Here at Telstar Logistics, we've wondered what kind of person likes to drive an ex-police car. We've admired the design of Cushman scooters. And of course, our own brand essence is built around the idea of faux-officialdom.
Now the Wall Street Journal ties these threads together by taking us deep inside the subculture of San Francisco motorists who drive three-wheeled carts formerly used by parking enforcement officers -- aka meter maids. The WSJ says:
The shock value is part of the allure of owning a meter-maid vehicle, as people call the tricycles. A fringe of motorists across the U.S. are ditching cars for retired three-wheeled utility vehicles. They troll websites and government auctions to find used models that they can get for between $500 and $7,000, depending on model, condition and upgrades.
[...]
A driver in cities like San Francisco can park a three-wheeler at the curb like a motorcycle, making it a breeze to find a parking spot on crowded streets. "Like Smart cars but smarter," says Mr. Bennett, because Daimler AG's two-seater Smart ForTwo minicars, though shorter than meter-maid cars, have to parallel-park because they have four wheels. (Parking rules vary by city.)
Common meter-maid models include the Go-4 Interceptor from Westward Industries Ltd. and the Truckster from Cushman Inc. Though data on how many people own used meter-maid cars aren't available, three-wheeler owners say the vehicles have become more popular in recent years as the price of gas has risen.
The Journal also put together a video about the three-wheeler scene, which is worth watching (after their annoying advertisement):
IMAGES: friedmanlynn
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