Scooters
Scooters are a smaller version of the motorcycle but with some special individual features such as an integrated platform for the driver's feet, footrests and a special step-through. Motorcycles are heavier and normally have larger wheels. Plus, scooters have the advantage of being easier to drive both than cars and motorcycles. These are lots of other reasons that have made people use them extensively in crowded cities worldwide, as a viable alternative to public transportation or driving.
The first scooters were invented before World War I and they were part of the first motorcycle lines such as Lambretta and Vespa. In fact these models made the history of the vehicles we have today, and the first real evolution was noticeable during World War II when Vespa and Lambretta became popular and sold well. Small wheels, level floorboards and reduced storage space were the features of these early scooters. Innovations like the four-stroke engine and the continuously variable transmission appeared lots of years afterwards.
Scooters are designed for personal transportation, and the engines designed from 50 to 250 cc are the best options for such applications. There are producers that manufacture larger scooters with more powerful engines than these traditional categories, but they are not as popular as the small versions. Moreover it is very advantageous to use scooters because of the traffic conditions and the rest of the legal obligations they involve. Just think of licensing, registration and insurance: the regulations corresponding to scooters are a lot more advantageous than for cars.
In many parts of the world, particularly in Europe and Asia, scooters are the most popular urban means to travel and commute because the low costs, the comfortable sitting position and the time saving are remarkable. In fact, while the sales of automobiles have decreased, those for scooters have gone up. This is justified by the fact that scooters involve a smaller investment than the amount needed for a car.
Besides the navigation through heavy traffic, scooters have another great quality: they require a smaller fuel consume as compared to a car, and they are considered more environment-friendly than other vehicles. Manufacturers have also designed hybrid scooters that work both on gas and on batteries, and in the coming years a powerful electric design is expected for release. The green alternative is a bit more expensive, but the costs are still low if we make a parallel with hybrid cars for instance.