GARY WILCOX/Staff
David Nies of First Coast Honda gives Shorelines Reporter Maggie Fitzroy instruction on riding a scooter for the first time.

GARY WILCOX/Staff
Shorelines reporter Maggie Fitzroy stops her scooter on Third Street South before making a turn in Jacksonville Beach. This was her first time piloting a scooter.

GARY WILCOX/Staff
David Nies of First Coast Honda gives Shorelines Reporter Maggie Fitzroy instruction on riding a scooter for the first time.

Click Thumbnails to View

A first-time driver quickly feels at ease

Click-2-Listen

I rode my first scooter on Friday the 13th.

It was scary at first, but after a three-hour ride from Jacksonville Beach to Ponte Vedra Beach and back, I relaxed and it was fun.

I've been afraid of riding motorcycles my entire life. But I have been seeing more and more scooters, small motorcycle-like vehicles, around the Beaches.

I've seen people of all ages riding them. One Sunday morning, I noticed a gray-haired woman in a polka-dot dress pulling out of a church parking lot on a Vespa.

With gas prices going up and up, I was curious. What does it feel like to ride on one? Would I have the courage to try it? What roads would I ride on, where would I feel safe? Would I feel safe?

I got my opportunity when Shorelines photographer Gary Wilcox and I borrowed some Honda Ruckus scooters from First Coast Honda of St. Augustine.

David Nies of First Coast Honda gave us some brief instructions, which were easy to follow and remember: Put in the key, flip on the switch, sit on the scooter and push it forward until the kick stand rolls up. That was it, we were ready to go.

I was probably more nervous than most people, and we chose to wear helmets although they aren't required by law.

We practiced on back streets first, which was easy, even though 10 mph felt really fast. After several times around a small neighborhood, I was ready to turn onto Ninth Street, where the cars were. That was scary because I wasn't used to the controls yet, turning my right hand downward to speed up and controlling the speed with my wrist. There are two brakes as well, one for the front and one for the back.

After several blocks, we turned right to take side streets to the Shorelines office. Then I geared up my courage to venture onto A1A for a few blocks. Then we got on First Street, went to Ponte Vedra Beach, turned left on Ponte Vedra Boulevard and headed for Solana Road. By that time, I had worked my way up to 20 mph.

I finally did.

It felt so fast.

When a car came up behind me, I pulled over when it was safe to let them pass me.

Before my ride, I had visions of touring the country on a scooter. On back roads. I'd call it "Scootering Around America" or something like that.

Except, I was surprised by how long it took me to get used to going 20 mph. It was a hot day, but felt cool. It was fun.

We stopped for ice tea at Mona Lisa Ice Cream and Coffee House on First Street North in downtown Jacksonville Beach.

Parking was interesting. Where should we park? At a bike rack? Wouldn't fit. On the sidewalk by the front door? Was that legal? Finally, we parked both scooters in one car slot in a parking lot across the street.

That worked.

When it was time to take the scooters back, we drove to 13th Avenue South and crossed over Third Street. Gary was ahead of me and turned left.

At first I was scared to drive on A1A, but I quickly relaxed and did fine for the two blocks it took to get back to the Shorelines office.

By then, riding a scooter felt natural. I wasn't scared at all.

At one point I looked at the speedometer and I was going 25 mph.

I was proud of myself.

If gas prices keep going up, I could see myself riding around on a scooter, where you feel more in tune with the world around you.

Here at the Beaches, it's possible to get most places on back roads. But I also discovered I could ride on A1A and Ponte Vedra Boulevard.