Scootin' Around Seattle

More than one Traveler staffer has succumbed to the scooter craze in recent months (pictured, above). And the need to scoot is spreading. Seattlest reported last week that Scoot About, a scooter rental program based in South Lake Union, is testing a scooter rental program similar to that of ZipCars. The scooters are available to business people to run errands in and around the city. Rates start at $5 per half hour and include gas for the first ten miles.

If you're just in town for the weekend, no need to worry. People not enrolled in the program can rent scooters by the hour (starting at $30 for the first hour) or the day ($75). Everyone is required to take a scooter safety course before renting but only need a regular drivers license (here in DC, scooterists must get a special license to legally scoot around the city). Scoot About owner Susan Richardson just added an all-electric scooter—which means zero emissions for up to 25 miles—to the fleet.

Photo: Noah Wiese

Comments

[Noah]

I'd like to point out that the "special license" you need in DC is in fact a motorcycle license. So driving a scooter is way badass, is what I'm saying.

[pam]

I love that the scooter share thing is happening here in Seattle, but it bums me out that the neighborhood chosen by the folks who run Scoot About happens to be one really well served by public transit - the street car is there, there's regular bus service, and the neighborhood is extremely walkable. I wish they'd chosen more of a satellite location (okay, my own neighborhood), not *just* for selfish reasons. I do wish them success and hope that if they do well, copycats will follow in parts of our city that aren't so well served by alt-transit.

[Electric Scooters]

Thanks for sharing this information!

I believe that scooters are one answer to the growing problem of pollution and global warming! They are perfect for commuting within a city, or for any short trip.

I also have a website about scooters that you may wish to check out. Feel free to visit at: http://www.electricscooteroutlet.com

Thanks again!