I wish I was the kind of girl who felt safe riding a motorcycle, because I think it would be really cool to be zipping around Paris on a Vespa, with a cute helmet, wearing high heels, a skirt and a scarf, of course. If you don't know what a Vespa is, it's THIS:
Although they don't sell you the sugar box for carrying packages.
But alas, I have always been terrified of motorcycles and there is really no compelling reason for me to try to face down that particular fear.
Recently, I spotted something interesting that, if I ever was in the market for cheap, small transportation in Paris, I would consider:
This is the Renault Twizy (I think you'd pronounce that "Tweezy" in France) which is an electric vehicle designed for city dwellers. You can have a choice of a light or heavy engine for more power, and apparently you don't even need a driver's license to drive it. (Although I think THAT might be a mistake, considering it handles like a car rather than a moped or bicycle.)
It's a 2-seater but the passenger would actually ride BEHIND the driver, although it doesn't look like there's a lot of space back there. For me, I could see this being an interesting option for shopping (the back seat would be where I'd put packages) or to get across town without having to take public transportation, although I don't know about driving it out on the highway heading out to somewhere like Ikea, driving next to fast-moving traffic. I mean, this thing is SMALL. And we don't have private parking where we live now, and I'd be afraid to park this on the street (and wouldn't want to pay the high cost of a parking garage, either).
But very cute, with this interesting custom paint job. And environmentally sensitive, too.
For how, however, I'll keep my two feet on the ground, on public transport or occasionally in a REAL car.
