It’s time to go fishing ...

Roy, from Dawesville in Western Australia traded in his old scooter up to a new Royale three wheeler. He fitted some rear racks to hold his rods while riding from his home to his favourite fishing spot after retiring from the country to live closer to the water.

"It's a bit hilly around here so this scooter gets me out of trouble without having to use a car. It gets me to and from the water here without any problems."says Roy.

Electric scooters can make a real contribution to reducing greenhouse gases if they are charged with Green Power electricity or solar power. And for local trips they are usually faster than a car when you have to take into account finding a parking spot and then walking to your destination.

As an alternative to the car they are economical to run, there's no registration cost, and they're a are quiet and efficient form of transport.

Editorial

Are Electric Scooters Safe?

It's a question often asked. In fact, according to ABS and other figures, electric scooters are one of the safest ways to get around. It's actually more dangerous travelling in a car or even walking as a pedestrian than it is to use a scooter.

It's probably because scooters are low to the ground, don't travel all that fast, and have fail safe braking technology. Almost all scooters can stop from full speed within their own length, or just a little more. The more sophisticated scooters even have an automatic slowing regulator when cornering.

Some steps can be made to make them even safer (see left box), and Scooters Australia has been urging the Federal Government to play its part in implementing some of these strategies.

Not only are they safe to ride, electric scooters are economical, pollution free, and when charged using Green Power, produce no greenhouse gases. So choosing to use a scooter instead of a car is just one small step that can help mitigate against global warming. And with "Peak Oil" just around the corner, higher fuel prices make using electic vehicles a lot more sense.

What do you think? Email us and we'll publish your letter below.

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Victorian Government changes road rules

December 1st, 2009

The Victorian Government has now made it mandatory for all scooter riders who use the roads to travel in the opposite direction to the traffic. Rules for electric scooters throughout Australia are the same as for pedestrians, but the new rule makes it compulsory to traval against the traffic when on the road in Victoria.

Scooter users are permitted to use roads for crossing or in those circumstances where there is no footpath. Otherwise footpaths are to be used. It is expected that other states will follow suit and introduce similar regulations in the near future. Scooters Australia welcomes this development.

Letters to the Editor

This is a new page on our site and we welcome any letters that you might want to contribute. Email here or post to PO Box 458 LANE COVE NSW 2066. Please keep letters to under 200 words. We also welcome pictures with a short explanation. Any topic will do.

Short and Sweet:

"Once again thank you for your personal service, mum's now terrorising the streets. You can't keep her home now and I will be recommending you to anyone that is looking for a scooter."

Mark,  Boulder, W.A.

encl.: Picture of mum on Monarch Royale 4

Miracle Worker!

Sent in by one of our readers (from the web).

As we get older, we sometimes begin to doubt our ability to face new challenges in this world. It is at these times that our hopes are boosted by the remarkable achievements of others who have found the courage to take on tasks that would make many of us wither.

Howard Scloberg is such a person.

"I've often been asked, 'What do you folks do now that you're retired?' "

"My response?"

" Well, I'm fortunate to have a chemical engineering background, and one of the things I enjoy most is turning beer, wine, Scotch, and Margaritas into urine." !