Tripping Traffic Lights

LancasterOnline.com recently ran an article about scooters, motorcycles and traffic lights on sensors. The issue is that smaller vehicles, like scooters, don't have enough mass of ferrous metal to trip the electronic induction loops embedded in the pavement. Rather than re-hash the issue, I'll just refer you to the original article.

New Parking Meter System Implemented

The City of Lancaster has implemented new multi-space parking meters. You can pay with cash, tokens, smart cards, or with a credit card. You park and note your space number painted on the street. Then find the nearest kiosk, enter your space number and pay for the amount of time desired (up to 2 hours). The kiosk will give you receipt that includes the time the meter is set to expire. The cool thing is that you can add more time from any similar kiosk by entering your space number. No need to run back to the car to feed the meter! For now, the kiosks are just in use in the 4 blocks around the square. The kiosks are solar-powered and reduce the number of parking meters in the streetscape.

Would I use one for my scooter? Probably not… I’ll just pull it up on the curb or use the free parking at the Prince Street Garage. But it’s a cool concept.

Ruckus Café Racer

It figures that when I'm out without my good camera I would run into this. A Honda Ruckus doing its best imitation of a café racer. At a café, no less. Cell phone photos will have to suffice.

This pair of scoots belongs to Ryan and Lauren, whom I met at Marion Court. Ryan says that bought this 50cc Honda Ruckus new in November, and has put a lot of work and many miles on it since.

Why do I call it a café racer? Well, the handlebars are upside down in a clubman style. It appears stripped down (although a Ruckus is pretty bare to start; he probably added more parts than he took off). And the bar-end mirror. The only things forgivably out of place are the highway pegs. Let's face it: the Ruckus is too small for a traditional café racer riding position. Scooters are cruisers, and these pegs are a nod to that, as well as they get the feet out away from the guage on the floorboard. (Don't forget to click on the pictures to expand them.)

Ryan said that he and his friends all bought scooters around the same time. Four or five Ruckuses (Ruckii?). He said they have a lot of fun riding them around the City. I agree: riding a small cc scoot in Lancaster is a blast. But something tells me that Ryan is having more fun than usual.

Lancaster County Convention Center Opens

The Lancaster County Convention Center has opened. It is a beautiful facility with large exhibit halls and luxurious, high-tech meeting rooms. There are even some historic landmarks incorporated into the Center. I am curious which events will come to Lancaster to use the facility, and look forward to having access to some shows locally. Of course, I'm hoping for a motorcycle and scooter show. There was an open house today where I snapped some pictures, but photos don't really give a sense of the interior. Here is an attempt:

The luxury hotel includes a new restaurant and bar. The restaurant entrance is along East King Street.

The bar entrance is at the corner of King and Queen Streets:

Visitors are treated to some beautiful views of historic Lancaster.

Red Rose SegTours

It speaks for itself:

Do Segways really count as scooters? Still, it sounds like a fun way to tour the historic sights of downtown Lancaster. Located on the East side of North Queen Street in the 300 block.

The Fractured Prune

The Fractured Prune Donut Shop is open in downtown Lancaster. The name "Fractured Prune" comes from the original store in Ocean City, where the owner named it after an elderly women (Prunella) who often injured herself competing against men in athletic events.

What makes this place special is that the donuts are made to order, while you wait. They come to you hot and gooey. There are 4-6 flavors of coffee in air pots for you to choose from. There are cafe seats outside.

It is located at the intersection of Walnut and Queen, just before the 300 block of Queen. There is room enough on the sidewalk to pull your scooter up and park along the building. The curb on Walnut Street is low enough to mount, and there is a curb cut at the intersection.

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