In 1915, there weren’t even traffic lights in America. They were still 15 years into their use, but so far Autoped has been there, a unique internal combustion engine scooter that was ahead of its time and has proven to be an outstanding precursor to current electric scooters.

this scooter created that year in New York. Its success was notable, and it was even used by celebrities of the time, such as the suffragette Lady Norman, who used it to go to the office. He wasn’t alone: ​​even famous pilot Amelia Earhart would test him years later.

A century ahead of its time

As noted in Smithsonian Magazine, the “self-propelled vehicle” patent was awarded to Hugo Cecil Gibson, although designer Joseph F. Merkel, creator of the Flying Merkel motorcycle, contributed significantly to the final development of the final product.

Created by the Autoped Company of America, founded in 1913, this product is It was an internal combustion engine scooter called Autoped.Released in 1915 and described by some media as a “rare tool” .

This scooter had a 155cc four-stroke combustion engine positioned close to the front wheel and also including a headlight and a taillight and a horn. It reached 32 km/h, an incredible speed that truly exceeds the 25 km/h norm on current electric scooters.

This invention was advertised as a unique means of transportation for the upper classes and was featured in Puck magazine in 1916. showed an image that truly seemed ahead of its time. For example, there are still articles describing her unique revolution, showing actresses like Shirley Kellogg wearing it in Hyde Park in 1917.

Source: Online Cycling Museum.

This image of Autoped worked, and Autoped found some success among the upper classes. This is illustrated by the fact that Lady Florence Norman, a famous suffragette, used it as early as 1916 to travel to her office in central London. The image featured at the top of this article, taken by Paul Thompson, shows exactly Lady Norman on an Autoped.

Amelia Earhart with an Autoped. Right, with her student actress June Travis.

He wasn’t the only celebrity to use this tool. Although the Autoped was discontinued in 1921, it came into use a few years later, as evidenced by the famous Amelia Earhart being seen driving a car in 1935.

Autoped has started to be used in other scenarios as well, as noted by the Online Cycling Museum. The New York Postal Service used it to transport mail. It is also used by the traffic police. Curiously, some criminals have used these tools to escape their crimes.

Still, the most common use of Autopeds was for entertainment and their success was Appeared in European countries such as Portugalwhere there are images accompanying this paragraph as well as two Autopeds and a man and a woman can be seen.

Unfortunately Autoped was not profitable. Experts point out that it probably wasn’t worth it: It was more expensive than a bicycle and did not offer the comfort of the motorcycles that were beginning to emerge at the time, allowing people to sit and ride.

The Autoped, meanwhile, was foldable. Because you’re ahead of your time, you’re doing this crazy.

After the Great Depression of 1929, Cushman took over the company and created Auto-Glide. some kind of scooterbut the traffic regulation of the time damaged these motorcycles and supported the rise of the automobile.

The truth is that motorcycle was somewhat ahead of its time, but our hero Autoped showed what the future of personal transport could be like. It is interesting that it was almost forgotten for almost a century and was saved only in some cases to show that the old is new again.

Image: Commons