By Adrianne De Castro
Daily Bruin Contributor
It zooms down the hills of Bruin Walk and the sidewalks of
Sunset Boulevard. It’s not quite a bicycle and it’s not
quite a skateboard.
It’s a scooter, and it’s invading campus.
“I actually got one as a birthday present. Now I use it
every day,” said Laura Lin, a second-year political science
student.
According to Tony Farrell, creative services director of the
Sharper Image, the non-motorized scooter trend began in Japan,
spread to Australia and then reached Hawaii and California.
“It is absolutely a phenomenon that, without a whole lot
of advertising, just sort of took a life of its own,” he
said.
Joaquin Hernandez, salesman for Aahs! in Westwood, also said the
scooters have been one of the most popular items within the last
few weeks that Aahs! has been selling them.
“That’s the hottest stuff that we sell here and we
get everyone buying them ““ from students to kids with their
parents,” Hernandez said.
“I’ve been selling about four a day and we’ve
only had them out for two weeks,” he continued.
The most attractive feature of the non-motorized scooter for
many students, though, is its ability to save time and energy.
Riders use one foot to press on the fender of the
scooter’s back wheel to brake, and steer using the set of
upright handlebars.
Most non-motorized scooters weigh about 36 pounds and are about
3 feet long and 4 feet high. But they can be folded up and readily
packed away in just two steps. Some manufacturers even provide tote
bags for greater convenience.
“All you really have to do is lower the handle bar and
fold up the wheels so it closes. It’s really quick and
simple,” Hernandez said.
According to ZAPPY, a scooter manufacturer, the scooter can go
about 10-15 miles per hour with a cruise range of roughly eight
miles per hour.
“It used to take me 20 minutes to get to class but now it
only takes me about six minutes,” Lin said.
“If you’re the type of person that’s a slow
walker or is always late, the scooter is definitely for you.
It’s more fun and it’s faster,” she
continued.
Other students who are considering getting a scooter agreed.
“Walking to and from class and coming down from the dorms
is just horrible. I think having a scooter will save me at least 10
minutes,” said Devon Reese, a third-year sociology
student.
“Plus they just look sweet,” he added.
Most students know about the scooter from seeing others riding
them and trying them themselves.
“My fellow teammate was riding one and I only had to ride
it once to get hooked,” Reese said.
Ryan Bulatao, a second-year engineering student, agreed.
“Me and my friends just saw some guy on them and thought,
“˜Hey that’s cool,’ so we decided to get
them,” he said.
The scooters are not sold in many stores. According to
Hernandez, Aahs! is the only Westwood location that sells the
scooters, though they can also be purchased online.
Students who own a scooter and those who are considering buying
one also expressed a preference to them over skateboards and
bicycles.
“It’s something that’s not too big that you
need a permit to carry or a place to park. You can carry it with
you anywhere,” Bulatao said.
Reese said that the scooter would be easier to control and
easier to brake than a skateboard or bicycle. But Reese also said
that riders should be aware of certain safety issues.
“The wheels are pretty small and the whole scooter is
small so you can feel every bump in the road,” Reese
said.
Bulatao said he feared he may become too lazy to walk to campus
when he gets a scooter.
Though a basic model exists, some manufacturers sell specialized
models for adults. This model’s standing board is higher off
the ground. Most of the scooters cost about $100.
Still, some students are hesitant to buy into the trend, and
other students who are avid skateboarders express an aversion to
the scooters.
“I think it’s more of a fashion statement,”
said Howard Yang, a first- year undeclared student.
“It’s just some kind of fad. I swear only one person
has one and I think they just pass it along to all their
friends,” he continued. “I don’t know how many
people actually own those things.”
Still others such as second-year political science student Emily
Richards thought the scooters looked funny.
“When too many people get them they could become
annoying,” Richards said.
Similarly, Hernandez said that the scooters may some day be out
of style.
“Just like the Pokémon trend died after a while,
scooters might too,” he said. “But for now, I think
they’ll stay trendy and cool because it’s the newest
thing hitting Westwood.”