In Europe, when it comes to transportation, the smaller, the better. Unlike in North America, in Europe the houses came first and then they built the roads. In some ways, it’s the roads that give most European cities their quaintness. The tight winding cobblestone roads are so different from the massive boulevards of North American cities that it gives them a certain attraction. When you live in Europe, it’s easy for that attraction to fade away. Over-congested capitals have transformed the auto industry and in turn the style of transportation.

Small is in right now in Europe and the trend is beginning to spread to Canada too. The streets in Spain are packed with pricey but convenient Smart cars but even more than these mini vehicles are scooters. The identity of the scooter to me has always been encompassed by the Vespa, which in my mind was always the ultimate Italian motorized bicycle. Despite my admiration for these tools of transport I still always felt that they were girly and an unsuitable mode of transport for me. After a few months in Spain this summer all that has changed.

In Spain, boys and girls drive scooters without any obvious majority on either side. People as old as 70 ride “motos” here as do the teenagers. One of my main concerns about getting a scooter (now that my fear of the femininity of the scooter is gone) is scooter style. The main conflict between the scooter and style is that as a motorized vehicle it is particularly dangerous and therefore any scooter fashion will have safety first, fashion second and frankly that doesn't work for me.

A “moto” is not a motorcycle, it doesn't go as fast and it has an element of class to it as you are sitting up straight when you ride it. As a result how you look is much more visible to the public and so your scooter fashion is that much more important. In Spain, the way that most get around the safety-fashion conflict is that they just ignore the safety part and worry about the fashion aspect. That is something I can’t condone. Safety and fashion are not incompatible and the new scooter is style is testament to that.

Most of the scooter blogs discuss this issue of safety and style on some level. At CrashWear “safety and fashion collide” and they have some affordable and stylish reflective vests that will protect you when riding day or night. For other style tips relating to scooters check out Scooterswag.com for a bunch of current scooter news, fashion and events. Just like any style, scooter style has its own huge following with magazines, fashion and blogs.

Scoot! magazine has a blog that is pretty awesome. Recently it posted a blog about a NY special edition Vespa that I particularly enjoyed, especially the ad for it that they posted. The ad by Vespa commands in big letters “don’t be a gas-hole.” and encourages people to buy Vespas and save the environment.

Classic Vespa: European style and its minimalism works perfectly with the environmentally conscious. But if I’m seriously going to consider buying a Vespa I need some concerns cleared up, like how can I wear a helmet and not look like I just woke up every time I take it off and how can I deal with the constant rain in Vancouver once I have my scooter?

The key to dealing with the helmet concern is finding a helmet that you look better in then in your own hair, that way you won’t ever want to take it off and your noggin will always be safe. One look at the Vespa accessories and helmets site and you realize the potential hotness that lies in the world of Vespa safety. It is possible that by doing this you may begin to wear you helmet everywhere, indoors and out but who’s to say that’s such a bad idea in the world we live in.

The next issue was solved for me by a blog called “big guy, small scooter”. This guy Dave Dixon is from BC and so he knows what its like to ride in the rain and so I got some resolve from his blog. At least I wouldn't be the only crazy person riding in the rain.

Scooters are hot and that’s pretty much it. They get you around fast, are easy to park, are easy on gas, have a surprising first impression and best of all opens you up to a whole new niche of fashion and products to covet. For me, if I were to get a scooter it would be now, when I’m young so that I can live it up and flood my Facebook with photos of me and my ride.

Tell me what you think about the scoot?