Birthplace of the Scooter

I just returned from a few weeks in Italy, the birthplace of the scooter, and I have much to share about what Toronto and other cities can learn about scooter parking from cities like Rome, about the passion of one man who spent his life crossing continents on Vespas, about the latest Piaggio scooters. I'll be posting these stories and others over the next few weeks.

While I was in Italy I arranged to visit the Piaggio factory in Pontadera and was also given a guided tour of the museum. Great stories there as well, particularly how the introduction of the Vespa in the late '40s came at a time of new freedom for Italian women.

For now, here's a picture that shows that the love of the Vespa extends across the country.  I took this through a window of a bar in Arezzo. The owner had filled the window with models of each new Vespa that had come out. And I love the sign!  Perhaps we could install signs like that - for all two-wheeled vehicles  - around the streets of Toronto.

                                                                                       Copyright: Debi Goodwin

It's a car, it's a scooter. No. It's an i-road

Just more evidence of the morphing going on with vehicles - two-wheeled, three-wheeled, uncovered, covered, gas, electricity. This is the i-road introduced by Toyota at the Geneva Motor Show this week.

http://www.caranddriver.com/news/toyota-i-road-concept-for-2013-geneva-auto-show-news

Check out the fun video on the i-road. I want one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScsDvRYyitc

                                                                                                 Toyota image

   

Rainy Days

I may have mentioned this before so excuse me if I have: When I took my first motorcycle training the instructor said the best thing about riding a two-wheeled vehicle was the elements; the worst thing was the elements. This summer I thought of that statement a lot. While we've had some sunny weather this year in Canada the early part of the summer was one of the rainiest on record. Far from India, we joked about monsoons because the rain for a while seemed endless.

So yes, it is glorious to experience the sun and warm winds of a perfect summer day and no, it's not any fun feeling soggy during a long ride. Since we take our two-wheeled vehicles off the road for winter weather, rain is the one aspects of the elements we do have to work with. I have some gear: an old yellow rubber rain jacket and river pants but they are often inadequate after a half hour of driving rain. And when my glasses aren't steamed up, they are covered with blinding drops. I haven't found a visor to be much better.

In parts of the world where riders can enjoy their scooters and motorcycles year round they're better at solving the problem of rainy days. In Vietnam, within moments of the first drops, riders appear on the streets in thin plastic ponchos with hoods and then, within moments of the sun reappearing, they strip off the ponchos without even parking. Sometimes, when they don't have a poncho handy they get creative like this man who simply rode while holding an umbrella over his head.

                                                                                               
                                                                                                        Photo Copywright: Debi Goodwin

But others are buying more sophisticated gear. Recently, a friend of mine was visiting China and sent me this picture of a rain coat specifically designed for scooter riders. It covers both the rider and the bike, keeping hands dry to handle the dry controls. Clear plastic on the front allows the front of the scooter to be seen. This fellow has a passenger to give him extra protection, but the gear does come a hood.

                                                                                                Photo Courtesy of: Mary Kirton

It's raining here today and threatens to be a rainy week. I was going on out my scooter today but decided I didn't need to take it. I should buy better rain gear, perhaps adding some boot covers to keep my feet dry. Or I could order the Chinese gear online. But I like my elements pleasant so, for now, I'll just avoid rain when I can.

Trivia from North American scooter history

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

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/

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.”

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/

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