We’re not a scooter nation? Go figure.

The scooter backlash has begun (in St. Paul, of all places) and not a moment too soon. Unfortunately, said backlash is sort of rant-y and pointless, but it’s marginally funny. It’s sad that we, a scooter weblog, is excited about scooter backlash, but frankly, people just seem too excited about scooters lately and it’s kind of weirding us out.

5 thoughts on “We’re not a scooter nation? Go figure.”

  1. Soucheray is a jerk. Always has been. Always will be. He’s the kind of guy that represents the “common man” (as defined by someone guy with a mortgage on a house next to another house that looks just like it, situated at least 15 miles from the closest non mortgage having minority). He has/had a radio show that soothed the ears and egos of all the suburbanites on their daily push out of the city away from people with significantly darker skin. I heard he got on a scooter kick a while back. He couldn’t wrap his head around the idea, so he’s ended up making fun of it. Apparently he still feels insecure about it now and just needs to put that rumor to rest that he may have thought something other than a big assed SUV could be useful. His show was called Garage Logic. Like that editorial peice, it embraced little logic and probably was rarely even thoughtful regarding anything done in a garage.

    I’m from St. Paul, MN and it was hard to use a scooter year round. I had both a car and a scooter. I rarely rode in the rain unless I got caught out in a storm or my car was broke down. After I moved to Seattle I still didn’t ride much in the rainy season (e.g. ever). It took me about 9 months to get over it and now I don’t think twice about riding in the rain. With my scooter as my sole form of transport I’ve gotten a lot more creative with my hauling needs. 1) I get stuff delivered if I have to. The USPS is great. 2) I carry a bag. Guys like Soucheray probably are too insecure and afraid they’d be accused of carrying a purse. 3) I use bungee cords. You’d think a garage vet would think those were about the most useful things in the world after duct tape. I’m suspicious that he doesn’t spend much time in manly pursuits at all. 4) I shop at places a whole helluva lot closer than I would if I had a car. If you like the local hardware store, florist, grocier, drug store and restaurants and complain about their disappearances, scooter ridership would certainly help in that respect. Myself, I’m proud when I pull off carrying something on the floorboards between my feet, not strapped down for 5 miles across the city and not wreck it. You’d be surprised at how you forget it’s even there and how it requires little effort to do it. Maybe not making a single trip to the grocery store to buy 1000.00 worth of groceries once a month would be a good thing for your health too. I know I could always use a bit more fresh food.

    Would I want my grandma driving a scooter? Hell no. I don’t want her driving a car for chrissakes! Do I think my mom could pull it off at 54 years old. Hell ya. I think it would change her life for the better. I still plan on moving back to MN sometime soon. I’m certain I’ll have a car, probably a small truck. Probably 4 cylinders and used in the winter or to get a peice of plywood from home depot. I’m sure I’ll surprise many when I pull that off without a V8 hemi. But even more surely, I’ll ride a scooter most of the time.

  2. I saw this article thismorning and wondered just how much rain you have to get before actualy packing it in and saying ‘no more scooter’. I mean, you either love to Scooter or you don’t I guess.
    I bushwalk, I have gear, pack covers, waterproof gear for legs, feet etc. I love to walk…rain or shine…I love to walk, I just have special gear for special weather.
    I figure if you scooter, it’s the same…you just change!
    This is not to deny the thrill of those first few sunny days of spring and the thrill of the coast shining off the waters as you meander down the cafe strip!
    Aghhh – love it. We are just heading into our Southern Hem winter…sad already!

  3. I put off buying any real rain gear for so many years, when I finally bought a rain coat to wear in bad weather, I never used it. It wasnt until I rode from Chicago to Madison with Silent Ron in 40 degree and pouring rain, using borrowed rain gear, did I finally decided to get (and once in a while, use) any rain gear at all. Usually my normal clothes, a pair of gloves, and a plastic grocery bag for my cell and wallet was enough.

    And about the article… let us NOT be a scooter nation, leave the scootering to us professionals and wackjobs. I like it better that way.

  4. Scootersnoop: Americans don’t walk anywhere. Sad but generally true.

  5. I had both a car and a scooter. I rarely rode in the rain unless I got caught out in a storm or my car was broke down. After I moved to Seattle I still didn’t ride much in the rainy season (e.g. ever). It took me about 9 months to get over it and now I don’t think twice about riding in the rain. With my Scooter as my sole form of transport I’ve gotten a lot more creative with my hauling needs. 1) I get stuff delivered if I have to. The USPS is great. 2) I carry a bag. Guys like Soucheray probably are too insecure and afraid they’d be accused of carrying a purse. 3) I use bungee cords. You’d think a garage vet would think those were about the most useful things in the world after duct tape. I’m suspicious that he doesn’t spend much time in manly pursuits at all. 4) I shop at places a whole helluva lot closer than I would if I had a car. If you like the local hardware store, florist, grocier, drug store and restaurants and complain about their disappearances, scooter ridership would certainly help in that respect

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