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Sustainable Pulse Profile

You may have seen him whizzing down Highway 57 on his way to work at the Whistling Swan Inn and Restaurant early in the morning, or late at night. You may have seen him in spring with the wind in his hair, or fall with a hat on his head, scarf blowing around his neck. Scott Zimmerman’s a scooter rider for all seasons.

As the manager of the Whistling Swan, Zimmerman is committed to providing exceptional cuisine with as much local produce represented on the menu as possible. He can be seen chopping and stacking wood in the late fall, winter, and early spring to heat the reception area and dining room of the restaurant.

Zimmerman’s best known, however, for his devotion to commuting on his scooter even as the leaves blow and the weather turns cold. He’s a hardy guy, but also environmentally friendly.

The Scooter: “The model is a Honda Passport ’81 & ’82. I have two, both Baby Blue.”

What does the scooter look like: “It looks like a comet with a luggage rack!”

What’s better about this model: “It’s faster, more comfortable, and it’s a four-cycle so I don’t have to mix oil into the gas.”

The scoop on the gas mileage: “70 to 90 MPG, depending upon wind.”

Years commuting on a scooter: “Since 2004 on a variety of different models, all Hondas.”

Scooter Friendly Months: “Depends on the work duties, but usually I ride into November.”

Where he draws the line: “Wind, rain and snow are obvious factors, but snow is really the only hurdle. I guess I could ride it in the winter, but it just seems silly.”

The sweet smell of the outdoors: “The coolest part about the scooter is that it’s fast enough to still be an efficient ride, but slow enough to still take in the county through the seasons.”

Good stories from scooting through Peninsula State Park: “I had my hat taken by an owl on Mengleberg lane, but he dropped it just a little further down the road. On the same road I had a bat land on my handle bar and hitch a ride for about a mile. I got hit by a golf ball riding through the park and instead of saying sorry, the golfer ran away! I’ve also got close enough to three deer, on different occasions, to pull a little hair out!”

Other sustainable steps in life and at work: “My wife really takes these steps, I reap the benefit.”

There goes Scott Zimmerman, armed only with a pair of gloves and a hat – no particular brand, any old winter apparel will do – whirring past wildlife a little slower than the rest of us. He’s got to get to work, but not at the expense of taking in the morning, with the sun shining through the fall leaves. At night, he’s ready to be off his feet and at home with his wife and pooch, but a little stargazing on the way never hurt anyone, and it’s one small step for sustainability.