Scooters are not the enemy. Nor are they the source of your economic salvation.
Scooters are cute and functional.
These little vehicles can transport people and belongings – albeit not many – great distances on very little fuel. They can navigate small areas and can be stored in a fraction of the space of a traditional car.
Best of all, they can be parked nearly anywhere so they have a positive impact on the municipal parking challenges most big cities face.
Look around Paris and you’ll see a dozen scooters parked on the corner of a traffic island or tucked neatly out of the way on a busy sidewalk. Glance at major cities like New York, Chicago, Seattle and San Francisco and you’ll see the same thing. Scooters gathered in their own ‘hives’ – helping reduce carbon footprints while affording each city the ability to cater to more people without enduring additional car traffic and parking issues.
Scooter Utopia, right. Pretty much, until now.
What’s changed is the mentality of big-city governments and an environment of trying economic times. Seriously.
Legislators have decided in many big cities that scooters are using the roads and should start to be treated like every other motor vehicle. In theory it sounds fair but in practice it falls short on multiple levels.
My specific beef is with Massachusetts and the city of Boston. They have new scooter legislation that takes effect in a few days, the gist of which is that all scooter-like vehicles (motorized bikes, mopeds and scooters of all sizes) must be licensed, plated and parked according to the same regulations of a car. If there was ever an apples to oranges comparison, putting scooters and cars in the same category is it.
Here are a few scooters – all of these come under the new law. Ponder for a second how much space these two-wheeled vehicles really take up.
Let’s compare cars and scooters briefly.
Road Use – Cars have four tires and weigh roughly ten times as much as a scooter, maybe more. A car understandably has more physical impact on the infrastructure than a scooter. Legislators want to ignore the differences in carbon impact and treat all vehicles similarly. It’s a money grab basically.
Registration – For years, mopeds and small scooters have been allowed to operate with just a little sticker. This little sticker costs users $20 a year. It is how these small vehicles are registered and tracked. Sadly, my sources at the registry of motor vehicles confessed that the registration lists for these ’stickered’ vehicles was mostly kept manually and never entered into the state’s computers. Where any parking enforcement person can immediately bring up info on your car by using the plate, the moped/scooter registration system let the majority of two-wheelers slip through the cracks. With a comprehensive registration system, the state will now be able to track scooters better. This is actually pretty smart. While it adds some complexity to owning and operating a scooter, it ensures that riders are licensed and insured. It also helps track stolen scoots because everything will now have a plate in the computerized database. Sure, it means more money, but this isn’t solely a money grab.
Parking – This is the biggest issue. Have you ever parked in Boston? Was it fun? I regularly ride my scooter to Boston from the South Shore. I park on the sidewalk and lock or alarm my scooter. It takes up about four feet of space and leaves a spot free for a car on the street. The new legislation requires that all of these two-wheelers must now be parked in a legal space. That means – and I did an informal count the other day on just one block – that the five scooters parked on a typical city block will now be occupying parking spaces. Which in turn means there are five fewer spaces for cars. That’s bad enough, but from a scooterist’s standpoint the legislation puts my life at risk, too. Seriously. Imagine that you’re late for an appointment and come into the city in your car. You see what you think is an open space but then realize that a tiny, 200lb scooter is hogging it. You fume and drive down the block. The scenario replays itself a few more times. Tiny scooter in spot made for a car. Aren’t you going to be a little angry at scooters the next time you see them driving on the road in front or behind you? Sure you are. Will this make you run them off the road? Probably not, but it might affect your outlook enough that you won’t be as courteous to them as you would be to other vehicles. Also, on the streets without meters, where can I stick my parking receipt so someone won’t just take it? And how can I keep people from moving or even stealing my scooter (see next section)?
Personal Property – From riding my scooter all over the region I have experienced the complete lack of respect others have for personal property. People bump the car in front of them and behind them when parking. They don’t park within marked lines.
And they are now piloting vehicles that make our antiquated infrastructure incapable of handling their girth. What do you think happens to scooters that are parked in spots designed for cars? They get smashed. People whip into spots without looking and invariably slam into a tiny scooter that they didn’t anticipate. Further, if they do see the scooter at the last minute, they stop their car and go move the scooter to the back or front of the space. Scooters only weigh a couple hundred pounds and can be easily rolled by one person. In fact, two people can steal a scooter in a matter of seconds just by picking it up and tossing it in the back of a truck. I think this scooter law is going to generate an entirely new type of parking rage because Joe and Josephine Six-Pack are not going to understand why a scooter has to take up a full spot.
If you’re with me on any of this, I’d love for you to leave a comment, share this post with your local papers and politicians, and also go HERE to sign a petition in favor of there being a little more thought to this shortsighted money grab.
If you’re against me, I also want to hear that too. Am I being tunnel-visioned in my arguments? Are there better ways to handle this situation?
As for me, I’ve got a few errands to run around town. I’m going to practice taking up a full space and see what sort of response I get. I’m even tempted to jet into Boston a little later and camp in various spots around the city to see how people feel when they can’t find a spot because my tiny scooter has taken it.
More to come…
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:27 am
I don’t own a scooter, but I appreciate those that do and think they are a great alternative.
I don’t know much about this subject, but I will say that while I like your argument about parking and that makes sense I do think you are wrong on the licensing. I just assumed that this was already happening and was surprised it wasn’t.
I guess if I was to vote I’d say YES you should pay to put a plate on a scooter just like any other motorized vehicle that people use to get around, but would vote NO on the having to take up a full parking space.
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:35 am
CC,
Actually I’m in favor of licensing because it will help scooter owners track their vehicles and will ensure that riders are properly insured. I’ll go back and see if I muddled that. I think that’s the only good thing about the new legislation.
Thanks!
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:50 am
I want to own a scooter but don’t thus far because of DC laws regarding them. Even a moped (identical to a bicycle but it has a motor which gives you the option of scooting along motorized) requires licensing, insurance, and a special endorsement on your drivers license.
The other huge issue in DC is you cannot register a motor vehicle – this includes all ’scooter’ and two wheeled “vehicles” – without a title. Most folks in VA and MD do NOT require licenses/helmets so naturally these people do not have titles.
This creates a huge issue for me. #1 if I want to buy a used scooter 95% of ads I see on craigslist are outside of DC (at least the affordable ones) and do not have titles. Secondly, in order to obtain a license you have to get the motorcycle endorsement on your license, which requires a driving test. Which – if I don’t have a bike I can’t practice to take the test. And if I don’t get the license I can’t get a bike – so I have to ‘borrow’ one, know someone that has one, or rent one from somewhere. It’s a vicious and ridiculous cycle (no pun intended). I just want to save fuel around town – when my car is not necessary. I’d love to scoot around…but they sure don’t make it easy.
Cheers! Scott
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:57 am
I am as outraged as you! If the petition doesn’t work, I propose a scoot Park-in where we all choose a day and grab all of the parking spaces in Boston with our scoots! That would raise the level of awareness in this town.
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:04 am
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July 23rd, 2009 at 8:40 am
Scott raises a good point; I bought my scoot from a craigslist ad. There was no title, no sales receipt – at the time it wasn’t really necessary for a 50cc Vespa. When I went to the RMV to try to get it registered, they INSISTED that I needed a title or at least the sales slip to prove ownership (I bought the bike from a student who moved on years ago). I agree with licensing, but why must it be made so difficult?
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Jeff,
Nice informative Post. We spoke about this after a Friday HubSpot video taping. And I do recall we discussed both the licensing and the parking.
Since I agree that “motorized bikes” should all be licensed I don’t agree that they should take up a motor vehicles, including motorcycles parking space.
The Boston.com article didn’t even really address the taking the parking spots away from 4 wheeled motor vehicles, which I think is a major issue.
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Not entirely sure how I feel about the issue. I ride a motorcycle so have to have a license, have to register it, inspect it and insure it as well as abide by all the passenger vehicle rules of the road.
Used to be that scooters had a 30 MPH limit (in NH at least) but looks like they’ve come quite a way since MoPed days in terms of power. They can go a lot faster now.
One concern I agree on is the parking. I have to use a regular car space, but often times drivers don’t see the parked bike until they start turning into the space. My bike has almost been hit a number of times.
An interesting discussion. I’ll be interested to see how things shake out.
Diane
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
It really sounds to me like a “Scoot-in” is in order! If a hundred or so scooters, mopeds, and powered bikes were to show up in Boston and each take up one parking space around the State House, how would the public react?
Add people with picket signs, and a smattering of video cameras for documentation of the public reaction, and you’ve got a great news story that the big news companies would jump on as well. How upset do you think the general public would be if the parking spaces all around the common/duck pond are filled with just one small bike each?!
July 24th, 2009 at 1:44 am
Please follow SaveScooters on Twitter if you haven’t already.
http://twitter.com/saveScooters
I’m planning a scootup for sometime next week in front of the State House.
This law was initially proposed with the intent of classifying medium-speed vehicles (the things that look like sporty golf carts). Now it’s being used as a money grab by imposing undue regulation on a system that has worked fine for years. It’s not like there’s some new mutant breed of super-fast 49cc scooters descending upon the city.
The specific issue is that of “mopeds” (scooters) being capable of going over 30mph (but under 40mph). I believe that scooters / mopeds that can only go under 30mph still won’t be required to be registered. .
So all of this hassle is really about the little window of speed between 30 and 40mph. Mind you, not actually going that fast, simply being *able* to go that fast.
Which means you should be able to by a Honda Metropolitan II, (mechanically speed-limited to 30mph but visually identical to the Metro) and not have a plate. So if I buy a Metro II, are cops going to stop me and require me to let them speed test my scooter?
Can you think of any other laws that apply to the speed a vehicle CAN travel as opposed to things like the engine size, weight, number of axles, or the speed it is ACTUALLY traveling? I can’t think of any others.
Maybe I should put some weights on the bike, or just put on some weight myself? Perhaps I could let some air out of the tires?
I’m afraid I disagree on the license and insurance issue. Things have been fine with the little RMV sticker. It has a unique number which can easily be put into a computer without a corresponding physical plate. The RMV’s ticketing argument is absurd. You can get a ticket on a bicycle. You can get a ticket walking.
The insurance that’s required in MA is liability insurance to protect other people and their property. It’s unlikely that a 175 pound scooter is going to cause a significant amount of damage to another vehicle. Not impossible, but hardly worth regulating in my option. Again this is saying that a scooter that might be going 35mph is somehow likely to cause damage to persons or property to such a degree that the operator needs to carry mandatory liability insurance (in addition to simply being personally liable), but a scooter going 25mph is not.
I also don’t think plates will help the theft issue at all as any unique identifiers are early removed or covered.
It’s hard to believe that any part of this ill-conceived law could be designed to help people in any meaningful way. It demonstrates a fundamental disrespect for citizens in both its planning and its execution and reeks of bureaucracy and contempt being passed off as public service.
July 24th, 2009 at 10:17 am
I’m not going to take sides yet (because I haven’t figured out how I feel about all the aspects of the new rules yet) but it’s not going to be as bad as some people have worried about.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/07/scooter_riders.html
At least according to this article yesterday, LU plates will still be able to park on the sidewalk if they are not obstructing handicap/other things.
July 24th, 2009 at 10:29 am
Hi, Thanks for article. Everytime like to read you.
Thanks
July 24th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Hi Jeff,
Could you please send me your email address so we can communicate directly.
Jay Duchin (we are former co-workers) referred me to you. I am co-owner of Danny’s Scooter Shop in Avon.
Thanks,
Diane Park
diane@dannysscootershop.com
http://www.DannysScooterShop.com
July 24th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
This article doesn’t say that LU plates can park on the sidewalk.
This says that the City of Boston does not plan to immediately enforce the existing law which forbids vehicles with any license plate from parking on the sidewalk.
The State of Massachusetts can’t force municipalities to allow vehicles with LU plates to park on the sidewalk. Individual cites would have to amend their existing laws to specifically make an exception for for 2-wheeled 49cc vehicles to park on the sidewalk. In fact LU vehicles are specifically defined as having “4 wheels”.
Section 1H of the Act it doesn’t even provide a classification for scooters that can go between 30 and 40mph is only says:
“the registrar of motor vehicles may issue a registration for a motor vehicle meeting Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for that particular class of vehicle, other than a low-speed motor vehicle, if the vehicle is designed by its manufacturer to be operated on public ways and its speed on a paved level surface can exceed 30 miles per hour but is not capable of exceeding 40 miles per hour, as may be determined by the registrar.”
http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/seslaw08/sl080523.htm
July 24th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Lots of squakin’ goin’ on. Give it a few weeks and see what happens.
July 25th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
I want to underline Sean’s comment on the supposedly good news about parking of limited-use vehicles. What the City of Boston has said is that, for now, they will forgo their legal right to ticket vehicles parked on sidewalks.
Great. So, if I do get a ticket when parked on the sidewalk in Boston, do I have any recourse? No, because I was breaking the law. If the city decides to change its mind some day, will scooter riders be notified? Bet not. I’m essentially betting on the kindness of the city and its employees to overlook my law-breaking ways. Sorry, that doesn’t make me too comfortable.
July 27th, 2009 at 10:34 am
Great Post!
Last year, I began to informally assemble a group of (mostly) motorcycle riders called the Boston Green Cycling Coalition. I was frustrated by being continually ticketed on my motorcycle for parking downtown. This was despite the fact that: 1) there are NO designated motorcycle spaces; 2) most garages (for unknown reasons) prohibit motorcycles; 3) I was using spaces too small for cars. I’d also note that the Massachusetts requirement that motorcycles be parked parallel to the curb and in a full car-sized space is nothing short of idiotic. It’s like requiring that subcompacts park in spaces which would accommodate a moving van.
My view was (and is) this. Motorcycles and scooters are much more environmentally friendly than cars. They get 2x or more the fuel mileage, and hence also produce half of less the carbon dioxide, and less smog. They don’t cause traffic congestion. In fact in Central London where there is a congestion charge for most vehicles, motorcycles and scooters are exempt as the city has determined that they don’t cause congestion. They are much more efficient in use of parking. Their manufacture requires fewer resources and creates less pollution accordingly. Finally, they don’t wear the roads or cause potholes. It’s a rare motorcycle which weighs more than 600 LB, and many weigh in at around 400 or less. Most cars weigh at least 1,800, and SUVs and “light” pickups typically weigh in at 4,000 LB or more.
Last year when I began my campaign, gasoline was over $4.00 per gallon, and the city’s hostility to two-wheeled transportation seemed, frankly, insensitive to the economic and environmental needs of the time.
My campaign has been somewhat on hold as I became very distracted by the financial crisis in the Fall.
But perhaps it’s time to resume.
Please send me an e-mail if you are interested.
Kim G
Boston, MA
P.S. I spoke with someone at City Council who researched the law. It has always been illegal to park a scooter or motorcycle on the sidewalk. But it has been typically hard to enforce, and the city apparently didn’t have enough interest to pick up the offenders and drive them to a city tow-lot.