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A '''scooter''' is a (usually small) type of motorcycle.
(Usually small) type of motorcycle. Popular models after World War II were the Vespa and the Lambretta.


Popular models after World War II were the Vespa and the Lambretta.
The US Department of Transportation [would it be possible to find a British definition. It's the Britcult-Wiki after all...] defines a scooter as variant of a motorcycle with "a platform for the operator's feet" and that has "a step-through architecture" (Department of Transportation Regulation Part 571.123, Standard No. 123) meaning that the part between handlebars and driver's seat is low enough to easily step over the vehicle.  


===Body===
===Brands===
The US Department of Transportation defines a scooter as a variant of a motorcycle with "a platform for the operator's feet" and that has "a step-through architecture" (Department of Transportation Regulation Part 571.123, Standard No. 123) meaning that the part between handlebars and driver's seat is low enough to easily step over the vehicle.


===Brands===
Some manufacturers


===Popularity===
===Popularity===
When first produced scooters were intended as "low-cost product for the masses" and merely "utilitarian", a mere means of inexpensive transportation. (Maida) They were talked of as a way of "commuting economically and conveniently". (Hill 65)
When first produced scooters were intended as "low-cost product for the masses" and merely "utilitarian", a means of inexpensive transportation (Maida). They were talked of as a way of "commuting economically and conveniently" (Hill 65). Scooters, especially the Vespa, were heavily advertised and quickly became a "symbol of Italian-ness" (Maida). They also were very popular with [[Mods|Modernists]], who also tended to devotedly customize their scooters with things like two-tone paint and lots of extras (Sarti).
 
Scooters, especially the Vespa, were heavily advertised and quickly became a "symbol of Italian-ness". (Maida) They also were very popular with [[Mods|Modernists]], who also tended to devotedly customize their scooters with things like two-tone paint and lots of extras. (Sarti)


==Sources==
==Sources==
* "Department of Transportation Regulation Part 571.123: Standard No. 123; Motorcycle controls and displays." Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. 29 Feb. 2012 <http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.aspx?reg=571.123> last visited 12 Jun. 2012.
* "Department of Transportation Regulation Part 571.123: Standard No. 123; Motorcycle controls and displays." Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. 29 Feb. 2012 <http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.aspx?reg=571.123> last visited 12 June 2012.


* Hill, Ray. "Motorized Two-Wheelers. Economical All-Weather Transportation." ''Popular Science: The What's New Magazine.'' July (1980): 65-67.110.
* Hill, Ray. "Motorized Two-Wheelers. Economical All-Weather Transportation." ''Popular Science: The What's New Magazine.'' July (1980): 65-67.110.


* Maida, Alexis. "Vespa: A Lifestyle Brand." 9 Dec. 2010 <http://loft22.wordpress.com/2010/12/09/vespa-a-lifestyle-brand/> last visited 12 Jun. 2012.
* Maida, Alexis. "Vespa: A Lifestyle Brand." 9 Dec. 2010 <http://loft22.wordpress.com/2010/12/09/vespa-a-lifestyle-brand/> last visited 12 June 2012.


* Sarti, Doug. "Vespa Scoots Sexily Back to Vancouver" Straight.com, Vancouver's Online Source. 3 Jun. 2004 <http://www.straight.com/article/vespa-scoots-sexily-back-to-vancouver> last visited 12 Jun. 2012.
* Sarti, Doug. "Vespa Scoots Sexily Back to Vancouver" Straight.com, Vancouver's Online Source. 3 Jun. 2004 <http://www.straight.com/article/vespa-scoots-sexily-back-to-vancouver> last visited 12 June 2012.


==Further Reading==
==Further Reading==

Revision as of 11:23, 13 June 2012

(Usually small) type of motorcycle. Popular models after World War II were the Vespa and the Lambretta.

The US Department of Transportation [would it be possible to find a British definition. It's the Britcult-Wiki after all...] defines a scooter as variant of a motorcycle with "a platform for the operator's feet" and that has "a step-through architecture" (Department of Transportation Regulation Part 571.123, Standard No. 123) meaning that the part between handlebars and driver's seat is low enough to easily step over the vehicle.

Brands

Popularity

When first produced scooters were intended as "low-cost product for the masses" and merely "utilitarian", a means of inexpensive transportation (Maida). They were talked of as a way of "commuting economically and conveniently" (Hill 65). Scooters, especially the Vespa, were heavily advertised and quickly became a "symbol of Italian-ness" (Maida). They also were very popular with Modernists, who also tended to devotedly customize their scooters with things like two-tone paint and lots of extras (Sarti).

Sources

  • Hill, Ray. "Motorized Two-Wheelers. Economical All-Weather Transportation." Popular Science: The What's New Magazine. July (1980): 65-67.110.

Further Reading

  • Mazzanti, David. Vespa. Das offizielle Buch – alle Modelle seit 1945. 2nd. ed. Bielefeld: Delius Klasing Verlag, 2006.
  • Davies, Pete. The Lambretta Bible. Covers All Lambretta Models Built in Italy: 1947 – 1971. Dorchester: Veloce, 2008.