Helmet laws and Motor Scooters

[30ABandMan]

Has anyone noticed that the motor scooter business is booming! Yay for the local economy!

My concern is that I see more, younger riders and very few helmets. I believe you have to be 21 y/o in Florida to ride without a helmet but does that apply to motor scooters?

 

[scooterbug44]

I believe so.

On a related note, anyone 16 or under is supposed to be wearing a helmet on the bike path and I rarely see anyone with one on there either.

 

[Will B]

50cc's is the magic number. Above that, and you need a motorcycle license; however, in FL, you don't have to wear a helment (above your 21 year old threshold if that's correct. My guess is that it would revert back to the age. If the scooter is below 50cc (most are that you see kids riding), the 16 year old limit would apply.

 

[30ABandMan]

Well, in this case, size (of the engine), doesn't matter to me. I think it is foolish of businesses and parents to allow minors to ride those things w/o helmets. From the riding skills I've seen on display, there's not much riding instruction that goes on. I would hate to see a child or adult for that matter, get hurt riding w/o a helmet.

 

[NoHall]

I believe so.

On a related note, anyone 16 or under is supposed to be wearing a helmet on the bike path and I rarely see anyone with one on there either.

My observation last week was that I saw a lot of helmets west of Seaside (on children and the parents with them) and almost none east of Seaside. :scratch:

50cc's is the magic number. Above that, and you need a motorcycle license; however, in FL, you don't have to wear a helment (above your 21 year old threshold if that's correct. My guess is that it would revert back to the age. If the scooter is below 50cc (most are that you see kids riding), the 16 year old limit would apply.

Master two-wheeler!

Well, in this case, size (of the engine), doesn't matter to me. I think it is foolish of businesses and parents to allow minors to ride those things w/o helmets. From the riding skills I've seen on display, there's not much riding instruction that goes on. I would hate to see a child or adult for that matter, get hurt riding w/o a helmet.

I was thinking the same thing last week. A 50cc engine maxes out at about 35mph, but so do those horrible government crash tests you see with cars. Kids without helmets can be fatally injured on a bicycle; helmets should be required for all minors on any motorized 2-wheeler.

 

[Smiling JOe]

You are correct about the lack of riding instruction by scooter rentals. I've witnessed newbies on scooters dart straight across the rental parking lot with oncoming traffic coming from the left and the right. The drivers were trying to turn to the right out of the rental driveway. I've also witnessed one girl try to go through the back room wall of the Red Bar, riding a scooter. Lord help them all.

 

[30ABandMan]

You are correct about the lack of riding instruction by scooter rentals. I've witnessed newbies on scooters dart straight across the rental parking lot with oncoming traffic coming from the left and the right. The drivers were trying to turn to the right out of the rental driveway. I've also witnessed one girl try to go through the back room wall of the Red Bar, riding a scooter. Lord help them all.

I agree SJ,

I drive by the one rental place in SGB daily and I never know who is going to dart out. The one that made me post this thread was completely out of control, I don't even think she knew now to brake the thing really. She looked very young and just took off across the road. I'm sorry, but a lot of these kids don't look old enough to have a learner's permit let alone any Donor-cycle experience.

It bugs me that people don't use the crosswalks too. I know this sounds like complaining but geez...there is a cross walk seemingly every 50' and you still have peeps darting our into traffic.

The other night, coming east bound in front of B and A's I had a lady and her brood pop out from between two SUV's. I politely reminded her of the cross walks so conveniently painted on the roadway and how she and everyone else could benefit from their using them. Well, at first she stopped in the middle of the road and just looked stunned. Then she muttered a few things I couldn't really hear. I replied to what I thought I saw her lips say and apparently she was good with it because she handed her drink to her tallest kid, turned back around and signaled me with BOTH fingers, that I was #1!!! hahahaha!

I love how busy our area is, I love the pedestrian traffic too. I just wish they would be more careful, courteous and kind.

 

[Smiling JOe]

I saw two elderly people on rental scooters, the other day, driving down the Multi-use path, looking a bit terrified.

 

[Jdarg]

I saw two elderly people on rental scooters, the other day, driving down the Multi-use path, looking a bit terrified.

We were worried the kids (and some adults) on scooters were going to run over Mimi on her bike.

I rented a moped many years ago in Greece. We were young and thought it was a great idea to ride a motorized bike, even though we had never ridden one before. How hard could it be? I ran it right through the door of a grocery store- thankfully the door was wide open, or I would have gone through plate glass. The store owner was pretty surprised that I drove right up to his counter like I was at a drive-thru!

I never was comfortable with the gas on the handle bars- kept getting it confused with the brakes. I imagine that happens a lot with tourists renting scooters?

 

[NoHall]

We were worried the kids (and some adults) on scooters were going to run over Mimi on her bike.

I rented a moped many years ago in Greece. We were young and thought it was a great idea to ride a motorized bike, even though we had never ridden one before. How hard could it be? I ran it right through the door of a grocery store- thankfully the door was wide open, or I would have gone through plate glass. The store owner was pretty surprised that I drove right up to his counter like I was at a drive-thru!

I never was comfortable with the gas on the handle bars- kept getting it confused with the brakes. I imagine that happens a lot with tourists renting scooters?

I had a scooter for a while and I didn't even attempt it until I had taken a safety course.

It makes me wonder what these rental places are thinking (other than the obvious--$$) Why not something like a segue or a golf cart if they MUST have a motor?

Saw Mimi on her trike last week. She's so wonderful!