VespaLife.com

A lot of people are really beginning to complain about rising gas prices here in the US, and with the per barrel price of crude oil futures soaring past $72, it’s only going to get worse. A bunch of CNN.com readers sent in their thoughts on rising gas prices, mostly to say they are having a hard time keeping the gas tanks in their SUV’s filled. I certainly couldn’t afford to pay $100 for a fill-up, only to drive 40 miles each way to work.

I’m one of the many people that have to drive to work each day, my trip is 128 miles each day, I stop for gas every two days so it never gets too low. At this writing I’m paying $2.69 a gallon. The trouble is that price goes up every day. The Exxon 3 blocks from my home went from $2.59 to $2.73 in one night. I’m now going for $80.00 to $85.00 a week just for five days. I don’t use the car on weekends if I don’t have to. When is GEORGE going to do something about it????

Bill, Clifton, New Jersey

I think the sentiment that Bill shares is shared by many, and I don’t agree with it. The problem isn’t the government’s failure to regulate our consumption of gas, or their failure to keep prices artificially low. The real problem is that people have chosen to live where they do, to drive the car they do, and to consume gasoline recklessly as they do. That’s why I bought a Vespa, and chose an apartment close to my office. It cost me $4.20 to fill up my tank, and on that tank I was able to drive over 100 miles on my LX 150. I imagine it will be some number of years before Americans truly change their lifestyles and adjust to the price of gas that Europeans have paid for years.

The Washington, DC area, like much of the eastern seaboard, was indeed plastered with snow this weekend. Street crews worked quickly to clear the snow, and by noon today my girlfriend and I were out on the Vespa enjoying the crisp air and glistening snow. It was definitely one of the more exhilarating rides I’ve had, and despite the cooler temperatures, the clear skies and abundant sunshine made for a gorgeous day. Stops today included Churreria Madrid, a local Spanish cafe/bar, and the movie theater to watch Firewall.

I guess this unseasonably-warm winter couldn’t last forever in the DC area! We are forecast to receive 6-10 inches of snow during the next few days. I’ve not had the opportunity to ride my scooter in less than perfect conditions like those expected during the next couple of days, but with reason and safety abound, hopefully a little white stuff won’t keep me off the roads for too long!

One nice thing about Washington DC is that there are dozens of traffic cameras located throughout the city. There happens to be one just up the street from my apartment with a clear view of the sidewalk in front. These cameras are accessible via the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) website, When I park my Vespa in front of my apartment, I can check up on it 24/7 via the DDOT website. I used to think such cameras seemed a bit intrusive, but I believe I’ve found a way to put them to work for me. Though I don’t know for certain, I’d like to think that if anything ever happened to my scooter while parked out front, I could ask DDOT to retrieve archived video footage to help solve the case.

Most recently, there was a city work crew doing work on the sidewalk in front of my apartment. I was able to periodically check-in remotely to make sure my Vespa was never in their way. And of course, it’s always flattering to watch people stare in amazement as they walk past my parked Vespa!

During the past few weeks, it has become some sort of ritual.  The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning, along with checking my e-mail, is to take a look at the day’s weather forecast.

Most of the people I’ve talked with about scootering, including the sales team at the local Vespa dealership, seem to think that the winter months mean an end of riding until Spring.  Subconsciously following this mentality, I groan every time I see the forecast calling for temperatures in the mid-30’s.

The truth is that once I get on my scooter I tend not to notice the cold temperatures.  Sure, riding on a sunny, 70-degree day is optimal, but I’m thrilled enough that I can be out enjoying the wind in my face while zipping around DC.  Of course my legs go a little numb, but to me it’s totally worth it!

Update: Check out the new series Winter Riding? No Problem! for a more in depth of cold weather Vespa action!

I feel an introduction is in order.  My name is Lee, and I recently purchased a 2006 Vespa LX150 from the local-area Vespa dealer.  I’ve been the proud owner for a little less than two weeks, and already the odometer reads over 100 miles traveled!

I have been posting about travels on my Vespa to my primary blog, however I started to get a sense that my mainstream readers thought I was nuts for selling my car and buying a scooter.  In the age of gas-guzzling SUV’s, how could someone sell their beloved oil monster and go against the grain?!  Sixty miles-per-gallon is just a few too many for the status quo.

In any case, I hope this website proves useful for folks considering their first Vespa, looking to tweak their current one, or just sharing in the fun of ownership.  Thanks for stopping in, and feel free to subscribe to this site’s RSS feed and stay up-to-date on postings here.