The New “Green” Might Only Have Two Wheels…or Three?

There’s a new rage sweeping the nation that is eerily reminiscent of the 60’s when being”green” was in, and bright earthy colors defined the fashion arena. Today’s hottest retro fashion items are in the remake, and yes, “green” is back, but this time because high gas prizes are here to stay and the oil crunch is no longer a fairy tale enlisting picket lines full of university activists looking for a cause. The threat is real and the automotive and retail markets have responded right on target with green friendly merchandise, gas-saving low-emission vehicles, and a return of rainbow hued retro colors that could even enlist a smile from Ebeneser Scrooge for their nostalgia appeal.

This new green friendly era has also ushered Piaggio and Vespa scooters back into the US market with full force. Piaggio has been transforming the transportation industry for the past 120 years. Its introduction of the Vespa scooter into the market over 50 years ago quickly won the hearts of Europeans and Americans because of its good looks and two wheeled freedom that was far removed from other motorcycle stereotypes.

Today, many of their scooters sport retro styling appeal as well as a line of scooters with cutting edge technology and futuristic sporty features. In places such as California, where freeway laws are often more stringent, even the cute little 150cc Vespas and Piaggio’s 150cc Fly are freeway legal and can boost the speeds to keep up with traffic in the fast lane.

Of course, those riders wanting the simplicity of a scooter, but in a sporty looking, high performance machine, the new three wheeled (nope not a typo… yes… a three wheeled scooter!) the MP3 turns heads and snakes through the corners better than its two wheeled counter-types, and with added stability.

But when it comes to parking, gas consumption, emissions, and commuting in cattle heard packed traffic, the scooter is economic, green friendly and can

squeeze into tight spaces. For career women and mom’s looking for an outlet of self expression, metro guys, boomer generation motorcyclists, and university students, scooters have also provided affordable transportation, social opportunities, and fashion appeal. Of course, riding with the wind on one’s back, free from the confines of doors and a metal roof, scooters instantly transform their riders into independent free spirits, but with a much smaller learning curve than a traditional motorcycle.

Similar to the high end image held by BMW Motorcycles, Vespa and its parent company Piaggio are synonymous with true scooter quality and styling that often accompanies European bred motorized vehicles. In the US, public transportation as an economical and ecologically friendly solution has been unrealistic due to sheer geographic size and the individualist natures of its inhabitants, so its no wonder that Vespa dealerships are slowly invading US territories and quickly gaining the loyalty of customers of all ages, and from all walks of life. These creatures are here to stay, so even if you don’t ride a motorcycle, the need to be green, and that little free spirit within, may prompt you to take a second look the next time you see a candy red Italian scooter cruising down the street with its rider grinning from ear to ear, and a bag of groceries sitting on the back.