you arrive early and enjoy the many local restaurants or markets for a big breakfast. And top off your scooter's gas tank also.

The ride will terminate at the same location, by which time the Wheels Weekend event should be in full swing.

If you have a larger scooter, and are looking for a ride that day, check out the 6th Annual New Holland Fall Scooter Rally

Vespas Coming In

WRS has begun recieving inventory. I saw this pretty blue 150 there last night. They also have an MP3 in the showroom. I hear that the York scooter club will be meeting there, starting next month.

Long's Park Art & Craft Festival This Weekend

Don't forget the Long's Park Art & Craft Festival this weekend. Beautiful setting, art, music, and (for the second year) beer! What's not to like? This is the 30th Annual festival.

Parking at Park City?

As I’ve mentioned before, there is no specific parking area for scooters or motorcycles at Park City Center. But sometimes you just have to go there; it’s the heart of shopping destinations in Lancaster County. Friday was one of those days for me. So off I went on my 50cc scooter, up Harrisburg Avenue. As I was approaching the mall, some yellow bollards caught my eye outside of BonTon.

I wanted to lock my scooter, as it can easily be lifted by 2 men, thrown in the back of a pick-up and be gone in 11 seconds. I wanted it to be in a high visibility area, giving would-be crooks less time to work without being spotted. One of these bollards seemed like the best choice in sight. But as I was chaining up, a finger-wagging security guard stopped me. No parking allowed there. Not wanting to be too argumentative, I didn’t ask why. I did ask, “Can you recommend where I should park?” Well, no he couldn’t. He claimed he was new there. So I asked where the Security Office was so that I could get some answers.

I parked in a standard space near the Security Office. I can’t help but wonder how many drivers I frustrated, taking up a whole space for a tiny scooter. Especially such a prime one. But; visibility.

I spoke to the staff at the Security Office, and they were very nice. It took some explaining of the predicament, but eventually the answer was to use the bicycle racks around the East entrance or the food court. “That’s what they’re for.” Well, one can be excused for thinking that they were for bicycles, not plated and registered motor vehicles. But, I was assured that a 50cc scooter would not be ticketed there. One guard even said that he has a scooter and has used those racks himself. That was reassuring.

I asked if I could let other scooter riders know it was proper to park there. They were a little uneasy. “How many? 2 or 3 is OK, but fifty is going to be a problem…” So be forewarned: next time you go to the mall, don’t take forty-nine of your friends.

At this point in our story it seems appropriate to point out that one the criteria for good motorbike parking (or even bicycle) is signage. I didn’t go to a bike rack initially because I didn’t know that I should. Nor did I see any, or know where they were. They aren’t at every entrance. If I’m going to BonTon, and I don’t know that there are racks on the opposite side of the mall, why would I spend the time and energy to circle the whole establishment? But I digress…

So, where should a small scooter park? Well, the bike rack at the East entrance is one-sided due to a landscape island. The worst of the lot. The rack at the food court entrance was pretty good. There is a curb-cut right there, so you can get to it without lifting your scoot. This rack does have a tree on one side, which reduces the number of cycles that can use it, and subjects your scooter to sap and bird droppings (not so nice for the seat). The food court entrance does have a lot of teenagers hanging out there. If you happen to be a teenager, this could be a plus I guess.

The best parking I found was not mentioned by the Security personnel. That was the area outside of T.G.I.Friday’s. It is near a curb cut, out in the open, and accessible from all sides. The bus stop increases visibility. This will be my preferred spot from now on, even when I don’t need a flat-iron steak.

I didn’t ask if there was a size limit on this arrangement. The line between scooter and maxi-scooter can get blurry, and I didn’t think that discussion would go anywhere with the staff on hand. If I had a scooter that was as big as a motorcycle, I would be fine parking in a standard spot. I would feel reasonably comfortable that some frustrated SUV driver wasn’t going to run it over or drag it out of the spot he or she wanted. But a 250cc scooter? I bet a Vespa is going to be fine at the bike rack, while a Morphous might draw the hairy eyeball. Until Park City Center and General Growth Properties, Inc. recognizes the growing trend in motorbike use and gives us some true motorbike parking, we’ll have to use our best judgment along with what advice we can get from their Security Office.