I will be in the Tuscany area June 17-19, 2008 and we would love to rent the Vespas for a day and topur around the countryside. Has anyone done this and can you recommend any companies to rent. I found one in Siena but was looking for something closer to Chianti as that is where we are staying. Thanks....
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23290 posts
What is your prior experience with scooters?
Posted by
OP
irvine, ca, usa
10 posts
have ridden them before in small towns - the islands in Greece, martha's vineyard. I was advised to stay out of the big cities but was told in the small wine toens like Chianti on the the small roads we should be fine. I ride a Honda 90cc dirt bike with my son but do not want to be in traffic or roads that have crazy drivers
Posted by
The Hague, NL (AMS)
2207 posts
Toby,
If you have experience riding than the Chianti region could be fun. There will still be hazards.
It can be very hilly there so try and get a Vespa 125cc motorino (scooter). If you have an IDP, and a US automobile license, you can ride up to a 125cc in Italy WITHOUT needing a motorcycle license. The 125cc will enable you to get up the hills and OUT OF THE WAY of cars and other, more powerful motorcycles. On a 50cc you may "chug" up a few hills and Italian drivers are not known for their patience!
Always brace yourself when crossing an intersection - red lights and stop signs in the country (and even in Rome) are often OPTIONAL. I've been nearly mowed down when I had the green light!
There are many blind corners, narrow bridges, etc. that all require you to be alert. It's WHO GETS THERE FIRST... yielding the right of way may be polite, but might get you killed here. You have to drive assertively in traffic (Not crazy - assertively!).
Watch out for other motorino drivers. They often have NO regard for traffic laws! Two weeks ago, while SITTING STOPPED at a red light, another motorino ran over my ankle before crashing into my bike. He came out of a side street and was talking on his cell phone while driving! Fortunately no broken bones!
Go to this link for "driving in Italy" tips - especially signage: http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/driving/index.htm . This site gives some great tips.
Good Luck,
Ciao,
Ron
Posted by
OP
irvine, ca, usa
10 posts
thank you...do you think we will encounter traffic or congestion of cars and motor scooters in the hill towns? It all seems very intimidating and dangerous....
Posted by
Meteghan, N.S., Canada
152 posts
Toby, the roads around hill towns still see a lot of traffic. When we were arriving at Volterra (via rental car) we came across a group on rented Vespa's. It was scary for everyone. Obviously if you're an experienced driver you might be fine, but you may not enjoy this. Local drivers will blow right past you, and tourists in cars are trying to sight see and stay out of the way of local drivers. The roads are filled with sharp inclines and blind s-curves and there are no shoulders in most areas. Local drivers that know the roads will routinely cut the corners putting them well over the centre line. Lastly, there can be a fair amount of truck traffic, not such a pretty sight when they need the entire corner to take an s-curve. I definitely would not recommend renting a Vespa near Siena. There was a great deal of traffic there. Its really quite a large city.