Scooters Are a ‘Blast from The Past’ One Wheeled Enthusiast Begs Peers to Keep Scooters Part of Choate Campus
By David Lim ‘09
News Reporter
They’re fast, convenient, light, and sexy. They’re cheaper than bikes and easier to handle than skateboards. For these reasons and many more, scooters have taken over Choate, finding their way into the hands of everyone from faculty kids to seniors. At any given place in between classes, it’s not rare to pass by several students riding on them. Most of the time, they’ll be riding at safe speeds and that are not threatening to the pedestrians around them. But sometimes even I find myself jumping off of the sidewalk to avoid getting nailed by a reckless rider, or wincing in anticipation as someone flying at full speed comes close to crashing.
It doesn’t matter that scooters haven’t really been in fashion since the late 90s; as they say, a boarding school is virtually a world in and of itself. What does matter, though, is that they are here—and will be, though whether for a few months to many years is unknown. The number of students with scooters is increasing as people rediscover exactly how fun and handy they can be. Seeing all these scooters brings back many memories of a time that I thought had passed and gone forever. I remember back in the day when I used to devote more time and energy to mastering simple scooter tricks than I did meeting new people or even having a life. My elbows and knees were constantly scraped and covered with colorful crayon-colored bandages. When the day was over and I had had my share of fun, I could simply fold and pack my scooter up for the next day. Understandably, I am loving this unexpected blast from the past.
But like anything really good, there is also a downside to scooters. Not only are they incredibly loud on uneven surfaces, but they can be very unpredictable at times. Just the other night as I was riding a scooter, I realized that the front wheel was off-center. Too late. Fortunately, no one was around as I fell clumsily onto the grass, screaming like a little girl. What most people don’t know about scooters is that, though they cooperate most of the time, they occasionally turn on you. And it will hurt.
You heard Mr. Ford say it at the school meeting, but I’ll say it again: be careful. Know the risk you’re taking by challenging your friend to a race from your dorm to the SAC. Pay close attention at crosswalks and in poor lighting, especially in light of the recent altercation between a bike rider and a car down by the PMAC. Avoid running into people walking, and don’t be rude by yelling as you pass them. The next time you get on your tricked-out Razor® scooter, ask yourself, WWJFD: What Would John Ford Do? He wouldn’t attempt to jump three feet off the ground or race around Mem Circle at full speed to impress third form girls. He wouldn’t get frustrated at congested sidewalks or cross roads without bothering to look or give a friendly wave to the drivers. He wouldn’t be reckless, and neither should you.
Scooters are a lot of fun, but it’d be a shame to see them have to go because of a few preventable accidents. Like any other thing that students find enjoyable and administrators find worrisome, the use of scooters may be banned if we don’t follow the simple rules that the administration puts in place. I loved the 90s, and I could get used to seeing scooters around here. Who knows? Maybe next year Choate will see the return of more products of our childhood, like yoyos or Pokemon cards. If that’s the case, I’m definitely bringing in my Slip ’n Slide® and Super Soaker®.
