For Keven Mack, riding a push scooter comes down to the low cost.
“I don”t need a car and don”t need to worry about expenses for a car,” Mack said. “And as a student that is really important.”
Besides the low maintenance, Mack said Moscow is a small town and he does not need a car to get around.
“I am able to get from downtown to uptown in 15 minutes if I go the right way,” Mack said. “And also I like to stay active, and I like to be fit and the scooter definitely helps with that too.”
Mack, a double major at the University of Idaho, said although he works two jobs, he is not able to afford a car. While Mack said using a scooter is the best option for him right now, he”s working toward buying a car for when the weather gets bad.
Mack said Moscow”s rapidly changing weather can make riding his scooter more difficult. One second it can be nice outside, he said, and the next it can be pouring down rain. Since it”s not as reliable as a car, Mack said using a scooter can make people late for appointments or work.
“I get a lot of ride offers from people I know when the weather”s bad since they know the fastest way I am able to travel is by scooter,” Mack said.
Mack, who has been riding a scooter since he was 8 years old, said he wants people to overcome their preconceived notions and stereotypes about scooters. He said people often think scooters are only meant for kids, and adults who do have scooters are not grown up.
“I have managed to live and grow up just fine,” Mack said. “So I think just they have that image of kids on scooters.”
While riding, Mack said he has to keep a close eye on motorists, since they are not always aware of their surroundings.
He said a scooter is an affordable transportation option that does not require a lot of skill to use.
“If you are definitely hard on cash, a scooter is a good way to go because you don”t need a good fancy one,” Mack said. “You just need one that is just going to be sturdy and take the bumps sometimes.”
Megan Gospe can be reached at [email protected]