Two-wheeled in Boston - some initial thoughts on owning a scooter in the city
It’s been about a full month since I purchased my scooter, and for the benefit of others, I want to share some observations.
Advantages of a scooter
Let’s start at the beginning and consider the advantages of a scooter:
Simple registration process - In Massachusetts, a scooter with a cylinder capacity smaller than 50cc doesn’t require a license plate. You simply need to register it ($40 for 2 years), slap on a sticker, and you are street legal.
Unlimited parking - Because scooters smaller than 50cc’s are registered as “mopeds,” you can park them on the sidewalk. Just chain them to a traffic light or a parking meter as you would a bike.
Extremely high gas mileage - Most scooters get around 100 miles per gallon. So for about $3.00 you can fill your tank for a couple of weeks.
You can legally ride in the road OR in the designated bike lane. When traffic is stopped at a light, you can cruise to the front and beat the traffic.
Access to areas not covered by public transportation - Go somewhere new!
They are easy to ride and control - Because they are so lightweight, even novices can get comfortable very quickly.
They are much cheaper than cars! - Instead of financing for years, you can pay for it and own it outright.
Scooters are getting more and more popular. - I’m amazed at how many scooters I see in the city every day, being used by working professionals, college students, men and women, across all age groups and demographics.
These were my reasons for being interested in a scooter in the first place. So I did a little research…
Which Scooter to Buy?
First, I knew that I wanted a scooter that was 50cc or smaller. That was a strong requirement. Anything bigger, and I wouldn’t be able to reap all of the aforementioned benefits.
I also knew that I wanted a more “classic” look over a sportier look. Kymco, for example, makes very reputable scooters, but I personally don’t like their styling. I wanted something that looked European, like the classic Piaggio Vespa.
After some research, I came to the conclusion that there are three reputable brands out there:
Now, the Vespa LX is an excellent choice, but it’s expensive. These start at around $3200, and that’s more than I wanted to pay. In contrast, the Vino and Metropolitan are priced more reasonably, at $1900 new.
I also looked at a couple of other brands, such as Schwinn. I came across a handful of forum posts from Scooter enthusiasts who claimed that Schwinn were poor quality Chinese bikes, and so I ruled those out quickly.
I came across a handful of sites that praised the Honda Metropolitan’s performance, but these come in such horrible color schemes that I just couldn’t see myself riding one. (You can see what I mean here. Check out the “red kanji,” “blue ice”, or “peach hibiscus” colors… pleh.)
It quickly became clear that based on my pricing requirements and research that Yamaha Vino was a good choice.
I was planning on buying one new, but one day I randomly stumbled across a craigslist posting for a used 2003 Yamaha Vino priced at $1000.00. At nearly half the price of a new Vino, it seemed like a deal, so I bought it.
Essential Accessories
There are a couple of essential accessories that any scooter owner must have before they hit the road.
First and foremost: A helmet
It is against the law to ride without a helmet in Massachusetts. It is also unbelievably stupid, considering scooterists travel with traffic at 25+ miles per hour on a tiny bike that offers virtually nothing in the way of protection.
There are plenty of stylish half-helmets and full-size helmets out there. Pick one you like, make sure it’s DOT-approved, and always wear it.
I personally like the half-helmets. Despite the fact that they offer less protection than a full helmet, they allow you to see and hear more of the environment around you, helping you to avoid getting in difficult spots in the first place.
#2: A nice, big long bike lock
Scooters are lightweight. Two grown men can easily lift one and put it in the back of a truck. So if you value your purchase, you’ll lock it up.
No lock is 100% secure. Locks only function as a deterrent to thieves. But for $50, they offer you peace of mind in knowing your bike will probably be waiting for you.
One tip on shopping for locks: Make sure it’s really long… Otherwise you’ll have trouble getting it around medium-sized lamp posts and trees.
#3: A Cover
It rains in Boston, and nobody likes riding a wet bike. Buy a cover and take the T to work on rainy days.
#4: Gloves
Okay, it looks kinda dorky wearing motorcycle gloves on a scooter, but they are completely worth it. With gloves you have much more control over the bike, and you are less likely to get blisters.
Driving around the city
I’ll admit, I was at first pretty apprehensive about taking the scooter on the road. I’ve been relying on trains and buses for years, and the thought of being in the middle of the road with crazy Boston drivers was scary.
I found that the easiest way to get comfortable on the scooter was to ride it regularly, just to get comfortable with how it performs.
The following are some tips I used to get more comfortable on the road:
- Take up the whole lane. You may be tempted to ride in the bike lane, or stay off to the side, but don’t. If you give cars an opportunity to pass you, they will, and you may be forced in a tight space. Likewise, if you are riding off the the side, you risk being hit be a parked car’s opened door, or someone coming out a side street. The safest bet is to take up the whole lane (which is rightfully yours to share) and allow yourself to be more visible to drivers.
- Don’t weave in and out of traffic just because you can. Get comfortable first, and obey the most basic laws of the road. This means you have to sit in traffic with the rest of the cars (at first), but you’ll be more comfortable in the long run.
- Wait on lights, and then slowly accelerate. Don’t gas it at a green light, because many Bostonians run red lights all the time. Let the light turn green, look both ways, then go.
- Find a speed that you are comfortable driving at, and go that speed. Don’t feel pressured to keep up to a certain speed just because cars are behind you. Most speed limits in the Boston/Cambridge area are less than 30 miles per hour anyway.
- Watch the road quality ahead of you. Boston streets have tons of potholes and construction. Use the whole lane, and avoid the larger bumps.
- Take familiar roads until you are comfortable enough to drive around unfamiliar places. If you are nervous about getting lost, you won’t be able to concentrate on riding your scooter, and that can be dangerous.
- Go somewhere safe, like a parking lot, and practice stopping sharply and swerving. That way, when the time comes where you have to do some defensive driving you won’t be surprised at how your scooter handles.
I found that after a few weeks, I was no longer nervous about taking my scooter out, and now I regularly drive it to work each day with no concerns.
It’s still too early to begin reflecting on how scootering has changed my lifestyle, but already I feel like Boston/Cambridge has become more accessible to me than ever before. I had forgotten the freedom and convenience of being able to just go somewhere without having to rely on buses and trains.
Stay tuned for future observations once I have even more miles under my belt.
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Being a scooter owner myself (didn’t know about the 50cc license thing until it was too late and I owned a 250cc) I’ll add a few things:
Find a place for the winter months.I’ve actually ridden my scooter in the winter, which is totally insane but I was drunk anyway so I didn’t care (this was long, long ago)
Scooter + Camera = going interesting places fast without that “damn if only there were a place to pull over” feeling. You’re already outside!
A few things I would add are that the Vino ‘Classic’ is the 49cc version of the Vino, which is the way to go if you want to stay within ‘moped’ class.
Also, it’s worth looking at the Kymco “people-50″. I’ve heard they make excellent bikes, and they have a classic style, but I’ve never ridden one, and know nothing of the quality of the Kymco brand.
My final note is on insurance. I feel nervous owning a brand new bike and being uninsured for theft. The Vino has excellent theft-deterrent locking systems, but you never know what could happen. It’s been recommended to get theft insurance for the first year or so of ownership, but I’ve researched high and low, and still haven’t determined is how to insure a scooter in Boston. Anyone know?
I’m a new Vespa owner as of today and stumbled upon this site…
To get insurance you’ll have to get a motorcycle license plate and pay yearly registration fees. The vehicle will no longer be treated as a moped, but a normal motorcycle. This means ‘unlimited parking’ no longer applies, i.e. no sidewalk parking!
I live in Cambridge as well - has anybody have issues with theft?
I had my scooter stolen within the first two hours of living here. I had previously stored it in a garage and had to go get a lock for it. While I was gone the bike (250cc’s is quite heavy) was stolen and left a few blocks away; the thieves had given up carrying it. But not before they broke off one of my mirrors.
The police stepped in and towed it - I had to pay over $100 to get it back.
Sorry. I meant to write “within the first two hours of moving it here.”
Can somebody clarify this for me. Everywhere I’ve seen says that scooters (under 50cc) can operate in the bike lane (while playing nice with bikes etc..) However, I have gotten crap from cyclists and some claiming that it’s illegal in Cambridge. I’ve looked at the DMV and it says that I’m correct, but I’d like to know if it’s true about Cambridge and if I could point the exact law the next time a “Holier than Thou” A-Hole gives me hell.
I can’t confirm or deny it. However Cambridge has different laws than Boston. For example, it’s illegal to bicycle on the sidewalk in Cambridge. The way it’s seen is that they’ provided a special lane for bicyclists.
If you have a scooter that’s under 50cc’s you can absolutely use the bike lane, provided it’s not on a recreational bike path (i.e. the bike path to Davis Square).
The law of the roads is provided by the state, not the city, so the Mass Registry of Motor Vehicles is the authority.
I find that bicyclists tend to cop an attitude when those of us on scooters stop at red lights (while in the bike lane), whereas bicyclists tend to run red lights. As a matter of law, bicyclists are supposed to be obeying the rules of the road and stopping at red lights themselves, but few do.
A good scootering practice is to use the bike lane when there are no bikes around, and use the road otherwise.
Scooterists should acknowledge that bicyclists are for the most part restricted to the bike lane (or far side of the road), and so we shouldn’t unnecessarily hog their designated lane (especially since we have another option, i.e., riding in traffic).
The bottom line is that everyone needs to share the road.
That’s what I figured. I ride a 10 speed myself, so I respect cyclists and make sure I give them plenty of space and give them space to get by at lights. Cambridge seems to have to the most anal of cyclists. I tend to only use the bike lane when traffic is ridiculous on Beacon/Hampshire or downtown Boston. I’ve gotten crap 3 times in the last week alone.
I’d just really like to be able to point to the actual law for Cambridge saying I am allowed or find the repel of the old law. Yelling, “I read a blog and it says I could” doesn’t seem as gratifying as staring them down and saying “Article 20 section B says I can. Suck it douchebag”.
@ Matt:
Here’s the law: http://www.mass.gov/rmv/license/7moped.htm
I quote:
also:
Oh, and I won’t take offense at you not considering this blog as a meaningful authority.
:)
Here’s a legal requirement you guys are conveniently overlooking:
“Be capable of a maximum speed of no more than 30 miles per hour.”
The Vino 49cc is an unrestricted motor and will reach 40 mph, therefore it must be licensed as a motorcycle. The same MASS law also says a moped can’t be operated at speeds over 25 mph (Vinos and Metros are sold with carb air-flow restricter plates in some states to meet this requirement), so a savy cop can ticket you if you don’t have the cycle plate.
@Larry
What you are saying is true for newer Vinos. As I understand it, older Vinos (I think older than 2006) will actually have a hard time getting past 30 mph with the restricter. I have a 2003 Vino, and I can only really go faster than 30 mph if I am gassing it completely while travelling down a large hill. Whether or not this counts as”capable of a max speed of 30mph” is debatable, but I suspect that it’s not what the law intended.
But yes… regardless of what your scooter is capable of, if you get clocked going faster that you should be capable of, or faster than what is allowed, you could get in some trouble.
Hi Jarrod,
I’m going to buy a vespa lx (50cc) soon and i was wandering if i can ride it with a passenger too. Thanks,
Giuseppe
@Giuseppe
If you register it as a scooter (and not a motorcycle), I don’t think you can legally carry a passenger, at least not in Massachusetts.
If you are asking whether the Vespa LX is capable of carrying a passenger, the answer is yes. I’ve seen it many times. Whether or not it’s very safe is debatable.
I’ve been debating getting a Vespa for a couple of years, but I have absolutely no reference for the cost of insurance? Can you current scooter/motorcycle owners shed some light on this? I’m in JP, so the price is probably comparable to that in Cambridge.
I am looking into getting myself a Buddy 125 right now, but I am having some difficulty finding information about parking in Boston for scooters. Can you shed some light on this issue for me. If I can replace my regular bus commute with the scoot, I’d be willing to pay for the garage even.
@Louise
As far as I know, if the scooter is 50 cc’s or less, you can park it wherever you’d park a bicycle.
The ability to park it virtually anywhere is definitely a huge advantage, especially in Boston.
I always park on the sidewalk. Usually I chain the scooter to a parking meter, make sure it’s out of pedestrian traffic, and out of the way of car doors. But other than that, I never worrying or even think about parking.
Great writeup! I’ll point any members looking for advice to you, hoping you will write more about your experiences as a scooter owner, these experiences are great to read before getting on and hitting the streets. Don’t forget to watch out for oil in the summer time!
Ride Safe
Paul - Organizer - Greater Boston Scooter Club - www.greatscoot.net
Can you tell me more about the registration that’s required? I was under the impression that you didn’t need that. I’ve been riding mine without it for a few months last season so I should take care of that before the season starts. Is it through the RMV? What papers do I need?
Thanks
In answering my own question I found the answer to someone elses’. The moped registration form states that they can be ridden in the bike lane. Maybe Matt could print this and show it to the offending (or offensive) bicyclists….!
http://www.mass.gov/rmv/forms/20017.pdf
Some thoughts:
My understanding is that if you go the 50cc route, you are also restricted to the times of day you can ride — namely, after dark. Am I wrong on this?
My insurance for my 2007 Vespa GTS 250 in JP is about $160 a month. Load up on the medical coverage. You might need it. I was in the hospital for a week after an accident (not my fault, but that’s small comfort) and my health insurer and Vespa insurer are still fighting it out because my medical coverage on the Vespa was not great.
If you want the speed and power, go for more than 50cc and license as a motorcycle. Keep in mind, however, that many 250cc scooters are still pretty small and you can feel very puny next to anything bigger than a van. I don’t take mine on the highway for this reason. Even the more powerful Vespas are on the small side, even if they are very cool looking. :)
While it is true that state traffic laws supercede local laws in most instances, I believe that cities and towns are free to pass laws that are more restrictive than state laws, especially in terms of parking, etc. So if Cambridge wants to exclude scooters from bike lanes, sidewalks, etc., I believe they are free to do so. As far as I know, any motorized vehicle, regardless of size, is prohibited from bike lanes in Cambridge. At least, that’s what the nice officer told me when he read me the riot act one day in Cambridge — and I was only stopped in the bike lane, not actually riding in it for any appreciable distance.
I get a discount on my insurance for having taken a 3-day state-approved motorcycle safety training course at one of several locations in the area. Not only is it worth it in terms of insurance discounts, but it probably saved me from much more serious injury in the aforementioned accident.
Happy scootering! It is a blast, but I learned the hard way you have to assume that every single Masshole person or vehicle is going to do the unexpected and walk, or turn, or swerve, in front of you. Cell phones only make this worse.
Bike Lanes In Cambridge:
http://www.cambridgema.gov/cdd/et/bike/bike_lanes.html
“What are bike lanes and who is permitted to use them?
Bicycle lanes are marked lanes in the public right-of-way that are by law exclusively for use by bicyclists. Bike lanes in Cambridge have bicycle symbols and arrows, which emphasize the correct direction of travel. The use of diamond symbols, which signify an exclusive use lane, is being phased out following national standards.
Motorists are not allowed to travel in bike lanes and are subject to a $100 fine if they do so. They are allowed to cross the lanes to turn or to park.
Cyclists are still permitted to travel in the regular vehicle travel lanes even when a bike lane is present. Cyclists should signal and make sure they have the attention of the people behind them before moving into the vehicle travel lane from a bike lane. Motorists should be aware that cyclists may merge into their lanes in front of them, e.g., to avoid an obstacle or to make a left turn.”
I’ve spoken to a couple of people that detach their plate and park their vespa all over the place in Boston. While that seems like and easy solution, how realistic is it with regard to avoiding parking tickets?
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Just wondering what everyone’s opinion is on this… I am considering a Vespa in the near future, and a friend of mine made the comment about the 50cc rule but, that if you somehow remove whatever number may be in FRONT of “50cc” as in 150 or 250… that you could “feasibly” park it on the sidewalks as well. How thoroughly do you all think the officers check… I’ve never seen any “bikes” up close, so I don’t know if they all have a 0-60 (or whatever) mph gauge. Let me know what your thoughts are! Thanks so much!