Just sharing a link today. I love these images of the scooter's history in California. As the story says, we often think of the United States - and especially California - as the home of easy rider. When I was growing up the movie "Easy Rider," and the image of helmetless bikers on their "hogs" were classic California. So it's fascinating to see these pictures of an alternative two-wheeled history....perhaps one that's going through a revival.
http://www.voicesofeastanglia.com/2012/03/scooter-squabble.html
Sunday 23 June 2013
Thursday 13 June 2013
A scooter for everyone
Last week I linked you to news about a teaser campaign for a new Honda two-wheeled vehicle about to be introduced in India. The "invite" read "Ready to Fly" with the date, June 12th. There was no specific information on whether the vehicle would be a motorcycle or a scooter, but bloggers seemed to all assume it would be a scooter, which speaks to the demand for automatics there.
Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India is the leader in the scooter market (with 50 per cent of the sales according to The Times of India) so is the one to watch for new trends.
Yesterday the compact Activa-I scooter was revealed as another brand in the Honda line-up. I'm linking to one story about its release because I love the picture included there. As I've written before, manufacturers have struggled with how to maintain the growth in female riders while attracting male riders to scooters. I think the pictures shows how Honda is trying to appeal to both genders with this scooter. Notice the muted colours, (one may even say unisex) and the choice of rider/models for the reveal.
That was my first reaction but it was one confirmed by reading The Times, although I would never in a million years have figured it out they way they did. "Activa-I is determinedly unisex with its indicators, front headlight, muffler and tail light in complete synergy with the overall line of looks." (June 12,2013) Huh!
Photo from story below.
http://www.indiancarsbikes.in/scooters/honda-launched-activa-i-scooter-at-price-of-rs-44200-ex-showroom-delhi-71294/
Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India is the leader in the scooter market (with 50 per cent of the sales according to The Times of India) so is the one to watch for new trends.
Yesterday the compact Activa-I scooter was revealed as another brand in the Honda line-up. I'm linking to one story about its release because I love the picture included there. As I've written before, manufacturers have struggled with how to maintain the growth in female riders while attracting male riders to scooters. I think the pictures shows how Honda is trying to appeal to both genders with this scooter. Notice the muted colours, (one may even say unisex) and the choice of rider/models for the reveal.
That was my first reaction but it was one confirmed by reading The Times, although I would never in a million years have figured it out they way they did. "Activa-I is determinedly unisex with its indicators, front headlight, muffler and tail light in complete synergy with the overall line of looks." (June 12,2013) Huh!
Photo from story below.http://www.indiancarsbikes.in/scooters/honda-launched-activa-i-scooter-at-price-of-rs-44200-ex-showroom-delhi-71294/
Friday 7 June 2013
Indian Scooters Update
India is definitely the place to watch for new developments in scooters. China may be making big headway with electric scooters, but India leads the way in ridership of combustion engine scooters and small motorcycles. With the enormous market for those two-wheeled vehicles - the author linked below refers to 40-million new units a year - all the big brands want to outdo each other. Of late, Honda has been one of the most aggressive companies in the two-wheeled market with new models coming out all the time.
So when Honda sent this invite out signalling a new mystery product to be introduced June 12the, speculation among India bloggers took flight. The best guess seems to a new 125 cc scooter to compete with products like Vespa.
Honda graphic
http://www.crazyengineers.com/threads/honda-india-launching-new-scooter-on-june-12th-would-it-be-the-activa-i.68396/
India is also a great spot to watch for how scooters are marketed. I've written before about the bubbly ads and commercials that target young female riders and the attempts by companies to come up with scooters that will be "manly" enough to get young males off motorcycles and on to scooters.
I missed this story when it first came out but I include it now to show that scooter makers in India are still doing what they can to bring female riders on side. This is not part of the lollipop, pink-is-best ad campaign but a workshop on scooters - by Honda again - cleverly billed as "Self'-Defence Training Camp and Road Safety." Using phrases like "truly independent" and "in control of their lives," India Honda VP Y.S. Guleria, shows he understands the value of marketing safety to women who travel alone in a country where the face high risks.
The story Honda Supports Women Empowerment in Delhi, shown below appeared on a website called Motoraids and was written by Yatharth Singh Chauchan.
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI) has kick-started its latest initiative towards ‘Women Empowerment’ in Delhi.
Recognizing the urgent need to help females feel empowered & independent on roads, Honda has collaborated with Delhi Police for ‘Self Defence Training Camp’ & Road safety workshop.
The unique ‘Self Defence Training Camp’ for women started on May 14 and will be held till May 22, 2013 across 3 venues at Delhi – Model Town (Kirpal Bagh Ashram, Kingsway Camp), Nanak Pura (Training hall, Special Police Unit for Women & Children) and Jamia Millia Islamia University (Sports Complex). Additionally, looking at summer breaks in schools and universities, new registrations will commence from 17th May at the fourth venue, that is, Sneh International School, Rajdhani Enclave, near Karkari Mor where the camp will be held from May 20- June 5, 2013.
HMSI is conducting road safety education exclusively for women during these camps by:
Aiding females who are first time riders in grasping the basics of 2Wheeler riding through Honda’s imported Riding trainer machine. It simulates over 110 potentially hazardous traffic conditions and increases Rider’s ability to predict dangers in a safe and practical manner.
Trained Safety riding instructors from Honda are making them familiar with vehicle by training them on Mounting Dismounting tips & basic Riding
Posture Training on automatic scooters.
Additionally, Honda is offering a unique registration opportunity for females who want to learn two-Wheeler riding. The free of cost training will take place soon across various Traffic Parks in Delhi in association with Honda.
Elaborating on Honda’s latest collaboration, Mr. Y. S. Guleria, Vice President – Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd., said “As a socially responsible 2Wheeler company, Honda strongly celebrates the fact that today every female wants to feel truly independent, empowered and in control of their lives. Till date, Honda has empowered over 12,000 women and aims to further promote safe riding among women through such collaborations.”
So when Honda sent this invite out signalling a new mystery product to be introduced June 12the, speculation among India bloggers took flight. The best guess seems to a new 125 cc scooter to compete with products like Vespa.
Honda graphichttp://www.crazyengineers.com/threads/honda-india-launching-new-scooter-on-june-12th-would-it-be-the-activa-i.68396/
India is also a great spot to watch for how scooters are marketed. I've written before about the bubbly ads and commercials that target young female riders and the attempts by companies to come up with scooters that will be "manly" enough to get young males off motorcycles and on to scooters.
I missed this story when it first came out but I include it now to show that scooter makers in India are still doing what they can to bring female riders on side. This is not part of the lollipop, pink-is-best ad campaign but a workshop on scooters - by Honda again - cleverly billed as "Self'-Defence Training Camp and Road Safety." Using phrases like "truly independent" and "in control of their lives," India Honda VP Y.S. Guleria, shows he understands the value of marketing safety to women who travel alone in a country where the face high risks.
The story Honda Supports Women Empowerment in Delhi, shown below appeared on a website called Motoraids and was written by Yatharth Singh Chauchan.
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI) has kick-started its latest initiative towards ‘Women Empowerment’ in Delhi.
Recognizing the urgent need to help females feel empowered & independent on roads, Honda has collaborated with Delhi Police for ‘Self Defence Training Camp’ & Road safety workshop.
The unique ‘Self Defence Training Camp’ for women started on May 14 and will be held till May 22, 2013 across 3 venues at Delhi – Model Town (Kirpal Bagh Ashram, Kingsway Camp), Nanak Pura (Training hall, Special Police Unit for Women & Children) and Jamia Millia Islamia University (Sports Complex). Additionally, looking at summer breaks in schools and universities, new registrations will commence from 17th May at the fourth venue, that is, Sneh International School, Rajdhani Enclave, near Karkari Mor where the camp will be held from May 20- June 5, 2013.
HMSI is conducting road safety education exclusively for women during these camps by:
Aiding females who are first time riders in grasping the basics of 2Wheeler riding through Honda’s imported Riding trainer machine. It simulates over 110 potentially hazardous traffic conditions and increases Rider’s ability to predict dangers in a safe and practical manner.
Trained Safety riding instructors from Honda are making them familiar with vehicle by training them on Mounting Dismounting tips & basic Riding
Posture Training on automatic scooters.
Additionally, Honda is offering a unique registration opportunity for females who want to learn two-Wheeler riding. The free of cost training will take place soon across various Traffic Parks in Delhi in association with Honda.
Elaborating on Honda’s latest collaboration, Mr. Y. S. Guleria, Vice President – Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd., said “As a socially responsible 2Wheeler company, Honda strongly celebrates the fact that today every female wants to feel truly independent, empowered and in control of their lives. Till date, Honda has empowered over 12,000 women and aims to further promote safe riding among women through such collaborations.”
About the Author (Author Profile)
Yatharth is an automotive design student and a keen follower of the happenings in the Indian automotive industry. He has been handed the task of keeping you abreast with the action in the Indian motoring sphere on a daily basis. He skips his breakfasts and ditches his girlfriends for the noble job.
(For picture go to ) http://motoroids.com/news/honda-supports-women-empowerment-in-delhi/
Tuesday 4 June 2013
Toronto Scooter Riders Take on Parking Restrictions
A group of scooter riders in Toronto has created a Facebook page to take on the city's new restrictions on parking scooters on the sidewalk.
Here's the link:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/SaveOurScootersToronto?hc_location=stream
Here's the link:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/SaveOurScootersToronto?hc_location=stream
Monday 3 June 2013
Parking Follow
Looks like the issue of preventing motorcycles and scooters from parking in the same territory as bicycles is univeral as this story below from The Moscow News illustrates. It is understandable that officials see two-wheeled vehicles differently than they do bikes. And it's great that they want to encourage cycling. But equating scooters to cars and the energy they consume and the space they take up in cities both when they're moving and parked seems shortsighted.
Motorbikes, scooters unauthorized to park in bike zones
by David Burghardt at 03/06/2013 11:20
Motorcycle and scooter owners in Moscow will be fined for parking in areas designated for bicycles, RIA Novosti reported on Monday, citing the capital's transportation department.
The department said motorcycles and scooters fall into the category of motor vehicles and therefore must follow the parking rules set out for cars.
The fine for parking a motorbike in an unauthorized zone is currently set at 1,500 rubles.
Moscow plans to create a bicycle infrastructure by 2016 to include a large network of at least 70 kilometers of bike routes, parking spaces for at least 17,000 bikes. This year the city will complete the construction of around 900 bicycle parking places.
The department said motorcycles and scooters fall into the category of motor vehicles and therefore must follow the parking rules set out for cars.
The fine for parking a motorbike in an unauthorized zone is currently set at 1,500 rubles.
Moscow plans to create a bicycle infrastructure by 2016 to include a large network of at least 70 kilometers of bike routes, parking spaces for at least 17,000 bikes. This year the city will complete the construction of around 900 bicycle parking places.
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