They’re cheap. They’re nimble. They’re relatively low-maintenance. (Most) everyone thinks they’re adorable, rather than a menace. Scooters may not have the gravitas of automobiles and motorcycles, but there’s no better way to get to the post office, the grocery store and the bagel shop in less than 20 minutes. Here are five I’m looking forward to testing this year; some are all-new, some are tried-and-true.

Piaggio’s “Beverly” line isn’t new, but their flagship 350 Tourer is. It’s one of the best-looking new scoots available, with its sporty smoked windshield, spacious 36-litre top box and a host of options. It’s also got some major relative “oomph” with its 30-horsepower, 333 cc engine and 16/14 tires and includes the hella mod PIAGGIO MIA connectivity system, through which you can connect your smartphone to the vehicle via Bluetooth.