The Face Of Short Range Personal Transportation Is Changing

You may have noticed recently some odd lookingas a personal transportation device, usually with
two, three and even 4 wheeled vehicles buzzingthose of a younger age group.
around your neighborhood, the mall or the citySimple motor scooters with small gas engines like
sidewalks and streets. Portable scooters, pocketthose that became popular in the late 60's and early
bikes and mobility scooters have for many replaced70's from several major motorcycle manufactures
those short car trips these days. With the price ofhave again gained great popularity. Honda, Kawasaki,
gas well over 3 dollars a gallon in most parts of theSuzuki and others have again begun to produce
country, its making more and more economic sensemoderately priced motor scooters again, that have
to utilize these types of personal transportationthe unique U shaped leg space in the middle of the
vehicles.frame structure for "sit" riding rather then straddle
Remember when you were a kid and you had a tworiding. These companies have also begun to produce
wheel push scooter? Maybe you never had one as asome much more powerful scooters as well, sporting
child, but in fact they have been around for a longin upwards of 650cc engines and more.
time. They became popular for children in the earlyCushman scooters were once among the most
1900's as a toy and were still quite readily seen intorecognized and sought after scooter in the industry.
the early 70's. From those humble beginnings ofCushman scooters, among the first power scooters
course someone put a motor on it and the poweredproduced, were constructed in my home state of
scooter was born.Nebraska at a plant in Lincoln from the 1930s through
There are many types of scooters these days to be1965. The Cushman scooter became iconic in its
certain, ranging from the low cost low profile sleeklyfollowing and even today remains in the minds of
designed push scooters that are reminiscent of themany scooter enthusiasts, as the best scooter ever
first push scooters we knew merely as a toy, tobuilt.
super fast motorized pro versions that can scootThe advent of better battery technology gave rise
along at 40mph or more. Some scooters are gasto a new kind of scooter that has greatly improved
powered, some electric, and yes the ever popularlife in general for persons with disabilities or health
foot powered scooter still is loved by manyissues that hinder personal mobility. The personal
Pocket bikes are sometimes referred to as minimobility scooter usually configured on a three or four
motorcycles and are very small, single personwheel design, has become quite popular as well as
transportation devices, usually only about 47 incheshelpful to a new demographic of scooter user.
long and 18 inches tall, usually with gas motors thatMobility scooters help in many ways inside the home
are 50cc's or less. Pocket bikes started out as a fadand out in the world as well. People can live
but have gained popularity over the years. Manyindependently longer with the help of these mobility
different styles are in production today, ranging fromscooters. Clean, quiet and easy to operate from
Harley Davidson look a likes, to those that resemblearmrest controls, personal mobility scooters have
most of the modern motorcycles on the market.become a sort of saving grace for many with
Pocket bikes not only have become a new type ofmobility issues.
racing phenomenon, but also have gained popularity