Virginia bans pocketbikes

While pocketbikes (the miniscooters and tiny motorcycles sold at auto parts stores and in gas station parking lots) are theoretically illegal on public roads anyway, the State–er, Commonwealth–of Virginia has banned their use on all public roads. Such bikes are almost universally ridden (helmetless, even) by children and teenagers and cheaply made with little provision for safety or reliability. Hopefully more states will follow their lead, or enforce existing laws. The ban will not affect street-legal, titled and plated motorscooters operated by licensed drivers. Google News usually lists a couple stories a day regarding deaths and serious injuries of children as young as eight, there’s no reason people, especially children, should be riding these deathtraps in traffic.