For some reason, and I’m not trying to encourage this from happening, they haven’t caught on in DC yet. I see them for sale in the stores here, and all I can think about is when they were popular back in the 80s.
What was it, 1984 or so? They were the cool thing for about six months, and then they started collecting dust. I didn’t get it the first time, and I sure don’t understand it now.
Some of the better ones are rated to over 200lbs. I’m more and didn’t break them. They are made of a single heavy-walled aluminum extrusion that is flat on top and two hollow triangular tubes underneath. The arms that hold the axle are thicker yet and solidly welded. I think the weak points for large people on rough surfaces are the wheel hubs. Injection-molded plastic or nylon, they may shatter when you go over a bump.
Other adult features: The handle bar can be raised enough. A longer wheelbase means you don’t lift the front wheel every time you push off so you don’t lose control so easily.
Fell over laughing (hooting, whinnying, gasping) on this one.
The scooters are intensely cool, but as usual, twerps misuing them will wreck the deal. I’ve seen only a few so far, but instantly lusted for one. It took me back to the clunky metal dinosaur I had as a kid. I could fly on that thing. It was my personal anti-grav sled before I knew SF had dreamed of such a thing.
Same thing will happen as with skateboarders, rollerbladers and bicyclers: the novelty will overcome sense, and backlash will follow from folks tired of dodging (getting hit by) twits with more enthusiasm than sense.
But damn, I want one of those things!
Veb