::Austin is scooter city #63:: [/general/scooter] (00:49)

According to a recent Austin American Statesman article, scooter sales are on the rise across the nation and Austin was 63rd in scooter sales last year. Given the number of new scooters I've seen around town, (and I don't mean those older "vintage" bikes, I mean new european or japanese scooters) I'm not sure wther to be disappointed that Austin only ranked 63rd or to be happy that other cities are seeing even higher scooter uses.

Besides that tidbit, the article itself wasn't very insightful. It mostly gushes about how wonderful those smelly, unreliable "vintage" bikes are and derides modern bikes as "twist and go" toys. I am sure older scooters are fun, but the growing scooter sales across the country aren't coming from people buying 30 year old vespas for weekend rides. They are coming from people buying (mostly bigger) new scooters for day to day use. Vintage scooters are a hobby. Modern scooters are a lifestyle. I'm biased, but that's how I see it.