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Post by einebierbitte on Sept 6, 2011 11:02:21 GMT -4
Good Lord... I almost feel like I am overseas in Italy....
What is up with all these young kids on mopeds, no helmuts, darting on and off the shoulder, carrying a load (two people, which cause you to go even slower) and causing issues with Traffic up and down route 8...
Don't even get me started about the Moped on the Baybridge the other day......
Someone's kid or idiot adult is going to get whacked or cause a serious injury because of A: not knowing what they are doing: B: Not knowing the rules of the road which interlinks with A; C: Idiots....Idiots.....Idiots... See A and B!
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Post by Water Lady on Sept 6, 2011 22:33:48 GMT -4
I know exactly what you mean! Sadly, it's probably just a matter of time before we hear about the first serious accident... The only thing I have ever experienced that was more unnerving than those nasty speeding vespas, was the bhat buses in Thailand...SPLAT!  |
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Post by speedergurl68 on Sept 7, 2011 6:51:29 GMT -4
Saw 'em myself last night a few times! Kid on a scooter flying down Rt. 8 no helmet, no nothing.....yep...someone's kid is gonna end up in a bad, bad way and then they are going to scream at the car driver like they are a killer.....that kid (white male, short dark hair, 15-18 years old approx) has NO business being on that thing 1) carrying multiple passengers, and 2) not wearing a helmet. If someone reading this knows that kid....tell his parents....no way he bought that thing with HIS money....and if he did and didn't buy the helmet WITH it - someone call Sheriff Hoffman - would ya?
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Post by markp on Sept 7, 2011 7:47:41 GMT -4
Sadly I don't think they're actually breaking any type of law by doing this. I'm not sure about carrying extra passengers on the moped but this is directly off of the MVA website.
Lawful Operation of a Motor Scooter
Traffic laws that apply to individuals riding a bicycle also apply to people operating a motor scooter.
When operating a motor scooter, the rider must ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practical and safe except when:
Making a left turn.
Operating on a one-way street.
Passing a stopped or slower moving vehicle.
Avoiding pedestrians or road hazards.
The right lane is a right turn only lane.
Operating in a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle or motor scooter and another vehicle to travel safely side by side.
Operators of motor scooters are encouraged to wear a DOT compliant motorcycle helmet. They may ride side by side only if the flow of traffic is unimpeded and must exercise due care when passing a vehicle. The use of headsets covering both ears or earplugs are prohibited except in certain circumstances.
A person may not ride a bicycle or a motor scooter on a roadway where the posted maximum speed limit is more than 50 miles per hour. If the roadway has a bike lane paved to a smooth surface or a paved shoulder, a person operating a bicycle or a motor scooter must use the bike lane or shoulder and may not ride on the roadway except for a situation identified above as (1 through 6).
A motor scooter may not be operated at a speed in excess of 30 miles per hour.
Operators of motor scooters should check their local jurisdictions for any laws that may affect the operation of a motor scooter.
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Post by speedergurl68 on Sept 7, 2011 8:20:49 GMT -4
Sadly I don't think they're actually breaking any type of law by doing this. I'm not sure about carrying extra passengers on the moped but this is directly off of the MVA website. Lawful Operation of a Motor Scooter
Traffic laws that apply to individuals riding a bicycle also apply to people operating a motor scooter.
When operating a motor scooter, the rider must ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practical and safe except when:
Making a left turn.
Operating on a one-way street.
Passing a stopped or slower moving vehicle.
Avoiding pedestrians or road hazards.
The right lane is a right turn only lane.
Operating in a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle or motor scooter and another vehicle to travel safely side by side.
Operators of motor scooters are encouraged to wear a DOT compliant motorcycle helmet. They may ride side by side only if the flow of traffic is unimpeded and must exercise due care when passing a vehicle. The use of headsets covering both ears or earplugs are prohibited except in certain circumstances.
A person may not ride a bicycle or a motor scooter on a roadway where the posted maximum speed limit is more than 50 miles per hour. If the roadway has a bike lane paved to a smooth surface or a paved shoulder, a person operating a bicycle or a motor scooter must use the bike lane or shoulder and may not ride on the roadway except for a situation identified above as (1 through 6).
A motor scooter may not be operated at a speed in excess of 30 miles per hour.
Operators of motor scooters should check their local jurisdictions for any laws that may affect the operation of a motor scooter. Well...except for the fact that the motor scooter in question was on a roadway (Rt. 8) that has a posted speed limit of 40 MPH and not 30 MPH (which those rules above dictate it cannot legally exceed) - and 10 MPH under the speed limit can be construed easily as a safety offense. Now...anyone remember the lil wreck I posted about that occurred in front of Carini's the other day? What was the cause? Excessive speed...that's right...so...two vehicles collided (one a van, one a sedan) and everyone walked away....now...take out either the van OR the sedan still travelling at excessive speed down Rt. 8 (not too hard to conceive) and insert Scooter-boy into the same scenario - um....if he is able to walk ever again he would be lucky. One can conclude one of two things reasonably 1) He is either travelling at 10 miles above the maximum speed for scooters stated by law and is in violation of THAT statute and/or 2) He is travelling at an unsafe speed on a roadway causing unsafe traffic conditions for himself and everyone else. |
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Post by markp on Sept 7, 2011 10:25:10 GMT -4
He should be riding on the shoulder as you would a bicycle. Then again, people should do a lot of things that they don't lol. I'm not trying to argue the point, just wanted to throw out what MD thinks of scooters.
Personally I don't care for them either. I'm willing to bet that some of the kids blasting around on them aren't 16 either which is illegal since you are required to have a valid drivers license to operate one.
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Post by dwnthehatch on Sept 7, 2011 12:47:08 GMT -4
I frequently ride my scooter on rt 8. In my case I must wear a helmet and have it fully tagged and registered since it is 125ccs. It is capable of going 70 mph and is faster than most everyday vehicles from a stop. People do not realize that I'm going at least the speed limit or over it and constantly tailgate or attempt to pass me even thought I'm obeying the speed limit. I just give it some gas and increase the safety cushion between us and they usually back off.
I used to ride 50cc scooters until I realized how dangerous they are since there really is no power to get you out of danger. I have owned many street motorcycles and just happen to enjoy the ease of use with a scooter better.
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Post by Inspector on Sept 7, 2011 13:04:56 GMT -4
I frequently ride my scooter on rt 8. In my case I must wear a helmet and have it fully tagged and registered since it is 125ccs. It is capable of going 70 mph and is faster than most everyday vehicles from a stop. People do not realize that I'm going at least the speed limit or over it and constantly tailgate or attempt to pass me even thought I'm obeying the speed limit. I just give it some gas and increase the safety cushion between us and they usually back off. I used to ride 50cc scooters until I realized how dangerous they are since there really is no power to get you out of danger. I have owned many street motorcycles and just happen to enjoy the ease of use with a scooter better. By definition in MD law, you are riding a motorcycle not a scooter. A scooter has less than 50cc. |
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Post by dwnthehatch on Sept 7, 2011 16:27:29 GMT -4
I know it's a motorcycle as classified by law in MD. Unfortunately everyone on the road see it as a scooter.
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