I’m tired of driving everywhere I go.
Unfortunately, I live in a place that is freezing cold in the winter and volcano hot and humid in the summer.
We are emerging from a 4-year record drought and it has begun raining again, making walking uncomfortable and bicycling dangerous.
I have been eyeing electric bikes for a while, but I wanted something more compact that I could toss into my trunk for when I needed to take my car, but I could park offsite and walk or ride in.
I decided to try and electric scooter to lower my expenses while I tried out local infrastructure. My small town is trying to become bike-friendly, but it made the mistake of beginning in the wealthy side of town, where people ride bikes for leisure and not for necessity.
In other words, relatively few people use bicycles to commute to work because they don’t have to.
Our downtown area has been trying to become more bike-friendly, but street parking, congestion, and terrible drivers make it dangerous.
I thought a scooter gives me more options to not take up much space. I can also ride them on sidewalks outside the business district downtown. Our streets are a combination of brick and asphalt, can be bumpy in older neighborhoods like the one I live in, and the sidewalks aren’t much better. We have a lot of old, large trees with massive roots that have emerged during our drought, seeking water wherever they can find it, grinding cement and brick to dust.
I bought the scooter and assembled it. I work this week, then I am preparing for the Kansas Press Association conference, a 3.5 hour one-way drive. I’ll have to practice using the scooter — balance, acceleration, brakes — when I get back. Fortunately, I live just 6 blocks from the massive state fairgrounds, which provide plenty of flat wide-open spaces and roads, very suitable for practice.
First, though, I need a helmet, some elbow guards, gloves with wrist guards, a bike lock, and a better backpack for hauling things. Maybe a phone mount, if it will fit on the scooter’s handlebars.
Then I will practice at the fairgrounds, like a teen just learning how to drive. Afterwards, I should feel more confident about taking my scooter to work. Normally, it is a 4 block, 10-minute walk but limits my ability to do errands after work.
All this will have to wait until next week due to the preparations and packing for the conference.
Wish me luck.
Howling Yeti 