Youths find freedom in customized scooters

From cute to retro, new generation expresses itself by personalizing two-wheelers

For some young people in China, scooters are not only a mode of transport, but also a fashion statement to express their personality and a philosophy of finding beauty in the ordinary.

They invest money and time in decorating and personalizing scooters in diverse styles such as steampunk, cyberpunk, Hello Kitty, pastoral and retro. And riding their own creations on the road gives them a great sense of joy.

Yao Xuelei, 28, who works at an internet company in Beijing, favored a checkerboard motif and the famous Mooneyes vehicle modification logo to decorate her new scooter.

Most of the scooter is black and white, offset by a yellow floor mat and gloves. "It is a typical retro style I'm keen on," she said.

The scooter cost about 3,000 yuan ($418) and the modifications were about 300 yuan. Yao drew a preliminary sketch before buying all the materials and it took her three days to complete the modifications.

"I use the scooter to commute between my apartment and the company and it lifts my spirits every day seeing the cool design created by me," she said.

Personal taste

Compared with cars and motorbikes — scooters are cheaper, lighter and easy to operate, which makes them an ideal option for short-distance travel. Also, with the popularity of new energy automobiles, scooters have undergone rapid development with the promotion of green lifestyles.

Tens of thousands of blogs, photos and videos on social platforms share scooter owners' modification stories. Some of their creations are considered works of art and have received many views and likes.

Zhou Zhou, 27, from Anhui province, said anything cute and adorable makes her happy. She put a lot of colorful stickers on the wind deflector and other parts of her scooter, including her favorite cartoon characters Buzz Lightyear and LinaBell. She also placed a row of small decorative items and a cupholder on the front of the scooter.

"Because there was no major modification, I completed it in just half an hour, and it only cost me about 300 yuan," Zhou said. "Although my colleagues said I made the scooter look too flashy, I think it looks really good. Especially when the weather is nice, I enjoy riding my electric scooter to work."

She said the modifications hadn't changed the scooter's performance. "But the bright colors make me feel happier, so I can say it brings me a psychological lift," she said.

Zhou said scooters are very convenient for commuting and can help navigate traffic jams, so she enjoys riding them.