Look Out Newtown, Here Come The Scooters!

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The latest fad for kids on the go is a tiny scooter weighing less than 10 pounds. And just about every kid in town has one or wants one.

The lightweight scooters are all the rage and are being billed as the ultimate urban assault vehicle. Kids are riding them on sidewalks, streets, and in malls. This past weekend, the Dickinson Park tennis courts were inundated with the two-wheeled carts. And as summer draws to a close, teachers can only hope the scooters don’t turn up in the hallways at school.

The aluminum scooters feature an adjustable handle bar, a rear foot brake, and polyurethane wheels, the same as those used on roller blades. They range in price from $79.99 to $99.99 for the non-motorized versions. The most popular version appears to be “Razor” or “JD Bug.”

“It’s a huge fad right now,” noted Joe Sigler of TC Cycle in Newtown, which sold out the few it had in stock.

Newtown youngster Chris Marks says he likes the scooter because it is lightweight, easy to transport, and, most importantly, easy to do tricks with. Kids say the scooter appeals to them because of its close resemblance to the skateboard, another popular piece of recreational equipment. However, like the skateboard, the scooter is landing a lot of riders in the emergency room. Its sleek frame entices kids to use it for jumps, wheelies, and other fun activities that can be hazardous to their health.

Jason Pinkowski, 11, was spotted riding the scooter on the sidewalk in front of Edmond Town Hall Monday morning. His mother, Lori, followed close behind.

“We have a lot of rules,” she said. “He has to wear his helmet and pads at all times.”

Jason said he asked his mom to buy him the scooter after his feet had finally outgrown his roller blades. Instead of buying another pair of blades (which an 11-year-old will quickly outgrow), the sixth grader went with the scooter. He joins hundreds of other Newtown youths who have taken up this mode of transport.

“We seem to be selling out pretty well,” said a spokesperson for KB Toyworks in Newtown. “They’re scarcer than lions’ teeth.”

But kids aren’t the only ones enjoying the scooters. Teens and adults have also joined in the fun. Just this week, “big kid” Patty Gillen McQuail of Flagpole Realty was seen “scooting” her way along Main Street. The affable real estate professional appeared to be having more fun than the kids. Patty finally agreed to let the kids play with the scooter, but not without a great deal of coaxing by the kids to get her to step off her scooter.

The TC Cycle shop has been getting a lot of calls from scooter owners looking for new wheels. The rubber-like wheels tend to wear out quickly.

“They’re made for very smooth surfaces,” Mr Sigler explained.

Of course, the scooter is not a new concept. However, this latest craze has only recently grabbed a foothold in the United States. The original scooter, the Micro, has been called a souped-up aluminum skateboard that folds for easy storage in a handbag or car truck. It was made by a Swiss inventor and quickly spread to Asia, which remains the main manufacturing base. Over the past year, the little scooters hit the boulevards of major cities in Europe and the United States. They were marketed as the ultimate urban assault vehicle, which appeared to be the proper billing, especially after observing Newtown “scoots” Mike Kearns and Connor McManus handle them. Mike, 10, and Connor, 9, both managed to get their gadgets airborne, clearing broomsticks, pedestrians, and whatever else got in their path. This little scooter was truly made for doing stunts.

One British scooter was reportedly clocked at 39 miles per hour, but parents need not worry. None of the scooters in Newtown were seen going that fast. A more realistic downhill speed would probably be about 15 to 20 miles per hour.