Scooters draw buyers, controversy

Neighborhoods are buzzing this summer, thanks in part to Barry Parish.

Stick-figure skinny, bushy haired and delighted to have a cigar plugged into his mouth, Parish has found himself in the midst of a business frenzy and, well, frenzied residents and police officers who don’t like what he, er, peddles.

In November, Parish opened the Scooter Superstore on North Division. It was profitable from the first month – a feat in retail akin to a college kid finding a good summer job in Spokane.

But the business has been a battle. While sales soared, his store has been picketed by residents who think scooters are irresponsible and dangerous. Thieves have burglarized his shop.

Recent state laws regarding scooters are vague enough that everyone with an opinion on the motorized two-wheelers can find room for interpretation.

As an example, the law says scooters by definition must have no more than two wheels with a diameter of 10 inches or less. Parish interprets the word “wheels” to mean the rims without the tires. Some police officers have a different opinion.

Parish printed out the law on a poster and hangs it prominently in his shop. Customers are encouraged to grab a copy Parish provides so they know their rights.

Basically, scooter riders have the same rights as bicyclists. They are also subject to the same laws, Parish said. They may not need a valid driver’s license to drive a motorized scooter, but Parish recounted one 13-year-old customer who received a speeding ticket.

Parish has no illusions about many of his customers.

He dubbed his bestseller the “Suspended License Commuter Scooter.”

Spokane is a fertile market for such aptly named rides, he said, claiming that some 15,000 city residents have their driver’s licenses suspended at any given time.

“You could say that my business is booming,” he said trying unsuccessfully to hide a grin. “I’m slammed with customers every day.

“There’s lots of people coming out of jail with no money, but you know, many of them can scrape up enough money to buy a scooter.”

That particular model, a sleek red scooter complete with tail lights, blinkers and a headlight, costs less than $300.

Parish fondly recalls getting chewed out by a tow-truck driver upset that his business was down because people with suspended licenses were legally driving scooters rather than breaking the law by driving their cars and thus having them impounded.

Although cheaper scooters are easy to sell, Parish has attempted to carve out a niche by selling customized, higher-quality machines. The margins are so thin on scooter sales that he is leaving sales of the inexpensive models to the likes of Wal-Mart and Shopko, he said.

During a one-hour period Thursday morning, Parish sold two motorized scooters, including a so-called mini-chopper that looks as if a diabolical scientist zapped a Harley-Davidson with a shrink ray.

“Isn’t this thing just cool?” said Joey Treptow, 21, who paid more than $600 cash for one of the “choppers” before he sped down the block.

Parish has sold more than 1,000 scooters since opening his shop last November. With brisk sales comes a busy service department. Scooters are inexpensive, which means they’re quick to break. Batteries don’t recharge. Handle bars snap. Tires go flat. Engines sputter.

The store’s fix-it shop is jammed with scooters sold from stores across the city.

The saying “buy it there and fix it here” fits the Scooter Superstore.

Yet the biggest problem facing scooter owners is theft.

Scooters don’t have serial numbers, they aren’t licensed and they’re easy to sell for $100 on the street.

“There are dozens stolen every week. A guy can rip off a scooter and sell it quickly for drug money,” Parish said. “It’s a problem everyone needs to be aware of. If you own a scooter don’t leave it unattended. Not even for a minute.”

The scooters are also popular with more responsible adults.

Consider Pat Laurence. She’s in her 50s and said scooters are fun, affordable and get great mileage.

“Gasoline is unaffordable so I’m just not driving much,” she said.

Laurence was eyeing a stylish black mini-chopper she’ll ride all summer — with her helmet on — to visit friends.