indigo_rose99

If you are going to get around France with something other than public transportation, you have three obvious choices: bike, motorcycle, and car.

After seeing Montpellier, I have seen the ultimate driving machine for France... the lowly moped. Much scoffed in the United States, it is "the take you anywhere vehicle" in France. You can ride it on the street with the rest of traffic. You can ride it on the bicycle paths. You can even drive it on the pedestrian walkways. I haven't seen anyone take one in a store. Yet. But then, I have only been here two days.

Perhaps is could be the personification of France. Not the grand aspirations of a full motorcycle, but it is better than walking. Who can consider the jolly buzz to be noise pollution? The two stroke engines leave a colorful blue trail in their wake. It is the vehicle of choice of the doggie poop patrol. I am not kidding. If I hadn't seen it myself, I would not have believed it. A white scooter came up to a doggie pile, and the driver made it go away with a vacuum wand. I saw one with oversized tires. Surely it could go offroad.

If there is a moped sold at home with an expresso holder, I will just have to pick one of those babies up. I will buzz around with a haughty look on my face. I can spout the economic and environmental advantages to everyone in earshot. Right up until I become the new grill ornament for a SUV.

Perhaps they are best left in France.