by Elyse Archer
Carrboro Commons Writer

Does spending $5 a week on gas sound like pure fantasy? For Chapel Hill and Carrboro residents, it’s now a reality, thanks to Carrboro’s new Scooters Inc.

The scooter store opened on 211 E. Main St. on Aug. 10. Dave Jansen, the store’s owner, is also the owner of Combustion Cycles, a motorcycle store in Durham.

Tonya Stewart, the store’s manager, shows off the “Latte” scooter with Quinn’s artwork in the background.
Elyse Archer photo

The small store might not be recognizable, if not for the vibrantly colored display of scooters outside. Once inside, a visitor will be greeted with a mini-showroom featuring several top-of-the-line scooters, as well as helmets and apparel designed specifically for scooter drivers. Its urban-chic feel is accentuated by several paintings by local artist Nathaniel Quinn for sale on the walls.

Tonya Stewart, the store’s manager and a Carrboro resident, has ridden scooters since she was young.
“Managing the store was just a natural fit for me,” she said.

The scooter store has been running smoothly since its inception, and sales average at about three scooters per week. All age groups, from high school students to retirees, have enjoyed purchasing new scooters. About 70 percent of customers thus far have been women, who frequently find scooters to be an enjoyable alternative to motorcycles, Stewart said.

Stewart cited numerous reasons for purchasing a scooter, whose small size and ease of handling fits in perfectly in a college town such as Chapel Hill, or smaller city such as Carrboro.

“They’re popular because they take up so little space, and you don’t have to pay for parking,” she said.

Riding a scooter is effectively the same as riding a bike, as a license isn’t necessary as long as the speed is capped at 30 MPH (all those sold at Scooters Inc. qualify as such). They also don’t require insurance, Stewart said.

Most of the scooters for sale are manufactured by SYM, a brand that originated in Europe and Asia and is now making its way into the United States. Base prices range from $1,899 for some of the most basic models, up to $2,290 for the more sophisticated ones. One of the most upscale scooters available is the “Latte” scooter, a blend of cream and mocha colors on a larger scooter frame.

When asked about the sudden surge of the scooter’s popularity, Stewart cited the fact that over the past few years, scooters have been featured in the public eye more and more frequently.

“You see them all over Hollywood,” she said. “They’re in movies and music videos, and stars are riding them as well.”

The scooters’ newfound popularity also began when Vespa began importing its Italian scooters into the U.S. several years ago.

For anyone who is on the fence about purchasing a scooter, Stewart asks them to consider several points: A scooter owner saves money on gas and insurance; parking is easy; scooters encourage less congestion in parking lots and streets; and they use less oil than motorcycles or cars.

Scooters Inc. will be open for Carrboro’s 2ndFriday Artwalk celebrations, including the one on Friday, Sept. 14. The store will be open from 6 – 9 pm, and will be serving wine, cheese and a special surprise cake to guests. Groups of “scooterists” can meet up at the store and then enjoy group rides around town that evening.

The store offers test rides to anyone interested in trying out a scooter. To contact the scooter store, call Tonya at (919) 929-0891.