Of the seven colours of the rainbow, the theme of
this issue of the Connections, I have been allotted the fourth and middle
colour of the rainbow to write about - the colour green.
The usual ideas present themselves, as I sit fingers
poised above the computer keyboard, of recycling, reducing ones CO2 footprint
and saving energy, but not this time. This time I shall approach the colour
green on a tangent in a direction of what I would call, semi-green.
There is a changing awareness of how to tackle
pollution when it comes to personal transport, by opting for the lesser
polluter. As a reaction to the often-prohibitive costs of running a car, many
inhabitants of the Netherlands are opting for a scooter. Previously the domain
of the young and often seen as noisy and naff, the scooter is increasingly
becoming a favourite, particularly with the more mature clientele of forty plus.
Evaluating the pros and cons, it’s not rocket science to discover
that a scooter is cheap to run, can get you across town in the blink of an eye,
avoids traffic jams and can be parked anywhere, just like a bicycle. That said,
the millionth scooter has long left the showroom floor in the Netherlands, for
the open road and now like a plague of locusts, they are everywhere. Amsterdam
is reported recently as having 1.6 million scooters in the city.
So what now?
Will the famously wide Dutch cycle paths have to be made wider still to
accommodate the additional numbers of buzzing scooters and thereby, finally,
relegating the car to a narrower one? I may well jest, but methinks the day of
personal transportation is evolving towards a more economically viable options,
albeit in its infancy.
So, what’s out there to choose from? Well, there are
a myriad of different brands of scooter to choose from, with an equally broad
range of prices for every pocket. But, moving right along and ignoring the riff
raff, the most popular model to date, is that of the hip and trendy Italian,
Vespa. Being totally unenamored by cars myself, recently I bought a Vespa as
an alternative to my bicycle and yes, I love my Vespa! Decked out in a stylish
black with chrome and beige saddle (often with my son riding pillion), I wiz
through the streets of Groningen with the greatest of ease. Everyone looks at a
Vespa too as it passes, as they are a design masterpiece and very stylish; as a
result we are often waved and honked at.
So where did it all begin? The Piaggio Company was
founded in 1884 by Rinaldo Piaggio (1864-1938) in Genoa. Vespa’s design has
evolved from a single model first manufactured 23rd April 1946, from a design
by aeronautical engineer Corradino D'Ascanio at the end of WWII, into a full
line of scooters and a total of seven companies, owned by Piaggio. This has
made Piaggio a forerunner in the scooter world, producing the first globally
successful scooter ever. The unique design of the Vespa appeared during the
early years of the post war rebuild and was seen as a symbol of the democratic
spirit that supported certain aspects of design in Italy during that time. As a
result the scooter’s signature style, of a painted pressed steel unibody
totally encasing the engine, flat floorboard and prominent streamlined
protective front has made them famous the world over.
Vespa even has a page on Facebook to become a fan
of. If, however, you’re looking for the real low down on the variety of models
and accessories available, Vespa meet-ups the world over, as well as the whole
Vespa lifestyle, shopping and limited editions scenario, then I would point you
in the direction of their website: Vespa, but be warned, that’s the
thin edge of the wedge!
I hope this has warmed you to the charms of going
semi-green and maybe even becoming the proud owner of a Vespa in the future
too. Otherwise, next time you’re out and about and see a Vespa, why not give a
wave? If it’s me I’ll be sure to wave back.
