The History Of Kick Scooters
By Alex Stacey
The history of the kick scooter is quite interesting. Since kids have great imaginations that are uninhibited by doubt, they can create just about anything to keep themselves occupied with fun. The first kick scooters were invented by taking roller skate wheels and attaching them to a small plank of wood.
A handle was constructed with a 2x4 and possibly the handlebars were made from splitting the 2x4 or a piece of pipe was strapped to the top of the board for handlebars, crude as it was, it still worked and got kids to places that made walking seem obsolete.
Some of the earliest models of kick scooters inspired the newer generation you see today. It took about 100 years for the idea to catch back on because many other modes of self transportation received more public demand. The bicycle was vamped up to meet the needs of kids and adults, skateboards became more popular and kick scooters sort of lost their place in history. It wasn't until 1990 that Wim Ouboter saw a need for a push scooter because one of his sister's legs was shorter than the other. She had trouble riding a bike but she could push a scooter, he took the original idea and created a sturdier version.
Since wood scooters couldn't stand up to weather, they would rot or the metal skate wheels would rust, an aluminum version was introduced by Razor. If you ask somebody to say the first word that comes to mind when you mention the word scooter, Razor is most likely to be the one they say. Razor revolutionized the push scooter and gave it more stability and style. They didn't just stick with one version of their widely popular toy; they manufactured them in colors and even created ones that adults can ride. Some Razor scooters have three wheels so once you get going you can ride with both feet on the back and steer around objects with more control. It also helps with balance.
The aluminum scooters of today are virtually quiet. They have polyurethane wheels and the only sound you might hear are the screams of fun or wind resistance from your clothing unlike the metal wheels of yesteryear. They have a hollow tube for the steering shaft and soft handle grips to keep the riders hands from slipping off. Many of them fold up and can be placed in a backpack for safe keeping. They don't take up as much space as a bicycle and if you have to take yours with you it doesn't invade anybody else's space either.
You might still see a big wheel for sale at a mass retailer, they are still around and letting kids grow into new ways of transporting themselves is always fun. I remember riding my big wheel down the middle of the street. My plastic wheels made so much noise I never heard a car behind me, every now and then somebody would honk and that was a great indication to move aside, they did have a bigger bumper than I did. Toys like that were fun to have and distant memories are all we have since you don't see commercials for big wheels much any more, safety is key for parents. That's why push scooters are becoming more popular, the child is upright, they are controlling the steering and the toy is very quiet. You still need to be cautious because we live in a society where people are always rushing around and personal safety needs to be exercised.
A kick scooter can also be ridden in the house, unlike a bicycle. When it gets cold and the kids get stir crazy you can pull the car out of the garage and give them a little more room to scoot around. Razor has recognized the market for kick scooters and is making them available to those who want to do tricks on them. You can do the same amount of tricks on a Razor scooter that you can on a skateboard. I don't know if kick scooters will make an appearance at the X Games anytime soon but they are fast becoming a new tool for professional skaters.
About the author
Skate and Scoot retails a great range of micro scooters for kids of all ages with many different scooter designs. from http://www.FreeArticlesAndContent.com
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