Who knew? From around 1919 through the 1930s scooters were considered a great alternative to motorcars. As scooters are being re-introduced to cities all over the world, they’re being met with derision, suspicion, and outright anger by drivers. The auto industry has effectively ensured that cars became the dominant means of transportation over any other means of transport- scooters, bikes, and streetcars were phased out of cities from the 20s onward.
1916 SUFFRAGETTE ON A SCOOTER
Lady Florence Norman on her Autoped.
Yes, she is a suffragette, and yes, that is her scooter! And the U.S. postal service tested the Autoped as a means of fast transport for its special delivery service. ABC Motorcycles produced the Skootamota, which had a top speed of 15 mph (24 km/h), and The Gloster Aircraft Company introduced the Reynolds Runabout in 1919, followed by the Unibus in 1920. The Unibus was promoted as the “car on two wheels.”
c. 1916 Lady Norman on her scooter.
c. 1915 Four special delivery postmen for the US Postal Service try out new scooters.
c. 1919 A folded Rouline scooter, Paris.
Read about this fascinating history, and see more amazing photos!
https://mashable.com/2015/06/15/1916-suffragette-scooter/?utm_cid=mash-com-pin-link