I was prepared to overlook the Swiss idiosyncrasy of adults using these children’s toys as a mode of transport.
This morning however as I was walking out of the Orange Store in SBB, I was sent flying by a balding man speeding down the corridor on his Micro Scooter. Being typically English I apologised profusely for interrupting his journey but as I nursed my sore ankle I realised the absurdity of adults using these stupid things.
They were all the rage on Bahnhofstrasse in the 90ies, my father's company gave one to every employee to get around town. Probably also because the inventor of the things is a Swiss company domiciled in Küsnacht, supporting a local company and all that. This may be one of the reasons they are still popular in Switzerland.
lol - I made a similar comment recently to which my German friend took offense saying they are perfectly fine for adults and that I should try it. To me though, they are a child's toy. I'll keep to my bike. And try to avoid running EF members over.
When I see an adult on it, I can't stop thinking it is just lazyness to just walk from one point to an other. But I guess it is more for doing it faster.
Yes, I think it's a speed thing. I guess the bigger, made for grownups ones are more comfortable, but I tried to drive my son's one part of the way home from the park once (he wanted to run) and it was bloody uncomfortable! I ended up carrying it over my shoulder to save my back and my pride.
Have you ever seen the convoy of larger (electrically) motorised versions of these things that rears its ugly / ridiculous head in Zürich from time to time? Ridden by six or seven old guys (ze Zippydorkynerdyschooterverein) clad in full lycra, every kind of protective gear, and dayglo orange jackets. Taken together, the full effect totally overwhelms the senses, and would probably cause a riot in most UK cities. It must be bad when your 5 year old granddaughter denies all knowledge of you.
Obviously I’d never admit to using one, but...lets take an 'improvised' example: Commuting to the office when: your route would have, for example, a consistent downhill, on wide, well maintained pavements, of a distance that would take an annoying 25 minutes walking, but is a convenient 5 on a scooter, and if say, the bus always gets stuck in traffic and you couldn't be arsed unlocking and locking a bike for that small distance.
Maybe after work the scooter can be folded up and go on the bus nice and easily.
If, in that totally hypothetical case, I’d say a scooter would be a perfect means of transport. I mean, i would feel a bit silly doing it, but i might do it, say 3-4 times a week when the weather is nice. And maybe I’d ruddy well enjoy it and arrive at work with a smile on my face. Maybe, hypothetically. I wouldn't want to talk about it though
Personally I found using one was not good on my ankles, which stands to reason as one stands on the thing with one leg a lot of the time, and therefore has one's weight on that ankle.
So I never use it since at least 4 years. I tried to sell it but ..... no takers.
I was hit by a kid on his scooter last week. Luckily my shopping bag acted as a barrier. Kid got hurt and started crying but the grapes in my bag were mostly undamaged.
I got one some months ago, and love the bugger, travel time from apartment to train station + train station to workplace is now 75% lower. That said, i don't use it on days I don full business attire, or on romantic evenings out with the missus (though I have debated it).
Just cause some Pillock was riding it in a populated pedestrian area, don't vent out on the rest of us poor souls who can ill afford a Cayenne. As I grow old, I yearn to someday be like this bourgeois gentleman