breaking a thousand

after two commutes to work last week, I've rolled the scoot over a thousand miles. Gone is the "what if I don't like it?" fear, as is nearly all memory of my little 50 cc Honda Metropolitan. I've ridden more miles in 6 weeks on the Vespa than I did all last year on Pete Lee. So, it seems like a keeper.

Using RoadTrip for the iPhone (version 1.3.2.22) lets me monitor my gas mileage and other handy statistical features about my scooter. I'm getting 68-75 miles per gallon, with a high of 77 MPG on a day that was mostly highway driving. At current gas prices, it costs me $0.031 per mile to scoot versus $0.084 per mile to drive my 2005 Ford Escape. I'm saving more than 5 cents per mile!

the scoot commute

odometer: 984 miles

After a month of playing around, today I did it. I rode my scooter to work.
It’s funny to think about having to alter your commute. After all, it’s part of the drudgery of daily life: to and from work, to and from work, day after day. Like most Americans, a good part of my commute involves the highway. My Vespa GTS 250 is perfectly capable of achieving highway speeds, but since I am still learning how to maneuver my scoot I thought I better play it safe.

So, I altered my route to be just about 50% highway and 50% surface roads. This let me avoid the poorly designed interchange at I-95 and MD-32, my main route to work, as well as I-97. Both of those spots have frequent crashes, and I would prefer not to get creamed.

This adjustment added 4 miles and about 15 minutes to my 35-minute drive, bringing the grand total to 50 minutes each way. But on a scooter, who’s counting time? I just strapped on my helmet headphones, and away I went. It WAS a big adjustment to not be able to drink coffee on the way to work, but the crisp September air kept me awake and alert.

The ride was great, and other drivers were respectful. I even got a few waves from other bikers – which is nice, considering I’m the low man on the totem pole in terms of motorcycles. Now that we have a stretch of nice weather, I can’t wait to do it again.

I can’t believe I waited so long!