It may not be recent news, but Piaggio's newly released MP3 400 and MP3 500 have some of the most interesting advances in motorcycle and scooters.

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/mp3_500lifestyle01_1024.jpg

Apparently it was back in 2006 when this idea was churning in Piaggio's workshop, and it has been a huge success in Europe. Paolo recited that "they are very popular in Italy and I've seen many moving around the city."

The real big news here that is surrounding this bike is that Piaggio is planning to sell the same scooters in America.

Piaggio has officially announced their plans to release both a 400cc version and a 500cc version here in the states coming soon to a dealer near you!

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/mp3_500lifestyle03_1024.jpg

So if you're looking for a peppy, fun to ride bike that "works surprisingly well for a three wheeler" according to Paolo here on the forum who has seen the bike firsthand, look no further!

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/2008mp3500_1024.jpg

Images courtesy of autoblog.

The polizia municipale in Cagliari have bought quite a few of these and they look really good.
Take a look at this for another interesting method of transport!
http://www.megaitalia.it/italian/segway_polizia.php?iExpand1=124

I want one :D!!!

Interesting! I did not know that Italy used Segways too.

Oddly enough, Police in Washington D.C have them as well:

http://www.readexpress.com/read_freeride/photos/2007-06-01-segway_cops.jpg

I think they look funny.

er... how could you take any of those cops seriously? :D

Italian police had to use the piaggio motorcicles because the piaggio didn't sell it...
so because piaggio is one of the most important italian industry we have to by all the ugly stuff that piaggio and fiat do...
look the fiat multipla only the taxi driver buy it.
and many other fiat car are only bought by italian Public amministration!

:)