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I got this link from fellow eco-urbanist, Ian Merker, an architect here in Sacramento. If you use their referral form to tell others, the text of the e-mail you send reads

As you may know, I’m a proponent of two-wheel vehicle ridership, i.e. scooters and motorcycles. For years, we’ve been trying to get legalized two-wheel vehicle parking in our towns and cities. Given the current state of high gas prices, we are only going to add more two-wheel vehicle riders to the road, which makes available two-wheel vehicle parking even more critical.

Just as parking spaces for compact cars and handicapped parking stalls have increased efficiency and convenience in urban and suburban communities, officially designated two-wheel parking facilities can do the same.

Government agencies should consider removing the two-wheeler from the four-wheeler parking space and placing it in its own, scaled down zone. This is a simple concept that can be embraced by city councils, urban planners, local merchants, contractors, shopping center management and private businesses whenever parking for motor vehicles is provided.

I’d like to ask you to sign the Vespatition, promoting the conversion of some automobile parking spaces to two-wheel spaces. You can do it right here: www.vespausa.com/vespatition

The results will be publicized and sent directly to our local mayors.

I like the language of two-wheeled vs. four-wheeled vehicles because its inclusive enough to include bicycles and motorcycles. “Two-wheeled vehicle” legitimizes a bicycle as a vehicle… I doubt that’s what Vespa has in mind and I’m likely over-simplifying city code issues but anything that gives room for bicyclists to have more options and street-legitimacy is a good thing in my book.

I owned a scooter for years and still regret selling it and would probably purchase an electric Vespa in a heartbeat if I had the cash. So, I’m not downplaying the benefit of Vespa’s and their like as car-alternatives, I just see benefits of a two-wheeled vehicle parking concepts for more than one kind of transportation technology. I know that we’re really trying to push the cities we’re working in to allow us to minimize the number of car-parking requirements and allow for more “two-wheeled vehicle” parking and storage.

But what about three-wheeled vehicles?…they come in bikes like this one and this one and cars like this one and will likely to be an up-and-coming option for the future… I wonder how they figure into the parking mix? Three different classifications? yikes!

Cities are going to have their hands full trying to adjust their codes to new kinds of transportation options as consumers move more and more toward eco-friendly, health-happy and community-minded options. But the challenge is worthwhile: Cities that grab a hold of these issues and pro-actively create solutions sooner than later will have a competitive edge over other cities.

Jason