05/12/2020
Is that suffragette, Florence Priscilla, Lady Norman riding a scooter through the streets of London?" I hear you say. π€ Well yes it is!!
English socialite Lady Norman CBE, was given the motorised scooter as a birthday gift from her husband, Sir Henry Norman in 1916 and she used it to travel to and from her office in London π¬π§
Manufactured in New York and Germany, the scooter, named the Autoped, was one of the first of its kind and was tested by the US postal service as a means of fast transport for its special delivery service. The foldable scooter was also reportedly used as a quick get-away machine for New York gangs, racing down narrow alleys beyond the reach of police cars π΄π¨ π
A lot of the early scooter designs were unstable, uncomfortable to ride and difficult to handle. The decades leading up to World War II saw the gradual introduction of a range of refinements, including efficient lights and brakes, gears, suspension, enclosed bodies and leg shields.
In the 1930's, scooters were introduced as a the ideal mode of transport and were commonly used among military bases. Ironically, the era of the scooter truly began after the war as a direct result of fuel rationing.
Scooters history runs deep and they have come a long way since the first Autoped. Todays electric scooters are definitely more efficient and eco friendly than their gas guzzling cousins.