What ticks me off is that if one of these uninsured drivers hits us, we still have to pay for it b/c they don't have to carry insurance. Nice.

How much damage do you honestly think I'm going to cause? And just so we're clear, I'm a scooter owner. I've put 4500 miles on it in a year. Your dumb not to consider a scooter. I follow the laws. I wasn't sure I was til they laid them out in this article. But I do. Which is weight off my shoulders. Now I'm going to put my iPod in and ride some more. Have a good one!

I ride a scooter, a Honda Metropolitan.

It gets a thousand smiles per gallon!

Our family scooters around a lot, it's good fun.

We've been doing it for years, nothing new here!

Scooters are an excellent option with the current gas prices. I personally ride a Honda Metropolitan that I purchased locally at St. Joe Honda!

I hate to see that the News-Press's article seems to have a negative slant starting with the title, though. Perhaps if the public would embrace what scooter riders are trying to do (decrease their dependence on gasoline thus lowering demand), we could all enjoy lower gas prices. Towns like St. Joseph should, without question, do everything they can to further the use of low-powered transportation such as scooters. If they were to move toward creating separate lanes and increasing both riders and vehicle driver's awareness the popularity would only grow. Not every town is lucky enough to have a layout like ours that is so conducive to alternate forms of transportation.

Let's embrace and encourage those who want to save money, not start off an article with a title about how they need to follow the law.

www.urbanscootin.com

weese...any amount of damage is going to cost me a $500 deductible..not YOU...it costs ME, so you have a great day. FYI..I won't stop for a scooter, so stay out of my way! Don't expect me to watch out for you. Motorcycles yes, scooters, no so much, unless your following the rules, you best watch out for the big boys on the road.

I do believe that there is room on the road for all. The main thing is that everyone has to follow the rules. The insurance is a big thing though. If a person on a scooter happens to be the cause of an accident they should have the means to pay for what they have done, be it small damage or major.....it is still damage that cost the auto owner.
If the rule is you have to be licensed then so be it. It is the law abide by it.
The thing is scooters are not toys and they can cause damage to the riders and others so they need to be treated as a vehicle. They are not for children to be riding with no supervision anywhere they want.
I am for saving money on gas but also know we need to follow the laws and insurance should be considered as well.
I have no problem with legal scooters and the use of them if they are following all laws.

I'm sure the negative slant is there because, for one, I see scooters on Belt Highway and Frederick Ave. all the time..illegal! For another, I see very young kids (not of driving age) driving scooters...illegal! For yet another, I see some scooter drivers, not all, disobeying traffic laws 101 all the time, running stop signs, not yielding...illegal!

Another point that needs to be made is the fact that, yes, you scooter drivers are not required to wear a helmet (even though it's very much recommended), please consider the possibility that you are involved in an accident (your fault or not, doesn't matter), your head will hit the pavement like a ripe melon just like anyone without a helmet on a motorcycle. It doesn't matter what speed you're able to travel. If a car hits you, and it really doesn't take much speed, the delta V, or change in velocity, on impact is what injures your body.

So take heed, scooter drivers, you're not any more protected than the rest of us. Your scooter may not be able to go as fast as the other vehicles on the road, but that does not mean you'll get less hurt.

Also, if you're uninsured driving that scooter and you cause an accident, I can still file suit against you for damages. In that, I could attach liens against your personal property, but I may not get any money to cover them, but your credit would be ruined. If you are under the age of 18, I can sue your parents for your negligence.

Just be responsible, please! For your safety as well as the rest of us on the road.

You should need to have and operators licence and insurance on these things! I am not against them but only want people to be responsible and safe.

We recently got 107 MPH on one of our Honda Metropolitans, and it was not the thrifty one.

I do not appreciate hearing the comments from one person above, they sound like a person full of fear and hate.

Bad for America.

Me, I've got to get back to work, on my scooter!

If it can do 107, then it's classified as a motorcycle. Which means that you have to be licensed to drive a motorcycle and wear a helmet.

I don't blame anyone for using a scooter for practical transportation, like commuting to and from work here in town. I've actually thought about getting one, or a small motorcycle. But I can guarantee you that I wouldn't ride a scooter without a helmet, regardless of which side of the state line I'm on. I like my noggin protected!

STJOMOE did you mean 107MPG or MPH, surely you were not bragging that you can go 107 MPH on your scooter....

I can see it now, someone on a scooter either rear-ends me or t-bones me, they do not have insurance and I'm SOL.

StJoeMoe-I'm curious who's comments it is that you refer to as being full of fear and hate.

107MPH, that is funny.

107 Miles Per Gallon, sorry about that -

Still, they deliver a thousand SMILES per gallon!

Now, there are scooters that will go in speeds in excess of a hundred miles per hour. Not these small ones we are discussing.

"Any two-wheeled or three-wheeled device having an automatic transmission and a motor with a cylinder capacity of not more than fifty (50) cubic centimeters, which produces less than three (3) gross brake horsepower, and is capable of propelling the device at a maximum speed of not more than thirty (30) miles per hour on level ground."

"Posted by wickedtruth on July 21, 2008 at 4:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
StJoeMoe-I'm curious who's comments it is that you refer to as being full of fear and hate."
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I see scooters on Belt Highway and Frederick Ave. all the time..illegal! For another, I see very young kids (not of driving age) driving scooters...illegal! For yet another, I see some scooter drivers, not all, disobeying traffic laws 101 all the time, running stop signs, not yielding...illegal!

Another point that needs to be made is the fact that, yes, you scooter drivers are not required to wear a helmet (even though it's very much recommended), please consider the possibility that you are involved in an accident (your fault or not, doesn't matter), your head will hit the pavement like a ripe melon just like anyone without a helmet on a motorcycle. It doesn't matter what speed you're able to travel. If a car hits you, and it really doesn't take much speed, the delta V, or change in velocity, on impact is what injures your body.

So take heed, scooter drivers, you're not any more protected than the rest of us. Your scooter may not be able to go as fast as the other vehicles on the road, but that does not mean you'll get less hurt.

Also, if you're uninsured driving that scooter and you cause an accident, I can still file suit against you for damages. In that, I could attach liens against your personal property, but I may not get any money to cover them, but your credit would be ruined. If you are under the age of 18, I can sue your parents for your negligence.

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Yours, to be honest, and that is only my opinion. I am sorry if that offends you.

Seemed like you were talking down to scooterist, not cool.

Loosen up and live a little, life it too short.

WWJD?

Ok, I came across this post at urbinscooting. I live in Delaware and have recently purchased a scooter to drive back and forth to work. I am a liscensed driver and my scooter is insured and registered per de.law. I purchased the scooter to save gas money. I was spending $80. per month to drive my 07 Silverado (which I still have) back and forth to work. This last month I have spent $12.37 for gas for my scooter which also includes joy riding around my area. So there is a significant savings. It is not my main means of transportation, but when the weather is nice, its fun, its cool and it saves me money.

I have had my Honda Metropolitan for 8 months and have put 3000 miles on it. I am fully insured and always wear a helmet! I get 110mpg and save about $100 per month in gas + parking fees and parking tickets. That's $1200+ per year! I only paid $1000 for the scooter! Understandably scooters are not a good option if your commute is over a highway or if you have kids to transport, but for me buying mine was the best decision i've ever made.

Oh yeah, and they are FUN!!! I always have a smile on my face when I get to work :-)

My comments have nothing to do with fear and hate. What's wrong with being a law abiding citizen and expecting the same from my fellow man? And what's wrong with expecting kids to learn the law at a young age. I read some of the posts on here about juvenile delinquents and their faulty parents making them that way. If you're underage, driving a scooter you're not legally supposed to be driving, then you're being a juvenile delinquent. But hey, let's live a little! I live a lot, but I do it legally, thank you very much! And WWJD? He'd not break any laws, I'm sure.

I'm not offended in the least by your opinion. Everyone has one, just as everyone has...well, you know. I feel the same way about motorcyclists who think it's cute to bob and weave in traffic. Or the guy up the street that tries to hit 60mph (not mpg :P) between the stop signs.

Also, the rest of my post is based on the line of work I've been involved in for the past 10 years. I've seen lots of pictures of what people end up looking like when they've drawn the short end of a stick in motor vehicle accidents. You can't fight physics, man!

I don't hate and it has nothing to do with fear...just common sense and relief that it's not my kids out on the road. And like I said earlier, I've thought about getting a scooter myself.

P.S. Someone earlier, can't remember who, said something about scooters being $2500...not necessarily true. They're all over town for about $800. Cheap!

I purchased a honda met at the beginning of summer, mostly to get back and forth to work. I always follow the rules. I don't understand some of the negative comments, especially the guy that says they won't stop for scooters. So do you plan on running me off the road or running into me on purpose? A lot of scooter riders are obeying traffic laws, and some people just won't, but how many automobile drivers are obeying all the traffic laws? I almost got hit today in my truck by someone not paying attention to traffic lights. Everyone needs to watch out or everyone, and I'm sorry but if you run me off the road while I am on my scooter just because you don't think I should be on the road. You will be the one in jail or even prison. Gas is way to high, and we are just trying to get by. Have a heart, and or get a life.

You get what you pay for when it comes to anything, scooters included.

I've seen some really bad Chinese scooters, and some decent ones - how can you tell the difference?

And many of these "Cheap" scooters do not meet our State laws requirements for a "motorized bike" and truly need to be licensed, as well as the rider meeting the requirements of a motorcycle license.

I really do not like it when a few bad apples ruin something for the majority.

But, it seems that is the American way.....

I'd rather see the kids involved with scooters than sex and drugs and alcohol and sex and -

Supervision, falls back on the parents...

And for a compassionate society.

nothing wicked about that......

Boo hoo, you hurt my feeling. Not! If you'd see past the end of your own nose, you'd see that I'm not against scooters, the drivers of scooters or anything of the sort. I'm not even threatening to run them/you off the road. If I'm a bad apple for expecting ALL drivers of motorized vehicles to follow the laws, then sobeit. So StJoeMole, for someone who thinks I should lighten up and live a little, you sure are taking the whole thing seriously and probably a little too personally. It's just a blog where opinions, comments and ideas are posted. Take a chill pill and I wish you safe and happy scootering. And I certainly hope that you don't run into (literally) ajm!

oh geez, i know wickedtruth somewhat and i believe she is lightened up and has loads of fun.

the truth is, kids on these scooters scare the begeezers out of me, i live close to a main hwy that kids cross to go to the park or gas station etc. it's hard for cars to get across from a side street and these lil buggers just dart out there. it's spooky. i don't have anything against scooters, thought about getting one for myself, but they are scary.

i am confused. i have driven and was even a driving instructor for awhile. I know the roads and the numbering system for the united states. the officer said that scooters are not allowed on interstate or interstate business loops. The officer said that the belt highway is a interstate business loop as well as naming other roads.. according to the state highway naming process. The belt highway is in fact a business loop, but it is us business 169 us highway not interstate business loop.
as far as Fredrick ave. it is in fact a business loop for us highway 6 . and as for St. Joseph ave. it is in fact a business loop for us 59 highway.. none of which are part of the interstate or loop there of.. and according to the highway labeling us 36 highway is not part of the interstate.
the only interstate and or business loop for a interstate by law in St.Joseph Mo. is in fact. I-29 and it's business loop I-229. if the police department would like to change the law to increase the revenue received from motor vehicles then i recommend they try and to go ahead and make it so you have to have a license to operate a bicycle and do not forget to mandate insurance.. have fun with this one.

I would also like to add that i agree that all should follow the driving laws. as for the helmet law i see that as i do the seatbelt law.. it is my choice to live safe or die living.
if i get into a wreck i want to either live with no problem or die with no problem i do not want to be a veg on machines to live that is not life.. i had a friend that fell asleep behind the wheel of his ford mustang, the car hit the side of the bridge and flipped over the edge to land upside down on the road below. the top was crushed. had he been wearing his seatbelt he would be dead now. as fate would have it he was not and he had slid down in his seat when he fell asleep thus he lived. i know this can be countered but it is only one of the accidents i know of where if they would have had a seatbelt on they would have died and since they did not they are still alive to be my friends. as for the license for scooters? Ha. if you do that then you need to have a license for anything that can be rode or driven on the road including a bicycle. as for the revenue decreasing do to more scooters.. all i have to say is their are a lot of driving laws not followed or enforced. following to close.
any time of the day almost all on the belt are breaking that one.. how many even know how far behind the car in front of you you should be at a speed of 45 mph.. ??

I am honestly shocked to read AJM's response to this article and to the other posts. While I completely understand the frustrations with those scooter riders who do not follow the laws, I don't find that any justification to say that you are literally not going to watch out for another human being on the road. I truly hope that somehow you end up behind bars someday for your callous attitude. It is people like you who cannot see any other side to this issue except how you may have to wait a little bit longer to move your biga** vehicle to the next stoplight where we will BOTH wait for it to turn green and move on to the next light.

I personally watch out for other vehicles and make sure that I am not in there way, but I hope that if AJM runs into me someday like it sounds like he is craving to do, I truly hope he will get the book thrown at him.