You’re the reason why scooter and motorcycle accidents are up in Nashville. I hope you made it to work a few minutes early as you sped around me with tires screeching. Seeing how I was only going the speed limit or 5 mph over, on a residential thoroughfare, I could see how I was really holding you up. However, I have my doubts that it did you much good because a mile later you were still only 2 cars ahead of me. Too bad those cars weren’t skinnier, because I’m sure that would’ve given you room to cut the corner around them too.

Seriously people. I understand that it sometimes looks like scooters are going slower than the speed limit, but unless I make a mistake and head down Franklin Rd (which I’ve done once), I’m always going the speed limit or above. I could barely see this bitch in my rear view mirrors because she was so close. I was really hoping I’d see her pull into my same parking building, so I could say this to her face, but she sped by the entrance heading to West End. I purposefully stay away from the main roads to avoid jerks like her, but she was on my turf this time. It just really pisses me off.

And besides, who wants to be the woman on the news who hit a girl on a scooter because she was following too closely, or was so impatient she had to speed around her while making a left-hand turn? That move may have saved her 20 seconds on her commute, but I highly doubt it was worth it. Amazingly enough, I wasn’t the only one going close to the speed limit in a residential neighborhood and she just had to get up on someone else’s ass a few seconds later. Well done.

There are some great things about riding a scooter. Besides the good MPG. Such as being able to smell the BBQ at the fancy house on your way home, or the chocolate cookies at the local bakery. Another is being able to feel the wind against your skin, having to squint a little because sometimes it hits a bit hard but you’re feeling it, so that’s good enough.

The downside is that you can also smell the dumpster at your bagel shop and the dead possum you just passed on the road (and had to actually concentrate to avoid hitting). The fact that you can actually see that the dead object is…was, in fact, a possum also is a negative aspect, I’d say. I actually feel more, now, for the little squirrels and birds I see on the road, when I’m not separated from them by a hunk of metal casing that protects me from their site, smell, and whatever else they project. Call me sentimental.

Last night someone was fiddling around with the yellow lever inside my seat, and now my seat won’t open. My purse is inside and I’ve tried everything. I’ve even tried finding the actual seat lock cable and pulling on it, but nothing. I HAVE to get my purse out of there!!! HELP!!!!

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UPDATE: Well, in one final fit of desperation, I hit the key in the seat release position really hard, willing it to push the release, and it worked! The forum at urbanscootin.com really helped a lot. Phew.

On my way to work today, my scooter hit the 1000 mile mark!

So last night my scooter wouldn’t start…the battery appears to be kaput, or at least drained, so I tried to kick-start it. Obviously I don’t understand the concept of kick-starting because I was trying to do it without the kick-stand up. Once Jason enlightened me, I tried that and it worked! Seeing how today is going to be such a beautiful day, I tried it again this morning, and after a few minutes of warming up, I was good to go! Its still a bit chilly on the way in, but it will be excellent this afternoon! Yea for Spring!

Most people have a few questions for me when they find out I ride a scooter, so I thought I’d put together a little FAQ in case you were interested.

1. What kind of scooter do you own?

A 2005 Honda Metropolitan II with Kanji decorations. Kinda like this one but black and white:

2. How fast does it go?

The speedometer goes up to 40 mph but that’s only on straight aways or down slopes. Going up hill it tops out at about 35 mph if I’m lucky.

3. Do you wear a helmet?

Yes, always.

4. Do you have to have a special license?

No, because it is under 50cc’s, a regular driver’s license is sufficient.

5. How many miles per gallon does it get?

Generally it gets between 85-95 mpg. Yes, that is one reason I bought it!!

6. How far away have you gone on it?

The furthest I’ve gone is to 100 Oaks Mall. I probably won’t do that again because I had to go on Franklin Pike, which says 40 mph but everyone really goes more like 50. I just kinda rode along the side of the road.

7. Do you find that people don’t notice you as much when you’re on the scooter?

Quite the opposite actually. Being a fairly attractive female, I find that people notice me more when I’m on my scooter. Especially if I’ve chosen to ride with a skirt on, which I do on occasion.

Have another question? Let me know!