Abstract: A pedal-operated scooter which is characterized by a scooter frame having front and rear wheels, handle bars for steering the front wheel and a pedal-operated drive mechanism for unidirectionally propelling the rear wheel. The drive mechanism includes a pedal pivotally mounted on the scooter frame, with front and rear cables extending around corresponding cable pulleys and attached to corresponding sprocket chains. The sprocket chains engage corresponding parallel sprockets adapted for alternately driving the rear wheel when rotated in the forward direction and disengaging for free rotation in the opposite direction, responsive to pivoting of the pedal. A spring connects one end of the sprocket chains and engages a pair of spaced chain pulleys for alternately maintaining one set of the sprocket chains and connecting cables in tension responsive to free rotation of the corresponding sprocket when the opposite sprocket is being driven by the opposing sprocket chain and cable.