Motor Scooters: All-weather Scootering

Scootering in inclement weather

Just wear your jacket backwards

All-weather scooter driving.

Clothing

In high scooter-use countries where scooters are used almost universally in all kinds of temperature and weather conditions, a simple practice has become common – that of wearing a raincoat, jacket, or windbreaker backwards. It seems like an odd thing to do but, upon reflection, it really makes a lot of sense.

It can be a few sizes too big, that doesn't matter and makes it easier to put on. It's not necessary to zip or button the jacket up the back, the back is not the important part. It's nice to choose a jacket with Velcro fasteners though, just in case you want to fasten it together in the back and unfasten it easily.

A Scooter parking lot in Taiwan (see Scooter Parking)
Note: a full parking lot on a rainy day. .

On a scooter, the raincoat used may be as long as you like. Although your lower body is somewhat protected already by the scooter itself, the scooter design makes it possible to protect yourself from neck to ankles if you like and this makes all-weather scootering much more feasible than motorcycle riding.

Safety

Safety measures must be taken when road conditions deteriorate. On wet pavement (or, worse yet, slow, sleet or icy coditions) the scooterist must assume seriously diminished friction between the road and the tire. Banking in a turn could easily cause the wheels to slide sideways and if they do, you will probably go down. The Your Scooter Manual from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation has this to say o the subject of skids: "... a skilled scooterist can handle a skid. " and goes on to explain that a rear-wheel skid to the right can be corrected by steering slightly to the left. It is best, however, not to assume more road friction than exists. Pretend you are riding on sand. The first dampness on the road is worse, as the oil on the street tends to float up and form a sludgy emulsion with the rain. After a while of heavier rain, road surface friction will improve somewhat but will not approach that of a dry road.

Maintaining Vision

It is always wise to make sure not to allow rain to impare your vision while scooter riding. Your face shield should be treated both outside and in for rain-shedding and anti-foging. See Rain Gear.

Go ahead, try it out.