Motorcycles and scooters park free in Toronto. Who knew?

Hardly anybody, it turns out. Some parking enforcement officers kept right on ticketing the vehicles for not paying at meters after city council approved the exemption two weeks ago.

Council was swayed by arguments that motorized two-wheelers are easier on the environment and help reduce gridlock. Councillor Case Ootes introduced the motion, which passed without opposition.

"It just blew us all away," said Jeremy Logan, who imports Vespa scooters "I mean, I think it's just an unbelievable thing, obvuously, for anyone scootering or motorcycling in this city."

Gord Perks of the Toronto Environmental Alliance said encouraging scooters and motorcycles could help to reverse the trend to more and more SUVs on the streets.

"Our streets in some neighbourhoods are clogged up," he said, "and being able to park a scooter or motorcycle in the curb lane would help free that."

The city is also looking at letting scooters park on sidewalks and creating special areas for them to park, changes that could leave Toronto looking more like a European city.

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