Gas prices across America have been climbing steadily upwards in recent months, forcing many Americans to re-evaluate the kind of car they drive and even the kind of driving they do – with many coming to the following conclusion: they don’t need a car at all.
As such, there have been renewed interests in bus lanes, bike lanes, and high speed rail projects … but for those who still want to keep their transportation options “private” instead of “public”, the answer is, increasingly, a shiny new scooter.
I have owned a lot of scooters in my day (and I’ll be test-driving a shiny new Buddy 170i, myself, next week!), so believe me when I tell you this: nothing carves up big-city traffic like a quick-revving engine mated to a pair of tiny tires.
That scooters are the very embodied of “personal rapid transit” is, apparently, something that was also true 40 years ago – if this 1962 video (below) from the “Look at Life” series is to be believed. The short film showcases the daily life UK commuters who have chosen to get around on a scooter, and cites the bikes’ 100+ mpg fuel efficiency, small footprint, ease of maintenance, and even the scooters’ status as a fashion-object as it makes the case for scooter commuting in the way only a light-hearted 1960′s “infomercial” can.
Enjoy!
Sources: YouTube, FirstKick.com
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