Hey, Chicago: No More Vespa For You!

By Alicia Dorr in News on Jul 10, 2006 3:45PM

It appears that while most major U.S. cities are getting wise to the advantages of the Vespa as gas prices rise, Chicago is still sitting on its big, SUV-loving ass.

Okay, so that’s harsh, especially considering the amount of biking Chicagoans do, but the proof is in the pudding: Vespa sales in this city have gotten so bad that the Italian manufacturer of the vehicles is cutting us off from new models entirely. The only Vespa dealer in the city is going out of business, and people who already own one can’t even get the darn things fixed in the city.

It’s all a little baffling, though, when you consider that Vespas get upwards of 90 miles to the gallon. To every other big citian in the nation, even the ones that cost almost $7,000 are worth it in such gas-troubled times. Many people have probably noticed the rise in refurbished mopeds bumbling around the city, with moped and scooter enthusiasts banding together even more than in the past, but that doesn’t seem to be transferring to the its more upscale brothers.

Either way, it seems that the Vespa producers are just sending new models to interested dealerships in the city. Plus, Vespa dealers downstate say that Chicago buyers provide most of heir business, anyway. This was all just a “sky is falling” thing to see if we could make you want a Vespa. To tell you the truth, now we just want a Vespa.