Wheelin’ around Edmonton on a VespaYEG Rental

By Linda Hoang

Did you know you can rent vespas to Explore Edmonton?

All you need is a drivers license to rent Vespas from Vespa YEG, a company that started in summer 2019 and offers city tours by Vespa (pending pandemic restrictions), or vespa rentals so you can cruise around on your own time!

This May I worked with Travel Alberta to experience and tell you all about vespa rentals on Instagram. It was so much fun, I wanted to spread the word on the blog too (I even made a TikTok!)

Check out Travel Alberta’s Vespa Rental IG Reels

Watch my Vespa Rentals TikTok below!

@lindorable
DID YOU KNOW: you can rent vespas to ##ExploreEdmonton!? Use my code LINDORK10 for 10% off. ##VespaYEG_Partner ##yeg ##edmonton ##alberta
♬ original sound – Linda Hoang

Keep reading for a few more things to know about Vespa YEG rentals.

If you’re thinking of booking, you can get 10% off using my code LINDORK10.

(I also get a small commission when you book using my code!)

Everything You Need To Know About Renting Vespas from VespaYEG in Edmonton

1. Do you need a special license to ride a Vespa? Is it hard to ride?

All you need to book and ride a Vespa is a standard Class 5 (GDL) Drivers License! That’s it.

If you’ve ridden motorcycles, dirt bikes, e-bikes, and other motorized transport—even better!

You’re asked to come about 15 minutes before you booking time starts to get a quick tutorial of how to ride. VespaYEG does want you to feel safe and confident before you head out though so if you need a bit more time before you go they can accommodate that too. They also have a longer, more one-on-one training session you can book if you want to feel extra confident! (more on that below).

But honestly it’s really not that hard to ride. If you’ve ridden a bike, it’s basically easier in that you’re not pedalling, you’re just sitting lol. It’s just heavier than you might expect (more on that below), but if I could handle it, so can you! (I’m very weak lol).

2. How long can you rent a Vespa for, and how much do rentals cost?

VespaYEG offers a few different rental options.

As of writing this post (May 2021), you can:

Rent by the hour ($50/hour)
Do a 3-hour ride ($100)
Book a full day 24 hours ($150) or
Take the Vespa for a whole weekend (Friday-Monday) for $200.

I’d recommend you book for at least a 3-hour ride so you have some time to whiz around, sightsee, stop for some food, and not be stressed about getting back in time.

3. Where can you go on a Vespa?

Riding a Vespa is a super fun way to explore the city. They are also great props for Instagrammable photo shoots! I’d recommend you use my Guide to Instagrammable Walls of Edmonton to plan a Vespa exploration route. The parking lot where you do your quick tutorial is right next to two big Instagrammable Walls, OG Slick’s ‘EDMONTON’ wall and PichiAvo’s horses/angels wall, so those are two definite stops. You’re also not far from the ONEQ wall too!

VespaYEG also lists a few of their vespa favourite destinations on their website.

On our ride, we went around Jasper Ave./downtown, the Legislature grounds, across the High Level Bridge, Saskatchewan Drive, Old Strathcona/Whyte Ave. (lots of Instagrammable Walls there too!), and then across the Walterdale Bridge. Just lovely!

4. Can you ride the Vespa tandem (two on a Vespa)?

Yes! It’s recommended you add insurance to your booking if you ride tandem (heavier load, more chance to tip over, possibly? lol but it is trickier to ride when you add more weight to the Vespa). Yes you can ride with a partner, kid, or a friend (co-hort)—in fact I think that’s a nice way to split costs or get even more value out of the rental rate if you split the cost that way.

5. What should you bring for your Vespa ride?

You’ve got to show your license, so don’t forget that. Long sleeved shirts or jackets, jeans/pants, and close-toed shoes are also recommended (just in case you fall, but I mean hopefully you shouldn’t!) It can also get chilly with the wind! It can get bright out there too, so you may want to bring some sunnies.

VespaYEG will provide you with a helmet, a full tank of gas (no refills), and a quick tutorial on how to ride.

6. What else should you know about renting Vespas?

VespaYEG’s fleet of 50 cc Vespas can go up to 65 kilometres an hour. Because that’s their max, it’s not recommended you take them on highway or freeways like Whitemud Drive, Anthony Henday or the Yellowhead. (Definitely more for in-town/day-use!)
Vespas are heavier than they look. That I would say is the biggest thing I was worried about riding. It’s not comfortable for me to lift up or push around (I’m really weak though lol), but it’s definitely lighter than a motorcycle would be, and if I can push it around (albeit with a bit of effort), you can too!
As well, although you get a quick tutorial for Vespa riding included with your booking, if you want to feel more confident as a rider, VespaYEG also offers a 2.5-hour training course with a dedicated coach.
The signal light on the Vespas are pretty dim, so in some instances we felt safer putting our hand out to indicate to drivers that we were going to signal lanes. It’s also easy to forget that the signal light is on because it’s so dim, so just something to keep in mind (safety first!)
Once we’re out of the pandemic, VespaYEG also offers guided Vespa city tours, which could be a fun option as well, but personally. like the idea of renting and zipping around at your own pace and with your own schedule.

7. What else should you know about VespaYEG?

Samuel and Michael are co-owners of VespaYEG. The business started after Samuel and Michael learned Alberta Cycle was looking for a way to sell their Vespa inventory. The pair got the idea that the inventory should be used to create a rental/tour company!

VespaYEG operates out of District Moto, a coffee shop and event space owned by Alberta Cycle.

“Riding a Vespa on a summer night is simply the greatest feeling! It is also the perfect social distancing activity. While we are unable to travel around the world… A Vespa rental allows to revisit our very own backyard. Additionally, anyone with a regular driving license is allowed on 50cc Vespas. This makes it ideal for people wanting to try riding a motorcycle, without having their full class 6 license yet.” – Samuel, co-owner of VespaYEG

Be Safe!

Vespas are super fun and again, if you have a drivers license and understand the rules of the road, you should be fine but you are much more exposes than if you were in a vehicle, and as with anything you’re not too familiar with, it might take a bit to get used to, so always be cautious when riding!

Feel like booking Vespas? You can get 10% off using my code LINDORK10.

(I also get a small commission when you book using my code!)

Disclaimer: my ride on VespaYEG rentals was paid for by Travel Alberta as part of work to share different outdoor experiences to do in Edmonton. Following this, VespaYEG asked if I wanted to participate in their Content Creator program where I could share a discount / promo code and receive a small commission for bookings. This does not impact opinions stated in this blog post—I loved riding Vespas! So fun and different.

Linda

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Linda Hoang

Linda Hoang is a popular Canadian blogger based in Edmonton, Alberta, who writes about and photographs / films travel, food, lifestyle and family topics. She's also a seasoned social media/digital strategist with a journalism background, the founder of the Edmonton International Cat Festival and co-founder of Stop Race Based Hate, an online anti-racism education tool. Linda loves exploring the world with her partner Mike, their Miracle Baby Benjimin, eating their way through cities, supporting local businesses, and experiencing arts and culture (like Instagrammable Walls!) Linda received the inaugural Edmonton Best Tourism Influencer Award in 2024, was part of Edify Edmonton's Top 40 Under 40 Class of 2021, and received the Spirit of NAIT Award in 2019, all in part for her work using social media and her blog to share about and advocate for local businesses, food, art, and more. Linda is also a fur-mom to three cats and two dogs.