Category: Legal & Safe

Aussie motor group speaks up for scooters

As Spring arrives in Australia, bringing along a U.S.-like scooter boom, The Age quotes the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce:

Scooter riders need safer travel routes, better sharing initiatives, better education for riders and drivers, better traffic management, better licensing and training laws as well as better infrastructure. Government policymakers and road planners are failing powered two-wheeled transport users. We need a system of designated `safe routes’ and better traffic management features to make road-sharing safer for scooter and motorcycle riders. It is time the growing army of scooter riders was heard and their concerns addressed.

Hear hear! We feel the same way in the U.S. (and we want parking!). Some Chicago scooterists are looking to join forces with ABATE, the next meeting is Wednesday, September 20. We’ll post more details soon.

Vespa GTS250 safety alert?

burntgts.jpg
an uncredited-but-frightening photo, posted on ScooterScene

The UK Scooter-Scene forum is reporting a possible safety issue regarding a Vespa GTS250 exhaust gasket. According to the post, some GTS250 riders are reporting the gasket degrades over time and can fail, releasing excessive heat that can damage the rear brake hydraulic pipe, throttle cable, or gas line, causing a loss of brakes, locked-up throttle, or even the risk of a gas fire or explosion. Piaggio UK has been notified of the problem, and is looking into it. It’s unclear how common the problem is, or if it’s an issue with all GTS250s internationally. It could even be a hoax or a freak occurence, but until more information surfaces, GTS250 riders may want to keep an eye on their pipes and look for signs of damage (louder pipe, excessive heat), and also make sure they’re properly registered with your dealer in case there’s a recall. Thanks for the tip, Nitro.

Kids ain’t too smart in Hemel Hempstead

I can’t even believe this is true, but apparently there have been multiple reports in Hertfordshire, England, that kids are carrying around extra gas for their minibikes and Go-Peds in motherf••king plastic bags. So that’s one more sticker that the MOT will require on all new bikes, just because people are stupid as all get-out. I don’t think I need to tell you that’s a bad idea. Everyone knows you’re supposed to store your extra gas in a styrofoam 72oz. Big Gulp cup*.
* That was a joke, don’t be stupid.

ScooterSafe

London authorities have organized ScooterSafe London, a great program where police meet with riders and observe their riding, offering tips and recommendations. New and experienced riders are welcome. It’d be great to see U.S. municipalities taking a pro-active approach to safety rather than relying on reactionary legislation. Of course, the “bad guys” won’t participate (a recent Chicago Sun-Times story quoted police saying only 15% of motorcycle speeders are caught in Chicago), but new riders and responsible citizens deserve a chance to learn good habits.

Big Ben loses more respect

FOX Sports reports that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will not get involved in any safety advocacy campaigns, instead, he will make excuses (“my helmet was in the basement!”) whine about how hard it is to “live life under a microscope” and let people “make their own decisions.” My decision is to abandon my 30+ years of Pittsburgh Steelers fandom because their quarterback is no better than your average gun-toting, date-raping NFL felon.

Child Riding Belts

I’ve ridden up and down the alley a couple times with Milena precariously set upon the floorboards of my Vespa, but I look forward to the day I can take her for a real ride. While toddlers riding as passengers on motorcycles is a way of life in many countries, it’s a bit frowned upon in the U.S. Now, thanks to the Child Riding Belt (Invented, obviously, in Canada, and clearly labeled as “not a safety device”) I’ll be able to tote her around as soon as I can find a helmet that fits. Or maybe not. Thanks for the link, Mad Man Maddox.

Italy repeals 50cc 2-up ban

Friday, Italy will overturn a recent law prohibiting passengers on 50cc scooters. The new law allows passengers over 18 (sorry Brooke!) to ride on 50cc scooters if the vehicle is authorized to carry a passenger and a new €50 license plate is obtained. 50cc owners can keep their old plates if they are not able to, or do not wish to, carry a guest, but if they do meet a nice girl down at the Piazza and give her a lift home, they may be fined up to €275. (via Urbannerd

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.