But today I’m going into Boston and I’ll be parking the aforementioned (*ahem* 150cc) scooter on the sidewalk.

BONUS TIP: If your mirror is broken, check on eBay for a new one. They take like 15mins to replace.

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.”

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.