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Scooties are all the rage in the city

DUBAI - Faster than a bicycle and lighter than a motorbike, the scooty is the 'in' thing now. Zooming here and there noiselessly at a speed of 35kmph, the residents of Dubai are surely fascinated by the two-wheeler.

Smoke-free and hassle-free, scooties have, nowadays, become an easy and convenient mode of transport over short distances. Smaller than a bicycle, but bigger than a tricycle, scooties are equally popular among children, men and women as well.

With several colours to choose from, scooties are abundantly available at all cycle shops in Deira. "I use mine to deliver goods," said, Saeed Ahmed, a delivery boy working a grocery shop in Karama. "It is fast, convenient and very economical," he informs with a grin.

Battery operated but electrically charged, the scooty can be used throughout the day once it is fully charged. "I only recharge the scooty after I finish all my work at the end of the day," said Mr Saeed, adding that it works throughout the day. He says that he finds his job much easier to do.

"Earlier I used to rush on foot, carrying heavy bag loads for delivery to far off buildings, now my job has become much easier as I dump all my load on the scooty and move around the area conveniently," he said.

The scooties have two 'speedometers' installed on the handlebar. One needle points out as to when the scooty needs to be recharged and the other works as a headlight.

The scooty has no gear, therefore, it runs at one speed only. With brakes located at the handlebar, the rider can easily place his feet on the foot ramp at the bottom of the scooty.

The shopkeeper of a bicycle shop in Al Naif Road, Majeed Khan said that he has registered good sale since he stocked the item almost a year ago.

"The scooty has been imported from China and is available for Dh250 to Dh500 depending on the size and options available," he said.

"I have all kinds of customers, including women," he informed. Interestingly, many Oriental women can be seen navigating their way on a scooty on the crowded streets in Deira area.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, a Filipino, Joy Elu, who works for Dubai Department of Civil Aviation said that he bought the scooty seven months ago and is very happy with the results.

"Earlier, I used to walk from my workplace at Terminal 1 to my residence in Deira and it used to take me over one hour. Since I bought the scooty for Dh280, it takes me only 15 minutes to reach home", he said.

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