With five or so scooters viable on campus, I think it is time someone made some positive comments about them. While I would never contend with the idea that Mercersburg's campus is primarily pedestrian--for it is so and has been designed that way--I would say that the scooter is a delightful vehicle to use, when one is inclined to use a vehicle. First and foremost, in its green little way, the scooter can go about 80 miles to the gallon. When mine was brand new, I could score about 100 miles to the gallon. Cars, almost any car, is a guzzler in that light. Parking, of course, comes much easier with less need for space. Parking lots become less crucial.

The first one to ride a scooter on campus was Mr. Tom Rauhauser, and his looked much like the one above, though his is powder blue. He purchased it in the late spring of 2002, and first began to ride it ride around the end of the year. It was at the end-of-year faculty meetings, he would ride up on his metropolitan, looking sophisticated and urbane. He'd park in right in front of Rutledge. At the time, he generously asked me if I wanted to go for a spin, and I immediately took him up on it. By August, I had my own red metropolitan--These Hondas are nice machines. That fall many around campus saw me following cross country runners around on my scooter. (Now--six years later--mine is tired and worn, with an unsightly hole in the seat. I think Mr. Rauhauser's is still in mint condition, for he rides his less rigorously and less frequently than I.)

By the following year, say 2003, Mr. Tompkins had his own metropolitan and, as a man of sense and safety, he actually wore a helmet .  A year or so later, Mr. Kantaros obtained a much more powerful scooter, larger with more cc's. He could be seen this past fall riding around campus on his scooter from time to time. About the same time Mr. Kantaros bought his, Ms. Prescott purchased one and, she too, like Mr. Tompkins, had the sense to wear a helmet.  Finally, this fall, both Mr. Sweeney and Mr. Bershatsky started to ride one. Theirs is a silver one and it rides a bit taller than the metropolitan seen above. I have not forgotten Mr. Mason with his mo-ped, nor Mr. Vink or Mr. Bennett with their motorcylces. I am talking distinctly about scooters, however.

Why so many scooters? I think as Mercersburg has become a more metropolitan (no pun intended) sort of school, as our tastes have become more sophisticated, so too have our styles in terms of transportation. Rural we may be, but there is an urbane feel with these scooters dashing around. Not only are our study body and faculty well-traveled in terms of international venues, but we travel well on the local scene as well. I can only imagine that in the future that we will see more and more scooters on the campus as more of the faculty decide that it is the way to get around. At least that is my bias.

Of course, in these days of rain, slush or snow, I hoof it. That is probably best of all for this gorgeous campus. Taking it it in slowly and noticing all the aesthetic moments of the grounds and buildings as one goes seems most sensible, I suppose. It is, as I said above, the way the campus is designed to be traveled. Nevertheless, I will be on my scooter come spring.
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Posted by Matthew Kearney at December 13, 2007 10:00 PM

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