Ah, the beloved scooter. The quaint hum of its tiny engine, light wind on your face, jealous looks from all directions. The kind of scenery that one only finds cruising at 20 mph. Maybe you got hooked on the idea after watching Hepburn and Peck flirt about Rome on a Vespa in “Roman Holiday.” Perhaps it was that trip abroad (France? Italy? Bermuda?) where everyone was riding them – and having a blast. As if we needed a reason to indulge in a spin. While arguably not the best choice for chaperoning the kids to ballet or trips to grandmother’s house, I still make the case for owning a scooter. And as RVers we have more than a few perfect excuses to indulge in one – an excellent secondary vehicle, a lightweight touring accessory for all your getaways, and giddy fun zipping around on one without the taunts from neighbors at home. Come on, admit it – you want one. Now here’s some rationale to justify your purchase.

Scooter Perks

It could have been your cousin’s Moped, that iconic Vespa while touring Europe, or simply one of the hip new Honda models that all the neighborhood kids are driving around. Whatever your past exposure, scooters are hands-down, unapologetic fun. Toss a lunch in the backpack and scoot off for a picnic with the Mrs. Dart around the campground, run errands into town (without waking your 40-foot motorhome), or join one of the many national scooter clubs to take your show on the road. Do you really need a reason? Yes, fun is advantage number one. However, that’s rarely good enough for the family accountant, so let’s get practical.

Under the right circumstances, toting a scooter on the back of the RV is an ideal alternative to towing a car. It’s lighter, way more fuel-efficient, and you can forgo the tow dingy odyssey that, well, gets oh-so tiresome. Choose a highly road-worthy version like the newly imported Vespa series (back in the U.S. after a 16-year absence due to EPA restrictions) and start enjoying the hippest way to get from here to there. With a top speed of more than 60 mph, the revamped Vespas earn their chops as go-anywhere touring machines. Makes you wonder why you’re hauling around that Saturn, doesn’t it? Two-seaters are available if you need an excuse to put your arms around your spouse.

Fun aside, scooters may be the best way for those with mobility issues to get around, particularly if the terrain is a little unfriendly. A super lightweight, portable pedal/gas scooter like Roadmaster’s new DualGlide deploys in seconds, offering ready transit to the campground office or a scenic jaunt through the area. The 400-watt motor propels this retro-looking bicycle to speeds of up to 15 mph – not quite good enough for I-80 but a nice alternative to walking if your feet are killing you. Switch to pedal mode and burn off some of those calories from your lunchtime banana split. Either way, it’s an environmental-friendly means to log some serious distances. And just think, now you can leave the dusty old Schwinn 10-speed at home.

Can you truly experience the local scenery in your tow vehicle or motorhome? Does one capture all the sights and smells of a vacation touring in a Honda Accord with the windows down? Again, I have to argue the point for the faithful scooter, the undisputed champ of full 360-degree, see-all travel. Okay, you can walk, ride a bike, or hook up a dog sled, but there’s just so much to see and vacation time is precious. Opt for the scooter.

Tough Decisions

So many scooters, so little time. Certainly, there’s a lot of models out there to choose from, forcing a careful examination of what you’re hoping to get out of the experience. Obviously, cost is a major consideration. Despite their smallish size and sometimes less than year-round applications, scooters aren’t always cheap, especially if your fancy runs along Italian lines. The heartiest of the Vespa line can easily reach $4,500 – and that’s without helmet and trendy backpack. Huffy’s version chimes in at about $500, and most models sit somewhere in between, based on capabilities and the equally important “cool” factor. Okay, so they’re not inexpensive. Are you still with me? Remember all the fun you were going to have?

Next, like all things you stick onboard the RV, consider the issue of weight. Panasonic’s Power Assisted bicycle weighs (not technically a scooter, but zippy fun nonetheless) less than 50 pounds, so no biggie. Moving up the ladder, things get heavier, up to several hundred pounds more to consider. Of course, even the portliest version is a major improvement over the Jeep you’ve been towing lately.

Ponder what types of use you will get out of a scooter. Trips along major thoroughfares (you’ll need something big, powerful, and able to handle high speeds) or simply a faster alternative to a bike around the neighborhood? A two-seater for you and the missus, or something cheap, lightweight, and ready for solo adventures? Gas or electric? A manly engine or a lawnmower with a cushy seat? The more power, the greater the price tag – but you knew that, didn’t you?

Where will it go when not in use? Scooters such as Roadmaster’s and Panasonic’s fold-up when not in use. Stick it in an exterior storage compartment and take it out when ready. Vespa and its motorized counterparts don’t store so easily, so you’ll need to arrange for a way to transport them. Fortunately, a number of after market products are available for just such a contingency. Camping World’s got a nice carrier for less than $500, complete with ramp for easy loading.

Safety First

Time to make the National Highway Traffic Safety Board happy. With great scooting, comes great responsibility. Two wheels instead of four lends itself to a little more maneuvering savvy than the family Pinto, and if you’re going to hit the streets with the big boys, some due care is required as well. First, get a helmet – and not your son’s plastic G.I. Joe version, either. Rather, a good one. Second, wear it. Don’t scoot in the snow or during wet conditions unless I’m the beneficiary listed in your will. As with any vehicle, knowing your limitations is a good idea. What’s the extent of your scooter’s acceleration? How responsive is the handling? Can it handle bumpy terrain, high speeds, and a sometimes-impatient world full of commuters? Can you? Sure, scooters are small, fun, and rather innocent looking, but don’t treat them like your first bike. Stay safe, be alert, and don’t get too caught up in the moment in your cool new ride.

Brent Peterson is a veteran RV writer and editor, as well as an avid camper and traveler. He is a former editor of RV View and the editor at large for Woodall’s regional publications, and a regular contributor to Coast to Coast, TrailerLife and Highways magazines. Brent lives outside of Chicago with his wife and co-pilot, Anne, and Daisy the beagle.