Photo by Tannis Toohey/Get Stock
Motorcycle accidents are a reliable source of organ donations in North America, and until recently, scooter smash-ups in Ontario were tracked in the same category. Still, there is much anecdotal evidence to suggest that scooters are not as life threatening as their burlier big brothers. For starters, the official hipster transport vehicles are a lot less powerful than your average hog. The fact that Vespas and the like are primarily used for zipping around town rather than letting loose on the open road also helps to curb scooter crash stats. That said, not all Toronto scoot stories are Roman Holiday–esque romps. In 2007, Haydain Neale, the lead singer of the Toronto R&B band Jacksoul, was knocked from his scooter by a car at Kennedy and Eglinton. He was wearing a helmet but still sustained near-fatal head injuries that led to a six-week coma and ongoing rehab. Collisions like this are rare. The majority of accidents (often due to slippery roads or snagging a streetcar track) lead to scrapes, bruises and wounded hipster pride.
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What’s with these utterly banal topics on Urban Decoder?! This column used to have fascinating info on distinctly local oddities in law, architecture, and geography in the city. Now you’re covering the safety of a scooter and recycling coffee cups? What’s next? “Which washing machine should I buy?”
August 27, 2009 at 3:21 pm | by A.R.