Scooters multiply as commuters abandon their cars

If your experience of scooters is confined to watching Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday or Sting in Quadrophenia, or hiring run-down machines on Greek holidays, it may be time to reconsider your transport options.

For sales of the scooters, so long associated with Italian culture and more recently with Japanese manufacturers, are booming as hard-pressed commuters seek to beat worsening traffic congestion.

The increase in sales is being fuelled by a new generation of consumers, mixed in age and background but motivated by a shared reluctance to accept gridlock sitting down. And the choice available to them has increased significantly from sporty, garishly coloured 50cc mopeds - "Nikes on wheels" in the words of one dealer - to stylish Italian Vespas for the fashion-conscious and to smart-looking 250cc and 400cc "executive" models for higher spenders.

Scooters have become chic again as users abandon their cars and brave the elements in the certainty that they can reach their destination on time and can park when they get there.

According to figures from the Central Statistics Office, sales of motorcycles for the first five months of this year are up roughly 30 per cent on the same period in 1999. Significantly, sales of bikes up to 75cc represent a little more than one out of every two sold during this period.

Motorcycle dealers confirm that the big increase in scooter sales over the last two years has predominantly come from ordinary businesspeople, office workers and professionals who are frustrated with grid-locked traffic, poor public transport and unpredictable journey times.

"Many people are choosing scooters because they've no choice," says Mr Mark Farrell, general manager of Scooter Island in Dublin. Featuring large among his customers are office workers and those working in the Temple Bar area.

"A lot of people will buy any make as long as it looks OK," says Mr Philip Noone of Noone Motorcycle Corp, Monkstown, who is selling six to eight mopeds a week.

Mr Graham Ruttle of The New Gem motorcycle shop in Ranelagh in Dublin says money is not an issue for many buyers. "It's more a case of `When can I have it?'," he adds.

"The people who buy scooters are not likely to be out polishing them every weekend," says Mr David Quirke, marketing manager of the recently opened Skooter showroom in Aston Quay, which deals exclusively in the Italian-made Piaggio brand.

"They buy them because they are efficient, low maintenance and great for business." While Italy has long had a passionate love affair with the scooter, the penetration of scooter ownership in Ireland has been very low - a fact that will not surprise many, given the weather here.

Many potential customers may have been put off by the inconvenience of having to wear protective clothing and to drag around a heavy helmet while off the bike.

However, dealers maintain that improved designs provide much greater protection against the elements. In addition, most models have under-seat storage for a full-sized helmet, and luggage racks can be added. Parking is far less of an issue for scooters than for cars. Dublin Corporation, for instance, allows scooters to be parked on cycle stands, which are being built at the rate of 400-500 a year, according to the Dublin Transportation Office.

New driver licensing regulations were introduced at the end of last year in order to comply with EU directives on the issue. If you are over 18 years of age and have never held a motorcycle licence you may apply for an A1 provisional licence that restricts you to machines with a power output not exceeding 25 kW or a power-to-weight ratio of 0.16kW/kg. According to dealers, this is roughly equivalent to machines of up to 250cc. However, on passing a test in that category, you are restricted to machines of the same 25 kW power limit for two years before you can progress to the A class licence that has no power limit.

Motoring organisations, such as the Motorcyclists Action Group, complain that this form of "stepped licensing" unfairly discriminates against motorcyclists. However, this system could conceivably end up benefiting the scooter market here, as the engine sizes of most scooters on the market do not exceed 250cc.

Although scooters are considered to be less dangerous by virtue of their limited speed and ease of driving, it is recommended that those new to any form of motorised two-wheel transport undertake some form of basic driver training before venturing out onto the road.

The Irish School of Motoring, for example, will start novice riders off in a special courtyard to learn basic manoeuvring skills and control before being taken out onto the road under supervised guidance. It is expected that the EU will soon insist on some form of mandatory motorcycle training, such as a compulsory basic test, before gaining a provisional licence.

Statistics for deaths and injuries suffered by motorcyclists do not include specific information relation to those driving scooters, but there has been a reduction over the last few years in the number of fatal accidents involving motorcyclists. According to the National Roads Authority, in 1998 there were 37 motorcyclists killed and in 1999 the figure was 43. This compares with 58 and 68 killed in 1996 and 1997 respectively.

The Motorcycle Action Group is campaigning to allow motorcyclists (including scooter users) to use the bus lanes in Dublin and around the country, a stance that is supported by the Dublin Corporation Director of Traffic, Mr Owen Keegan. Studies in the UK have shown that city authorities that have allowed motorcyclists to use bus lanes have reported a significant reduction in the number of accidents involving motorcyclists and pedestrians.

But if you're still put off by the potential dangers, then perhaps you could wait until early next year for the arrival of the much-talked-about BMW C1 - a 125cc scooter with a safety cage, roof and safety belts. However, while in most countries where it is currently sold, riders are not required to wear a helmet, there is concern that the Department of the Environment may follow the UK example and insist that C1 riders wear head protection. A spokesman for BMW in Ireland said that the expected retail price for the C1 would be £5,950 (#7,554), including anti-lock brakes.

Scooters can range in price from £1,465 for mopeds - two-stroke engines bikes up to 50cc - right through to around £6,000 for a 400cc executive scooter. Road tax averages £22 per annum, while petrol costs average £3 a week, according to Skooter.

Although insurance is, generally speaking, much lower than cars, the costs vary significantly according to age and vehicle. Norich Union premiums for a 25-year-old with a full licence range from £116.67 for a moped (50cc or less) to £999.58 for a Honda XLBAJA 250cc. For a 45year-old, the premiums range from £78.11 for a moped to £424.30 for the Honda 250cc. All the above figures are based on riders living in Dublin with a full licence.

Other costs include helmets, which can range from about £60 to £400, jackets from £60 to £400, and gloves from £20 to £100. Other optional accessories could include boots, leggings and locks. Some dealers will factor in essentials such as helmets, gloves and protective gear into the basic price package.