Toy, or traffic beater? (CityBug Electric Scooter)

Member Name: Gorgon

Product:	CityBug Electric Scooter
Date:	01/06/02 (9643 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great traffic beater for short distances, Eco-friendly, Cost-effective

Disadvantages: Can be hard to fold/unfold, Heavy unless you're Scharwzenegger, Not the fastest...

Is it a toy, or a commuting solution? Really, the tiny Citybug electric scooter is a bit of both. At first sight it makes you want to go "Aaaaw" and "Ooooh" and "I WANT one!" (it did me anyway). A sceptical friend I took along for a second opinion couldn't be restrained from leaping on after actually seeing it, test rode it even more than I did, going "Wheeee!" a lot - and ended up buying one too...

STREET CRED?

But lest you think it's too cute for the macho, at the shop a builder happened to be picking his up from repair (he rides it hard & got a puncture or some other tyre damage). He spontaneously volunteered that I'd love it, and that he uses his all the time, taking materials to the site by van the first day of a new job and then just commuting via Citybug. It does seem to inspire devotion in its owners, and no little curiosity in passersby.

WHAT'S A CITYBUG?

It's a little fold-up electric scooter. Not as in cutdown motorbike. Instead, imagine one of those micro scooters but a bit bigger; then add a seat and removable rechargeable battery. There's also a kickstand to keep it upright when stationary.

The footboard's wide enough for both feet to rest on comfortably side by side. You could even stand up while it's going - though why bother when there's a seat (and yep, I don't take the stairs when there's a lift either). If it runs out of charge I guess you could push it along with one foot like a micro scooter, though it's much heavier.

It's smaller still when folded down. You have to remove the battery first. Cleverly, when it's folded part of the frame acts as a carry handle (and you can even move the folded Citybug like a wheelbarrow...). I store mine folded up under a table.

The seat and handlebars can adjust up or down (but not the distance between seat and handlebars). The sensitivity
of brake and accelerator can be adjusted too, though my brake's still not quite as responsive as I'd like.

There's a shortrange and longrange model, the only difference seems to be the height/weight of battery so you can "convert" by swapping batteries. I bought the longrange version.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

You start it by turning a key in the ignition then squeezing and releasing the brake lever once (left handlebar). You squeeze a lever on the right handlebar to accelerate. That's it! But as the motor stops completely if you release the accelerator lever, you learn to time hand signals for right turns pretty finely...

It charges off the mains - connect the battery to the supplied charger. The battery charges either on or off the scooter (it just lifts off - the handle clicks down to ensure it's in place when you put it back on) . The charger has an on/off switch, lights to show it's charging/charged, and a rather audible fan (a bit noisier than a computer fan). (The Citybug itself hums along as it goes too, think milk float but higher pitched...). Oddly the lead for my friend's charger is a lot shorter than mine. 5 hours does it for a full charge (estimated cost 4p), a top up after 4 mile round trip takes only 1 or 2 hrs.

WHERE CAN YOU RIDE IT?

According to the makers and suppliers it's road legal so you can ride a Citybug anywhere you can ride a bicycle as it's considered an electrically-assisted pedal cycle: no licence, insurance or road tax needed to ride it. There are even little pedals on the front wheel so you can pedal it like a bicycle, though I wouldn't want to (kind of cute to see them whizzing round by themselves though).

I was offered a copy of counsel's note of a court case (Met. Police v David Sung, Jan 2000) where someone on a Citybug was pulled up for driving without insurance or helmet etc - but the judge dismissed the summon
s, suggesting the police should be more flexible in their approach to environmentally-friendly solutions to traffic congestion. I keep the copy with me in case I get stopped, but I haven't been yet.

I gather the Citybug's the only electric scooter which has been "passed" in this way, as there don't seem to have been cases involving other brands of scooter. That was a big factor in my deciding to buy it and not another brand (that and the cuteness and nippiness!).

The wheels are pretty small, apparently if they're too big that might change the legal status of the Citybug. But surely they could have made the wheels a little bit bigger without affecting that - for the sake of customers' bottoms if nothing else! (see below).

I usually stick closely to the left. As it's so little and doesn't accelerate that quickly, I'm still wary of right turns across the path of traffic as I don't trust most motorists not to run me over. So I do get off and wheel it across busy roads sometimes. However I'm getting more used to it and I daresay it won't be long before I start weaving in and out of cars at traffic lights... though I'd never assume red lights don't apply to me, not like many cyclists who don't seem to care that the pedestrian they nearly knocked over may be someone's grandma.

FACTS AND FIGURES

The official info says -

Dimensions: just 108cm long × 48cm wide × 69cm high folded, 98cm long × 25cm wide × 28cm high unfolded
Colours: despite the photo on the Citybug site, they don't (sob sob) make them in red anymore (my first choice), not even a cheerful yellow (my second). But there's smart shiny black, pearly white, racing green and a kind of royal blue. Lobby Citybug to bring in red and yellow!
Weight: 21 kg with lead acid battery (ie about the max suitcase weight on the plane)
Range on one charge: 8-12 miles for longran
ge, 5 miles for standard
Carrying capacity: 15 stones or 95 kg
Top speed: 14mph
Charging time: up to 5 hrs
Battery life: the shop said it would last years before needing replacement, and as it lifts off you can just get a new battery (with some electric scooters it's built-in and you'd need to replace the whole scooter)
Price: I got mine for £550. There's a 1-year guarantee. The special basket (only about 1 ft across × 8"× 8" high) costs extra. Most types of bicycle locks/lights will do fine though there are official Citybug ones for sale. I bought a loud (non-Citybug) horn too! They sell other bits & bobs like spare charger, even a carrycase for the folded scooter (though you shouldn't need one).

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

If you're thinking of getting a Citybug, here are some things you might consider first:

- test ride it. It's worth it. But it may feel different in real use. On test it seemed too fast & sensitive compared to the alternative (but 3-wheeled), more stable E-Pegasus scooter, but in action I now keep wanting it to accelerate even faster etc! It's still quite twitchy though; if your hands aren't fairly steady on the handlebars (luckily not too hard for me to get used to), it wobbles from side to side. Best is to keep your hands mostly still, and steer by leaning, except for sharp turns of course...

- top speed is theoretically 14 mph but that depends heavily on your weight ('scuse the pun). I go a lot faster than my friend who weighs 2 stone more than me - victory to the lightest! Be ready for being overtaken by cyclists, I swear they deliberately put on a spurt of speed just for the satisfaction. Though it's not hard for a good cyclist to do over 14 mph... I wish it was faster - the low max speed helps it stay road legal but couldn't they make it a bit speedier without jeopardising that, given that cyclists often are?

-
the acceleration (on mine anyway) can be inconsistent, sometimes I squeeze and nothing happens for a few seconds, other times it responds much more quickly. Don't know why. But I've learnt to compensate for it.

- range on one charge is supposedly 8-12 miles - but you really, really, REALLY don't want to go more than 3 or 4 miles each way. With the limited top speed, any further and it'll feel like you've been travelling forever. (Pulling the accelerator lever towards you with your hand is easier to sustain for long periods than squeezing, but I could sure do with cruise control.)

- remember the longrange battery is HEAVY, worse than a car battery. Don't count on taking this baby up or down too many stairs if you're no Schwarzenegger and you value your back. Even one high step is hard (and even putting the battery on or removing it!).

- when lifting it up or down a step or kerb, be VERY careful not to let the bottom bit under the battery bump or scrape anything; that killed the engine once and I had to turn it off and back on to get it working again, heart-stopping as I was exactly halfway to where I wanted to go on my first venture out, in backstreets in the middle of nowhere much!

- if you don't cycle much, but plan to use the Citybug a lot, get used to saddle-soreness - or toughen up. The wheels are small so it can be a bumpy ride. I've learnt to lift up off the seat a little at bumps, and plan my routes to maximise time on smooth tarmac where I can (not easy in London). You really don't want to go anywhere badly surfaced unless you've heaps more cushioning than I do!

- security can be tricky. You need the key to start it, but even without, anyone can just wheel it away. The best is to lock the part of the frame just above the front wheel to a railing, bikestand or lamppost - or bring it indoors (if there aren't too many steps!). In practice this means that
I now automatically check out railing/post availability and number of steps up, anywhere I might think of riding the Citybug to. Also the battery just lifts off, whereas I feel it should be locked in place whenever the key isn't in the ignition. Still, it's so heavy to carry, and colour-matched to the scooter, and there's not much of a market for stolen Citybug batteries yet I suspect, that so far I've taken the risk of leaving it rather than lug it up 3 flights of stairs with me (though you could if you really must...). Of course you may wish to ensure it's insured against theft

- the instructions tell you how to fold, not unfold it... you'll work it out, but it's best get them to show you in the shop and try unfolding it there yourself a few times

- it's virtually impossible to fold or unfold it by yourself, you need someone to hold the handlebars to stop them falling on your head when folding it (or to keep them out of the way while you try to click it in place when UNfolding it). Or some other way to prop up the handlebars. Maybe I just haven't mastered it yet, but it's not just me, my friend got quite a clunk on the head once. Also you need to be very strong to push click the mechanism forward, necessary for both stages. A tip - if your thumbs won't do it, try your palm, maybe use a cloth to protect it. Of course, if you have the room, you could just keep it unfolded permanently.

- the warning says don't ride it in the rain. In England?? How?? I don't take it out if it's pouring (it's electric after all - sensitive on the underside, see above, and it rides low), but what if I'm caught in a shower mid-journey? I had to use it once after it rained and it was fine, but I did steer clear of puddles.

- they also say not to use it at night - is that overkill? I haven't had to yet, but I have lights and fluorescent belt and personally would be willing t
o (but don't try that at home!)

- I'd recommend getting a bike helmet and fluorescent belt like cyclists use - the scooter is small, and you want to be visible on the road. I did think about a flag but decided that would be going too far... As for bike leathers, well it can get cold at top speed so gloves might be good, but it's not exactly a Harley...

- its worth investing in a footpump, you're meant to keep the tyres at 40-45 psi and top up every fortnigh though I confess I've not done so yet

- also keep a copy of the court case with you if you can, that's probably the overcautious part of me speaking but it might help you if you get stopped, it's only 2 pages long so no weight compared with the battery!

- get used to total strangers smiling and waving, asking to have a go, asking where you got it, how fast, how much etc. Yes, even in London. It has real novelty value. Though the Citybug's been on sale in the UK for a few years, I've never seen anyone else with one. Ignore the odd sneer or jeer, they're just jealous!

WHERE CAN YOU GET ONE?

The Citybug.co.uk site will help with local stockists - as mentioned, you really should try it first to see if suits you. For Londoners the Solex Centre at 408 King's Road, the Battersea Bridge end (www.solexcentre.com, 020 7795 0175) lets you test ride one in a nearby road and the guys there are very helpful too, that's where I got mine.

VERDICT

I've had mine for nearly 2 months now and it's useful as well as great fun. I have a regular appointment about 2 miles from home and it beats the Tube and walking.

It's even made me eager to go to the shops now, any excuse, thinking of groceries I just HAVE to buy NOW so I can Citybug to the local Tesco's (normally 10 or 15 mins' walk away) and cart them back in the basket plus carrier bags over the handlebars, smugly overtaking wal
kers laden with shopping - and I don't lose my car parking space at home! Tube strikes won't defeat me now as my workplace is 3 or 4 miles away, and the lift will easily whisk the Citybug to my office where I can stash it in a corner. (Still quicker to Tube it in normal circumstances though.)

I am thinking of buying a (lighter, half the height) shortrange battery though, as I don't need to travel far on the Citybug, and it would be a lot easier for a weakling like me to get it up and down my front doorstep. I also wish it had a higher top speed (and maybe range), accelerated more rapidly, was a LOT easier to fold and unfold, and waterproof, and had better security (eg if the key's not in the ignition the battery should lock in and the wheels shouldn't turn). And I really wanted one in RED or yellow! And a taller, longer basket for my stuff...

But it's not expensive to buy or run, it's not space-hungry, it's much better for the environment than petrol-powered vehicles, and has enormous "Wheeee!" factor. Despite the niggles I've mentioned above, I'm a total convert. Excuse me now, I really HAVE to go get some groceries...

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