We've touched on Vespanomics before, the merging of economics and the joy of riding a Vespa scooter. It seems simple enough... Vespas get good gas mileage + gas is expensive = riding a Vespa saves you money. Just how much money are we talking? What are the ramifications of choosing to ride a scooter of any sort as your only mode of transportation? We'll get an opinion on each of these questions, and likely more, when Motorcycle USA finishes up its piece on the realities of the Vespanomics principle. Also under scrutiny will be the emissions of the Vespa scooter, though whatever the findings, the new four-stroke catalyzed powerplant will be worlds cleaner than the two-strokers of old. The scooter of choice for this little test is the Vespa GTS 250ie, which lugs along a 250cc fuel injected engine which many claim can return fuel mileage up around seventy miles per gallon. Let the testing commence!

[Source: Motorcycle USA]

First of all, let's admit that I love Vespas. I even got my motorbike's license riding a PX 125 (quite a number of years ago...) but this is nice: Piaggio USA is launching a campaign in which you can participate if you enjoy creating your own videos. So starting today you can win one of the three Vespas if your video is the winner.

The video has to be filmed according to a mini-website called Vespanomics (Under the Go Green section) the Italian iconic scooter brand has launched about the benefits that Vespa claims come from using motorbikes for commuting instead of cars. A motorbike displaces much less weight than any car, so fuel consumption is lower, thus reducing pollutants. They also take less space on the road. I wonder what Southern Europeans would do without scooters in their already congested cities and I'm not sure either about promoting scooting between the cars as some bikers do anyway. Of course, let's not speak about riding on icy roads in winter (although I've seen people doing that).

Of course Vespa is placing itself as the marque for chic scooters, claiming that it's helped defining what "fashion, music and film" are. Nevertheless, it's a great chance to spirit up your creative side and maybe get a new scooter. Visit the link for more information.

Related:

• More on Piaggio's hybrid scooters, with pictures
• Just Gotta Scoot tests the Piaggo MP3, averages 73 mpg
• Today is the 16th annual Ride To Work Day!

[Thanks to Mike Werner from Motorbiker for the tip]

Remember the study that said "if Americans were to utilize one of the latest eco-friendly motor scooters for just 10 percent of their everyday travel, they could potentially reduce national fuel consumption by 14 million gallons of gasoline per day and decrease carbon dioxide emissions by 324 million pounds per day?" Well, in an effort to make that a reality, Piaggio, through their Vespa brand's Vespanomics marketing strategy, is making an effort to make free scooter parking legal in New York. To make this happen, Piaggio Group has "instituted free parking for two-wheel vehicles in Edison ParkFast garages", at the following locations:

• Chinatown -- 174 Centre Street, between Hester and Canal Streets
• Midtown -- 412-422 W. 33rd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues
• Theater District -- 1120 Avenue of the Americas, near 44th Street
• Tribeca -- 15-21 Worth Street, between Worth Street and West Broadway

Not living in New York, I don't think that this will help me any, at least not in the short term. Long term, however, Piaggio's hope is that if a demonstrable number of scooters park for free at their sponsored locales, New York might see the need to take action on the matter and open other areas up without prompting from Piaggio. And if New York makes those changes, other cities may follow suit. Not too much help in Toledo, but it's a start! If you'd like to add your name to the list of those who think this is a good idea, click here.

[Source: Piaggio, Vespanomics]