NIC HARALAMBOUS

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Dodging Jo'burg traffic

vespahead.jpgI was asked to take part in a bit of a test run of a very groovy piece of transport. Vespa's are kick ass. I was fetched by Jeff, from the Vespa who popped me on the back of his little scooter and told me to hold on. He wasn't kidding about holding on, that little Vespa flew down the streets and in amongst and between the traffic like nothing I'd experienced.Purchase of a Vespa is not for everyone at all, in fact they are fairly overpriced if you ask me. The people at Vespa are well aware of their scooter almost being the most expensive around but they aren't ashamed of it. The scooter is apparently an aspirational means of transport for people not a necessary, as far as I understand. But I personally feel like it is a great way to get from A to B and maybe visit C along the way.I wouldn't take my girlfriend on one as her hairdo would either be destroyed by the helmet or the wind. However a 2-stroke Vespa has been known to make a girl purr in the past apparently, if you know what I mean.It took us a whopping 10 minutes to get from Rivonia to Design Quarter in Fourways and that was in 9am traffic. Incredible. I must say that it is a whole different experience to be so close to cars and their tyres. Looking straight in to windows and seeing a whole person was a bit strange too. But I think if I had the necessary cash to buy one I would. A Vespa is a statement, not a predominant one in SA yet, but soon to be a very hip when traffic becomes a problem (more of a problem at least).