RSS
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
I’ve parked for the past 2 years behind Frog Bear down in the arena with my little 150cc scooter. Today I got a note reading:
“In the future, please do not park scooters or motorcycles in or around the bike racks. NRI has requested that we start warning folks about it. A printed policy will be forthcoming.”
What is that all about? Do people really think that scooters parked in the bike rack back there are an eye sore?
[quote="Coremodels"]
Come on, compared to other commuting alternatives, of course they are. Granted, they’re not riding a bike and tossing apple seeds over each shoulder as they go, but at 80 MPG they’re certainly doing a lot more than your average commuter in helping the environment.
Oh over here you offer kudos about helping the environment.
smoking has virtually zero effect on the environment. The effect on automobiles, however, is significant. You’re so worried about carcinogens in the air, walking by that smoker for a few minutes outside isn’t what you should worry about.
My friend in an environmental graduate degree did some research with his class in the late 1990′s on air quality in the city.
Although this is 3rd hand at this point it becomes anicdotal but still interesting.
Jogging from Buttles ave in the short north ALONG HIGH STREET to North Broadway has an equivalent carcinogenic effect on your lungs as smoking a least a pack of cigarettes (maybe 3, i forget).
Wheelbase is to the center of each wheel, so a 919 would stick out an extra foot and a half farther than a Vespa. The small scooters are about the same length as an average mountain bike.
Then length…Vespa PX150 is 71.3″ vs. Honda 919 is 74.5″
I don’t know if the same rules apply in Columbus. In LA people will “double park” their scooters or motorcycles in metered street spots with cars. I, once, got a ticket for this when I was actually in the spot first and had put money in the meter.
As a cyclist I have never had an issue finding a spot to park my bike because the rack was full of scooters. If I did, though, I would find some other close by place to lock up. It is easier for me to position my bike in some weird way (front tire on a trash can in front of Surly Girl, say) than it is for a scooter rider to do the same.
At least the scooter folks aren’t driving SUVs.
While I encourage people to cycle, I do agree with the sentiment that two wheelers should respect other two wheelers. Fewer wheels/person ratio is a good thing however it is achieved- in my book.
I’m Mike Reed and I approve of this message.
I’d guess the arrival of full-sized motorcycles are the basis of the new rule. But the scoot parking alternatives in the AD are few. Most garages I’m familiar with expressly prohibit motorcycle parking (I’ve heard it is because either a fear the motorcycle will be able to leave without paying or because the stop bar at the garages may not read a motorcycle and come crashing down on the rider). And I’ve also heard of motorcyclists receiving tickets for doubling-up in a meter.
Now, if you were a true cynic, you might think the crackdown is because NRI owns the garages and receives the revenue… free parking doesn’t profit them (directly). I’m interested to hear the result if NRI is contacted about the matter.
As a cyclist & motorcyclist friend often says, TWO WHEELS GOOD.
[quote="Coremodels"]
Come on, compared to other commuting alternatives, of course they are. Granted, they’re not riding a bike and tossing apple seeds over each shoulder as they go, but at 80 MPG they’re certainly doing a lot more than your average commuter in helping the environment.
I just think it is a stretch to say scooters are environmentally friendly. Burning energy that is not your own is not environmentally friendly. And, if the 80 MPG vehicle is 2 cycle, yeeouch.
It IS a step closer to ‘off the fossils’ energy use.
[quote="trygr"][quote="Coremodels"]
I just think it is a stretch to say scooters are environmentally friendly. Burning energy that is not your own is not environmentally friendly. And, if the 80 MPG vehicle is 2 cycle, yeeouch.
It IS a step closer to ‘off the fossils’ energy use.
Out of curiosity, does this standard apply only to transportation?
Or do you honestly heat, cool and light your domicile via ‘your own’ energy? What about your workplace(s), is it completely carbon free? One might claim that they are not in control of this at the workplace, but if you cash the checks, you benefit from their use.
For disclosures sake, let me add that I ride a scooter (90+mpg), my stove is natural gas, my job requires me to travel great distances via planes, trains and automobiles, and my laptop is currently sucking down the electricty needed to keep me plugged into CU.
Scooter Parking – I love this topic. (I just figured out how to quote people so I went a little quote-happy.)
I’ve heard the same. Also, if there is nothing to lock to then you are hoping your ride doesn’t get stolen.
Most scooters weigh less than motorcycles, so two ordinary people can pick up a scooter a throw it in a truck in about 30 seconds. Drivers could also push the scooter over as they back up if you park like this.
Definitely.
What did you find out? I’m very curious.
Amen to that!! Anybody else (motorcyclists, scooterists, bicyclists, others) wanna help me work on this? It’s “researching” (google) what other cities are doing, good examples.
Seattle is pretty awesome for two-wheeler parking.
Why not?
Maybe if more and more scooters take up whole parking spaces the new parking lots will be designed with more reasonable priced scooter space. The ones already in place would be redesigned to suit needs and remember that the more spaces the more revenue for the owners so it would be financially sound. Less people driving the big cars cause there wouldn’t be enough car spaces.
okay let me wake up…
[quote="dru"][quote="trygr"]
I just think it is a stretch to say scooters are environmentally friendly. Burning energy that is not your own is not environmentally friendly. And, if the 80 MPG vehicle is 2 cycle, yeeouch.
It IS a step closer to ‘off the fossils’ energy use.
Out of curiosity, does this standard apply only to transportation?
Or do you honestly heat, cool and light your domicile via ‘your own’ energy? What about your workplace(s), is it completely carbon free? One might claim that they are not in control of this at the workplace, but if you cash the checks, you benefit from their use.
For disclosures sake, let me add that I ride a scooter (90+mpg), my stove is natural gas, my job requires me to travel great distances via planes, trains and automobiles, and my laptop is currently sucking down the electricty needed to keep me plugged into CU.
Hmm, I sense energy use guilt.
In the simplest statement, I repeat;
“Burning energy that is not your own is not environmentally friendly.”
I think I am arguing what is environmentally friendly. I am not arguing the ethics of energy use. I am not arguing that we should all be ‘off the grid’ but that would certainly be amazing and great.
I will also repeat that scooters are great in that they are a step in the right direction.
:idea:
photo of motorcycle parking can be found here: http://scooterfan.wordpress.com/
Click on it for more examples
Hmm, I sense energy use guilt.
Absolutely no guilt at all.
I follow reduce, reuse, recycle. I think the scoot reduces my use of a car on many occassions, thus reducing my use of fuel and emissions. It’s a basic non-reactionary principle.
Good! That is nice to hear! :D
Dru, I’m glad you have no guilt. I’m not there yet. :D
I’ll admit I have a little bit of guilt. But it’s not practical for me to bicycle everywhere and COTA doesn’t do 100% of the job either. So I scooter.
I do think there’s a great opportunity to move people from cars (typically with just 1 person in them) to scooters. Lots of people HATE the idea of taking the bus and value the independence their car gives them. (Don’t have to look at a bus schedule, not limited to bus routes) These are the people that scooter shops should target. (I have no affiliation with any shop, BTW.)
Ignoring the thorny topic of emissions for the moment, scooters are much smaller than cars, so they are using up less energy in their creation and less space in their disposal (life cycle cost).
September 26th, 2007
Personally I don’t like taking away parking spaces from bikes, even if I don’t see bikes parked in the racks. But our scooters are SO much more susceptible to theft than motorcycles, so many of us try to lock to something. They actually make parking racks specifically for scooters/motorcycles.
here needs to be a public document (a written report and a shorter ppt) that highlights good examples in U.S. cities (maybe intl too) regarding PTW parking. (Powered two wheeler, so both motorcycles and scooters) Then this can be given to city councils, mayors, transportation engineers to explain this issue to them, and show them what to do to fix it. I’m happy to put this together, but it will go quicker if others help. Anybody out there want to do some “research†(google) about what other cities do?
READ MORE
I heard in the Other Paper there was a letter talking about emissions of scooters. Anybody have a link or scan to this letter?
——————–
Peanut Butter Scooter Time
Hmm, I sense energy use guilt.
In the simplest statement, I repeat;
“Burning energy that is not your own is not environmentally friendly.”
I was hoping we could get a screenshot of the bicycle you’re pedalling hooked up to a generator to power up the computer for this post….
[quote="Coremodels"]
Come on, compared to other commuting alternatives, of course they are. Granted, they’re not riding a bike and tossing apple seeds over each shoulder as they go, but at 80 MPG they’re certainly doing a lot more than your average commuter in helping the environment.
Hilarious. So true. Me, I’m predominantly a walker. But I admire the scooter population for at least trying to cut down carbon emissions.
i think the law states that any wheeled vehicle is prohibited from sidewalks, except those aiding the handicapped. that’s whay there’s been some talk over which group segways fall into.