If even electric cars aren't the answer, then how should people best get around? Scooters are a feasible alternative for some, and the city of Boston just gave two-wheel drivers a boost with a new motor scooter parking program. There are 40 spaces in the Back Bay area that cost just 25 cents an hour instead of $1 an hour. Another benefit for scooter drivers is that the meters don't have a time limit, so you can just park and forget about feeding the meter. Vespa, unsurprisingly, thinks this is a good idea.
The scooter company issued a press release congratulating the city. The CEO of Piaggio Group Americas, which imports Vespas into the U.S., Paolo Timoni, said:
[Source: Piaggio Group]
PRESS RELEASE
MOTOR SCOOTER COMMUTERS EARN EXCLUSIVE PARKING SPACES IN BOSTON
Vespa Congratulates the City of Boston for Sustainability Effort
NEW YORK (Sept. 7, 2010) – Metropolitan traffic congestion is an ever-growing concern that perplexes most U.S. cities, frustrating urban planners and residents alike. Increasing the use of two-wheel transportation is a simple alternative to reducing traffic congestion that urban commuters face daily across America.
For the growing number of residents living in metro Boston looking for the same solution to their in-town transportation challenges, switching to motor scooters is a very appealing option. However, with the switch, urban commuters sometimes find it difficult to locate designated parking areas, which prompted Boston to implement a motor scooter parking program modeled after successful efforts in other major metropolitan cities.
On August 26, the city of Boston began executing a motor scooter and motorcycle on-street parking pilot program to better accommodate two-wheel commuting in the city. Scooter enthusiasts will now find 40 spaces designated for scooter and motorcycle parking throughout the Back Bay area. The spaces are metered and pro-rated with 25 cents buying one hour instead of the standard 15 minutes. For commuters, the meters will be on from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and off at nights. Additionally, the parking spots do not have a time limit, eliminating the need to feed the meter.
"I'd like to congratulate Mayor Thomas Menino on his decision to execute a two-wheel parking program for the city of Boston," said Paolo Timoni, president and CEO of Piaggio Group Americas, importers of Vespa motor scooters. "With better fuel economy than hybrid cars, scooters are not only a viable solution when it comes to reducing traffic congestion, but equally effective at reducing America's oil consumption and protecting our environment. With this new initiative, therefore, Mayor Thomas Menino has also taken a concrete step to help Bostonians to reduce their oil consumption and carbon footprint. I can only hope that more cities will follow Boston's example and offer similar programs for two-wheel commuters."
In 2007 Piaggio Group Americas conducted a traffic model study in New York City in response to the growing concerns about traffic congestion. The results showed by shifting the daytime vehicle mix to 80 percent cars / 20 percent scooters, the following would result annually:
For more information about the benefits of two-wheel transportation, visit www.vespausa.com and click on the Vespanomics section.
About The Piaggio Group
Established in 1884 by Rinaldo Piaggio, and based out of Pontedera in Pisa, Italy; the Piaggio Group is one of the world's top manufacturers of two-wheel motor vehicles. With more than 7,000 employees, an annual production of more than 610,000 vehicles in 2009, five R&D centers, seven production facilities in Europe and Asia and operations in more than 50 countries - the Piaggio Group has a consolidated leadership in the European two-wheeler market. The company produces scooters, motorcycles and mopeds in the 50cc to 1,200cc displacement range, marketed under the Piaggio, Vespa, Gilera, Derbi, Aprilia, Scarabeo and Moto Guzzi brands. The Group also manufactures three- and four-wheel light transportation vehicles for the Ape, Porter and Quargo ranges.
The scooter company issued a press release congratulating the city. The CEO of Piaggio Group Americas, which imports Vespas into the U.S., Paolo Timoni, said:
Some have, like San Francisco CA (1,000 scooter spaces), Columbus, OH (300 spaces) and Atlanta, GA (at least three, but probably more). Any two-wheel benefits available in your neck of the woods?I'd like to congratulate Mayor Thomas Menino on his decision to execute a two-wheel parking program for the city of Boston. With better fuel economy than hybrid cars, scooters are not only a viable solution when it comes to reducing traffic congestion, but equally effective at reducing America's oil consumption and protecting our environment. ... I can only hope that more cities will follow Boston's example and offer similar programs for two-wheel commuters.
[Source: Piaggio Group]
PRESS RELEASE
MOTOR SCOOTER COMMUTERS EARN EXCLUSIVE PARKING SPACES IN BOSTON
Vespa Congratulates the City of Boston for Sustainability Effort
NEW YORK (Sept. 7, 2010) – Metropolitan traffic congestion is an ever-growing concern that perplexes most U.S. cities, frustrating urban planners and residents alike. Increasing the use of two-wheel transportation is a simple alternative to reducing traffic congestion that urban commuters face daily across America.
For the growing number of residents living in metro Boston looking for the same solution to their in-town transportation challenges, switching to motor scooters is a very appealing option. However, with the switch, urban commuters sometimes find it difficult to locate designated parking areas, which prompted Boston to implement a motor scooter parking program modeled after successful efforts in other major metropolitan cities.
On August 26, the city of Boston began executing a motor scooter and motorcycle on-street parking pilot program to better accommodate two-wheel commuting in the city. Scooter enthusiasts will now find 40 spaces designated for scooter and motorcycle parking throughout the Back Bay area. The spaces are metered and pro-rated with 25 cents buying one hour instead of the standard 15 minutes. For commuters, the meters will be on from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and off at nights. Additionally, the parking spots do not have a time limit, eliminating the need to feed the meter.
"I'd like to congratulate Mayor Thomas Menino on his decision to execute a two-wheel parking program for the city of Boston," said Paolo Timoni, president and CEO of Piaggio Group Americas, importers of Vespa motor scooters. "With better fuel economy than hybrid cars, scooters are not only a viable solution when it comes to reducing traffic congestion, but equally effective at reducing America's oil consumption and protecting our environment. With this new initiative, therefore, Mayor Thomas Menino has also taken a concrete step to help Bostonians to reduce their oil consumption and carbon footprint. I can only hope that more cities will follow Boston's example and offer similar programs for two-wheel commuters."
In 2007 Piaggio Group Americas conducted a traffic model study in New York City in response to the growing concerns about traffic congestion. The results showed by shifting the daytime vehicle mix to 80 percent cars / 20 percent scooters, the following would result annually:
- A total decrease in delay of more than 4.6 million hours per year – which translates to time savings of nearly 100 working hours per person;
- Reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by more than 26,000 tons (52,000,000-pounds) per year;
- A decrease in fuel consumption by more than 2.5 million gallons per year
- A total savings for New York City of more than $122 million per year in fuel and labor productivity.
For more information about the benefits of two-wheel transportation, visit www.vespausa.com and click on the Vespanomics section.
About The Piaggio Group
Established in 1884 by Rinaldo Piaggio, and based out of Pontedera in Pisa, Italy; the Piaggio Group is one of the world's top manufacturers of two-wheel motor vehicles. With more than 7,000 employees, an annual production of more than 610,000 vehicles in 2009, five R&D centers, seven production facilities in Europe and Asia and operations in more than 50 countries - the Piaggio Group has a consolidated leadership in the European two-wheeler market. The company produces scooters, motorcycles and mopeds in the 50cc to 1,200cc displacement range, marketed under the Piaggio, Vespa, Gilera, Derbi, Aprilia, Scarabeo and Moto Guzzi brands. The Group also manufactures three- and four-wheel light transportation vehicles for the Ape, Porter and Quargo ranges.
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