UrbanNerd.com

Someone wrote: “How safe does one feel driving around NYC on a Vespa?”

My answer:

I don’t think that is a question that has one universal answer. Rather, it is determined by the person, prior experience and training. I have met some people who are just nervous in general and tend to do badly on 2 wheels. I knew a girl who dropped her scooter not 5 minutes after getting it and decided never to ride again. Now, if you have experience driving a car in heavy traffic and you also rode a bicycle on city streets when you were younger as I did then you have some prior experience that will make you feel more at ease. Finally, I can not say enough good things about the Motorcycle Safety Foundation courses. Take a course before you ride, it will make you a better rider and it may very well save your life.

Hope this helps!

This story was printed in the AMNY newspapers that are distributed for free to the many thousands of commuters in the New York City metro area, it was also carried on the NY Newsday website. They did a great job of speaking to many different people in the NY scooting community, and mentioned me twice, once on page one, and then again on page two mentioning both websites I write for (this one and Vespaway).

Here is a story I came across about a Washington lobbyist who uses a Vespa to get around K street. The title of the article: Gustafson: A brainy lobbyist on a Vespa.

Indeed, Gustafson’s square-rimmed glasses and slim-cut suits are more likely to be found on the streets of London than the utilitarian halls of K Street. While most lobbyists wax rhapsodic on the Redskins and 18 holes of golf, Gustafson bonds with staffers using his encyclopedic knowledge of fine wines and gourmet food.
In a GOP disdainful of all things Eurocentric, the Clark Kent-look-alike Gustafson even manages to make driving a Vespa scooter into a social signature.
“I kidded him one night and said, ‘Do you think you’re going to a café in Milan?’” Foley recalled.
Berger joked about his colleague’s fashionable wheels: “Not that there’s anything wrong with it. Well, actually, there is something kind of French about it.”

Read the rest here

Just in time for Christmas, we’ve discovered the world’s first flying scooter! Yes, a scooter that drives on the highway and flies like an airplane!

Well… NOT really. It does not exactly fly like an ariplane. It seems rather to glide with a parachute fully engaged. And it looks like you have to add the two training wheel like attachments to the rear when you are ready to fly. Anyway, you can read about it more here.

As you may or may not have heard, the MTA union has chosen to strike in New York City. Of course, as a scooterist this does not effect me. In fact, today is one of those days scooterists can really shine. For more on that check out my coverage of the strike with comments from NYC scooterists here on Vespaway. Aside from that, I do have a few choice words on the matter:

Shame on the union. They ought to have a conversation with the majority of the United States labor force that has no job security and no pension. Pension have been all but discontinued in every company in the United States because they caost companies too much money. So now, you and I, the taxpayers, get to pay a pension for a special class of people who think THEY are still entitled to it in city state and federal government. It is one thing to promise a firefighter or police officer who risks his or her life every day a pension and retirement, but it just does not make sense for people who operate trains.

This union should be BUSTED, as most unions should. If these people don’t like the pay they get on their job, then they ought to go find a new job like I have to when I want more money than my employer offers.

The union has become nothing more than the protector for the lazy, shiftless, selfish worker.

If I were the MTA, I would inform the union that for every day they strike they will LOSE x amount of benefits. Lets see how long they strike then. After a week of striking maybe the MTA will double their surpplus!

“Alvis was the holiest man to ever slap iron! He killed for your sins!” - Captain Murphy

It is getting to be that time of year again. NO! Not Christmas!! I am speaking, of course, about the Feast of Alvis. WHAT?!!? You don’t know the story of Alvis? You don’t know of Alvis-time? Let me regale you the tale of Alvis, so that you might grow more enlightened. Gather your friends around the warm glow of the monitor and read the story of Alvis (Praise Alvis!):

On a frosty winter’s night:
A wagon appeared at the gates of Fort Klugman carrying pioneers to the frontier. A young woman in the party called Delia was heavy with child and though she had journeyed with the virile young men for nigh on one year, none had lain with her; though she was comely.

And on this frosty winter’s night, young Delia’s water broke almost freezing her to the seat of the wagon. And the pioneers beseeched the soldiers to grant them entrance so that she could give birth to her child in the hospital there. But, due to an outbreak of syphilis among the soldiers, the hospital was full. So there in the stable among the feed and tack and whatsit she gave birth to a son whom she called Alvis. As was her want.

And since none of the men in the party was the father, it was decided among them that the birth of this child must truly be a miracle! And it was so, for above the fort there suddenly and miraculously appeared an awesome and mighty comet! And so brilliant was its light that there came from all the tribes that the soldiers had not yet decimated: shamens!
And they rode upon buffalo, as was their heathen custom, carrying offerings of whiskey and firearms. And when the shamens saw the child, they were in awe! For he glowed in a light that was truly not of this world!

I know that now you have read this, you too wish to celebrate the great feast of Alvis. Perhaps you wish to denounce your silly religion and convert to Alvian? You would of course be well advised to do so. But even if you are not ready to covert, here are the things you will need to enjoy a proper Feast of Alvis:

Now that we know of our Lord’s beginning, we must gather the things we will need. Alvistime has become commercialized lately, but we still need to commune and consider. The pageant is the perfect remedy for this. This is a list of things that you will need for the pageant. An awesome and mighty comet! Bright enough to make those non-Alvians (who the hell is non-Alvian) quake at the sight. Just like in The Book of Alvis.

1) An awesome and mighty comet! Bright enough to make those non-Alvians (who the hell is non-Alvian) quake at the sight. Just like in The Book of Alvis.
2) A Fort Klugman replica. The stable is fine if you want to keep it small. Cast: Delia, Baby Alvis (our Lord), Soldiers, 3 Shamen, Buffalo.
3) Props and costume. This should include guns and plenty of them. Give the baby a .22 so nobody gets hurt.
4) A ham buffet. Because what is Alvistime without lots of ham and liquor?
5) Booze. Lots of booze. Alvians get wasted at Alvistime, so quit oppressing us!
6) Eggnog. For the non-Alvians (who the hell is non-Alvian? Alvis would have smoked those bitches!) Plenty of liquor and nutmeg (The stuff Malcom X got high on in prison) 7) Pomp
Whatsit

Have a happy and safe Alvistime! May your revenge always be bitter like whiskey!

Read more about the Feast of Alvis here & here.

I rode into work today, like I do every day. But on days like today I tend to get a few more looks than usual. Especially seeing as I took the turnpike for part of my commute (only a 4 mile stretch).

I wonder what the wind chill for me was at 60mph?

yes I know… I have been quiet. It’s not because I want to, it’s just that I have all this school work and work work to attend to this week. And then there are the christmas parties. HAs anyone been riding their scooter in this cold weather? I rode into work today, temp was 17degrees with a wind chill of 3, it’s all about the right clothing/gear

Also… don’t think I did not notice the new GT250 that Vespa just announced. Oh I noticed it alright… I will be writing about it more in depth soon. Back to my work for now.

I have been a bit quiet for a few days, aside from school work & work-work I have been eagerly anticipating the 1st Annual New York Scooter Club Holiday Party. Well it came and went last night & it was a rousing success! We had 70+ people attend, the food was fantastic and the people were even better! Here are a few pictures that a fellow club scooterist (Fran) took and forwarded to me, I hope you enjoy (click the pics to enlarge):

The New Scooter Club Offficers, from L to R: Joe, Herb, Theo, Allison, Me, David, Jonathan & Johnny

Some party crowd shots.

L to R: Johnny, Club President; Me & my lovely wife Karyn; Xavier & Brad

L to R: Carter & Mike; Micah & Allison; Jonathan, Fran & Jason

L to R: Maria, Bev, Jennifer, Andrea & Jonathan; Theo, Xavier, Evan & Herb; Me having a good time