DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Jenn At The Race Street Pier

Q: Where and how did you get that scooter?

A: Like all great things that have come to me in life, my scooter was bought with minimal judgment on a whim. Scooters have long been eye candy for me. When I walked into the store two years ago to touch all the pretty things under the guise of asking questions, there really was only one possible outcome. Two hours after walking in, I walked out with a new scooter. It turned out to be one of the best purchases I've ever made.

Q: How would you describe your purchasing experience?

A: I bought my scooter at Philadelphia Scooters at 1733 E. Passyunk Ave. I remember the names of all of the dealers because I now call them all friends. Buying a scooter isn't just buying a vehicle. It's buying a lifestyle and community. The guys at Philadelphia Scooters deliver on both.

Q: Where did you get that awesome R2D2 helmet?

A: I made it. Initially, it was the ugly duckling of helmets. It looked pretty jacked up before I did my fairy godmother thing to it. It was an odd, dark, maroon color and it had been used as a rental helmet. Long story short, I mostly did a lot of spray painting and clear coating.

Q: Wait, can I ask, where do you live and how old are you?

A: Fishtown, 19125. Twenty-five.

Q: OK, back to the scooter: What do you mainly use it for?

A: Until recently, I drove it to and from work, but I recently moved a block away from work. Now I use it mostly to shoot womp rats. I also go on art supply trips to Blick and A.C. Moore, visit friends, get groceries, do errands, or just ride to get some fresh air.

Q: What's your favorite and least favorite part about riding around on a scooter? 

A: I'd say my favorite part is when the wind hits me as I reach top speed. I feel like a total badass. My least favorite part is when I'm stopped at red lights and people ask me really unoriginal questions, most commonly: "Can I get a ride?"

Q: Do you have any rules on your scooter?

A: Rules for passengers on my scooter: Get off! OK, sometimes I let cool people ride on the back, but only really cool people.

Q: Does your scooter have a theme song?

A: If I was driving on my scooter in a movie, I can totally imagine the theme song from Indiana Jones playing as I use some maneuvers to throw off all the bad guys chasing me.

Q: If your scooter had a human emotion, what would it be and why?

A: This is not a joke. My scooter channels the spirit of R2D2--gender neutral, a good and loyal friend, and totally capable of pulling some crazy laser gadget sh*t you didn't see coming at all. Well, hopefully you did see some of it because I always use my turn signal.

Q: How long do you plan on keeping your scooter?

A: The brilliant thing about scooters is that they can go on almost forever. The parts and labor are relatively cheap when compared to a car. If I really wanted to, I could be driving this thing as a granny. That said, after a certain amount of time, you might as well buy a new scooter, so I'd guess it'll be at about 8,000 miles before I upgrade.

Q: What do you think your next vehicle will be?

A: All I know about my next vehicle is that it will not be a car. I'll get another scooter. Most importantly, it will have a larger engine, so it can go faster. A nice, clean vintage look is important. It would be nice to find one with a flux capacitor.

Q: Is there anything else we should know about your scooter?

A: I really, truly believe that everyone in Philadelphia should drive a scooter. It's perfect for the size of this city. It's stylish, extremely gas efficient—two to three bucks a week, if that—and you can ride year round. Snow is the only thing that stops me. Also, I know of a girl who can make some bangin' custom helmets.

Photos and interview by Michaelangelo Ilagan

View previous Defend Your Ride features as well as other great stories for people who love cars at CBSPhilly.com/Autos.