Steve Carson, documentary producer/director, Mint Productions
What's your bike? A 2003 Vespa PX200
Why this particular scooter? It looks like a proper scooter. It's made of metal and was built in Italy. To be honest, I run the Vespa for practical reasons but my heart belongs to my previous scooter, a 1967 Lambretta SX150 - it was absolutely beautiful, white with blue side panels but as temperamental as Diana Ross with jetlag. I sold the Lammy to my mate, John, last year as a rebuild project. I hope he succeeds, but it will be a little like seeing someone with your ex-girlfriend.
Why two rather than four wheels? When I was about 12, I saw Quadrophenia at the Curzon Cinema in Belfast. It was a terrible film, but I can still remember the excitement of discovering soul music and seeing these strange scooters with LI and GS on the leg-shield for the first time. Years later, about eight of us used to go up to Bangor on Bank Holiday mondays and have half-hearted fights with "rockers" on Honda 50s. It made sense at the time.
Ever take any rider training? No, and I should have. It's insane that a 17-year-old can jump on a bike and start filtering across the Naas "dualer" with no experience.
Full or provisional licence? Provisional. I originally held a full UK car licence that allowed me to drive a 125 cc scooter, but I had to sit the theory test here when I swapped it for an Irish one. I can now interpret Garda hand signals more effectively.
Do you drive a car? I share a car with my wife Miriam O'Callaghan, but rarely use it during the week.
Any family resistance to your riding a scooter? No, I needed to get around town, and we didn't want to buy another car - and, yes, I'm desperately trying to recapture my youth.
Do you worry about your survival on the road? I think it's hard for a lot of bikers to appreciate how distracted you can get in a comfortable modern car. On two wheels, you basically have to concentrate all the time or you'll fall off. But the big bits of metal hurtling around you are driven by people switching radio stations, texting their girlfriends and thinking about their dinner. If they suddenly decide to turn left, you'll be the last to know about it.
What do you use your scooter for? Travelling from our office in Rathmines to meetings in RTÉ, or to post-production facilities like The Farm or Windmill Lane in town. It saves a fortune in taxis, but I do get handed packages at reception.
Do you think there's a bond that links bikers and scooterists closer than motorists? Funnily enough, I've retained an aversion to people on Honda 50s
Any biker issues for the Minister for Transport? Potholes and using bus lanes.
Any tips for survival on two wheels? Think once, think twice, think "is that eejit pulling out?"
If you won the lottery what would be your dream bike? A certain Lambretta with its demons exorcised!