Author: Rana Glasgal
Decision Support Systems

I love my Lepton!

A few years ago, I moved further away from campus, so riding my bike to work, as I had done two or three days per week, became impractical for me. But I didn't want to drive to work every day, either. Parking was a hassle, and getting tighter all the time. So, I looked into other solutions. I settled on a scooter! But I didn't want a loud, gas-powered scooter. What I really wanted was an electric scooter. I didn't even know if such a thing existed, but I did some research and found an Italian company, Oxygen, that outfits Vespa-like scooters with batteries. So I made the trip up to Santa Rosa and took one (called a Lepton) for a test drive. I was hooked! It was just what I needed.

My daily rides to work are quiet, quick, and safe (the scooter only goes 25 mph!). I never go to a gas station; I just plug it in at home. The ride is a little chilly on those 40-degree mornings, but in the summer the ride is very pleasant. I now have over 6000 miles on my scooter! Those are miles I didn't have to buy gas for, and the environment is getting a break, too.

Admittedly, I get a lot of funny looks; there aren't too many of us scooter-commuters around, and my bright red scooter and helmet attract the attention of little kids and not a few barking dogs. But in a climate like ours, it's a great year-round alternative to driving to work.

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