Modern Vespa

http://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2012/11/bergen_county_woman_helps_id_open_gas_stations_on_her_vespa.html

I posted this in the Frankenstorm thread, but I don't think anybody saw it. Thanks for bringing it up again.

It's awesome that our Vespas can allow us to do simple, helpful stuff like this. All we have to do is think about it.

Nice job and deserves some applause.

Just shows how good people rally round when its needed. Great story.

She's /u/JPOWW on Reddit, so go say hi. She has a thread there: http://www.reddit.com/r/scooters/comments/12q38h/me_my_vespa/

I was raised in Bergen County NJ, so this story is very real to me.

This past summer we had a scary storm here in the Washington DC area called a derecho, which is like a mini hurricane. Power was out in much of the region, roads were blocked by trees, and large intersections had traffic cones forbidding most turns due to no traffic lights. Even short distances in a car were unbearable, but my kid was stressed and bored of being cooped up at home. What he wanted more than anything was Thai iced tea. We managed to get to a favorite Thai place, but they had no power so no tea. It took at least an hour (2?) to go just a few miles.

It seemed stupid, but I got on the Vespa for a reconnaissance mission to find another Thai place. The scooter made it much easier to dodge all sorts of problems and drivers seemed much more willing to just let me go. I found a new Thai place (with power), went back with my kid, and got the precious tea.

Wonder if she is just really unique being nice and helpful, or are people who ride Vespas more nice and helpful.

That Derecho was fierce. It was so hot that day our transformer blew. So, luckily, we had BGE out replacing it when the storm hit. Bless those guys who worked on it through the storm. After the fix we still didn't have power because nobody did. We had to hole up in a hotel in Annapolis because of the very brand new baby. I wish I had the Vespa back then. It would have been helpful.

Dmpawley, yes, a scooter is a perfect urban "4 wheel driver", dodging all kinds of nonsense. I think it also keeps my stress level down when we have throngs of people around here for a University of Maryland football game (just a couple of blocks away as the crow flies). The scooter is more like being one of the pedestrians and there is little likelyhood of running them over, due to superior visibility. In a car I am very nervous in the same situation. U of MD police recently bought 2 Harleys, probably with the same idea in mind.