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Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Sharing The Road Today Has A Whole New Meaning

Its one thing to ride down the road following a guy on a scooter with no helmet and no special licence to do so. Its another thing when the vehicle is doing 20 mph in a 35 mph zone and then stops for pot holes and bumps.

When that same rider refuses to move over and get out of the way, oh boy, that really ticks people off. We are seeing more and more of this on our major roadways, especially in the Salisbury area. What do YOU think should be done about this?

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

run them over

Anonymous said...

100% legal. Get over it. Leave earlier to compensate for possible traffic. I would much rather see this guy on this road than on a major highway, where it is illegal.

Anonymous said...

Where are the police? They should be ticketing these people and impounding their scooters until they have proper registration and a helmet!

Anonymous said...

I think just like people on REAL motorcycles have to wear a helmet, so should they. And should ONLY be allowed to drive on the shoulder.

Anonymous said...

I can't tell you what I think because you banned that type of talk. But I can tell you what Rudy Cane, who they - not me, sent back to Annapolis thinks. He voted to not require helmets or special license for anyone, including youth, riding these things. How do I know he voted that way - because it was the same time he voted NOT to repeal the mandatory helmet laws for adults that have completed safety courses and have special license. Now figure that out - no wonder the states in the shape it's in - not only is he an idiot but a hypocrite too. God help us!

Concerned Retiree said...

They should be covered under the laws that govern motorcycles. They ride on 13 & 50 all the time. They wear no helmets - ride on sidewalks - do not obey traffic lights and stop / yield signs. Talk about unsafe. Our Politians will do nothing. They allow bicycles the same privileges. That is unless you are on a country road then you get a ticket for not wearing a helmet while riding your bicycle 3 mph. They paased the bicycle, and motorcycle, laws because of the safety factor and so called injuries caused. Quess scooters are neither and these rationales do not apply to scooters that reaches speeds up to 43 mph. I have followed and clocked them by my speedometer when one passed me when I was doing 35 mph, the speed limit.

Anonymous said...

i agree with 1111am. they have no courtesy to move, you should have no courtesy for them.

Anonymous said...

I feel it is outragous that the state allows these people on the road. My main concern is that they have no insurance. Top speed in appx 30 mph, the scooters appx 275 lb, the operator appx 160 lb; imagine getting hit by an object weighing 435 lb traveling 30 mph. These can cause a lot of damage and NO INSURANCE REQUIRED. Also if they go thru a red light, wrong way on a one way, etc. what are the police going to do? TAKE AWAY THEIR NON-LICENSE. What a joke.

Tim Chaney said...

The reasoning behind helmet laws were based on reducing serious head injuries from motorcycle accidents. What's the difference in riding those scooters in heavy traffic?

Anonymous said...

they should be required to obey the same laws as motorcycles.
as a licensed motorcycle owner/rider i get ticked off everytime i see one.

but that will never happen, then it would kill the rental business is ocean city. you ever see those people on the scooters? they think they are trick riders

lmclain said...

So many of these people are driving those things because the State has revoked their license. So now they are allowed to operate ANOTHER type of vehicle on the roads??? I would suggest that a license revocation include a prohibition against operating ANY motorized vehicle on ANY county, state, or Federal road.

Anonymous said...

I've got to respectfully disagree with you Tim. There was very little reasoning involved with helmet laws. If there was most of the states would require them but don't - just like they don't require life jackets when you're in a boat, or pool, or near water. It was the threat to withold federal funds that caused MD to buckel - like they always do. I'll be glad when they eventually take all our freedoms away and then maybe we'll ALL WAKE UP!

Anonymous said...

maybe we should ban all scooters.I mean come on what gives this guy the right to drive a slower more economical vihicle then me. Come on how dare he slow for pot holes i'm sure no true motorcycle rider would ever slow for one.

As far as a helmet law, yes we should have them in place for all cycles of any type. God forbid this man might be riding in front of someone in a giant gas guzzler with no patience for someone operating within our laws of the land.

Anonymous said...

omg yes we need more laws. bigger goverment is what we need.lets ban the scooter all together so we can kill another industry

Anonymous said...

if i recall the non helmet/license thing only applies to under 50cc, anything larger requires the same as a motorcycle.

if that one is above 50cc then hes illegal

Anonymous said...

11:11 - you would probably get charged with a 'hate' crime!

Anonymous said...

11:15 is right, 100% legal. I may be wrong, but am pretty sure this is Mt. Hermon Road between Waste Gate Road and Sixty Foot Road. In fact, I have been behind this guy before and he always gets out of the way if he can. If you look at the picture, he has no where to go, unfortunately, yes you are going to have to follow until a break in traffic and be forced to slow down. I DO believe they should have to abide by helmet laws, which are for your protection. And on another note, I actually watched a Wico Cty Sheriff Deputy pull a vehicle over for passing a scooter on a double line and that was also on Mt Hermon Road, which is a bit rediculous if you ask me.

Anonymous said...

Let's build scooter lanes for the scooters like we did for bicycles!
(sarcasm)
They should have to be licensed AND insured!!

Anonymous said...

Imclain. It is illegal to drive a scooter with a revoked Maryland drivers license. "A Class M motorcycle license is not required. However, each individual operating a moped or a motor scooter on any roadway in Maryland must have a driver license of some class issued in this state or from his or her state of residency. A moped operator's permit issued to the individual is also valid. The MVA will not issue a moped operator's permit to any individual whose driver's license is suspended or revoked."

Anonymous said...

The same laws for mandatory helmets for bicycles should apply to scooters. The scooters go faster than bicycles and could definitely cause a more serious type of injury. I work in the medical field and can attest to the accidents involving scooters becoming more of the norm. Scooter riders have no training and no "gear" requirements. But...on the other hand we should respect their right to use the roads just as we should respect the right of a bicyclist.
Melody K

Anonymous said...

In Delaware, you must have your scooter registered with the DMV and have your moped tag displayed. You must also be a licensed driver to operate it. Helmets are optional as Delaware allows motorcycles to operate without a helmet.

I support having to register our scooters as it helps out our state and allows for tracking of stolen vehicles. It is only $5.00 every couple of years. And being a licensed driver at least means that you are supposed to have a basic knowledge of the rules of the road.

It is a fun and cheap way to get around in good weather. (110 MPG) We always wear our helmets, obey the traffic laws, ride in bike and bus lanes, respect the faster traffic, and for the most part we ride on secondary roads because it is much safer than riding on Route 1. It has been a source of some good fun when we have company to take them down to the beach on the scooters.

In Delaware the cops will stop and ticket a scooter just as they would any other vehicle on the road. I think that this is why the scooters seem to operate with more sense here in the Rehobeth and Lewes area than they do in Ocean City and Salisbury.

If Maryland were to adopt some of the same laws as are in place in Delaware, law enforcement would have ways to enforce how the scooters are operating in the Ocean City and Salisbury area.

Anonymous said...

First of all a regular driver's license is required. Second of all, those of you barrelling up behind me in your gas hogging SUV on Camden Avenue pushing me to go faster than the speed limit are breaking more of the law than I am on my scooter.

Many people drive scooters to get to work, otherwise they would be on the government dole. I have several employees who use scooters as their only means of transportation. Because they can work their families can live in a house the government is not paying for, eat food the government is not paying for and use the health care benefits I am offering to them. Many of them own a car but their spouse also works. Two cars are out of the question for lots of people these days.

You can't have everything. I do not see scooters riding on sidewalks, I do see bicycles driving against traffic all of the time however.

Most of the industrialized countries have a population that use scooters including students, factory workers and business people. Traffic congestion around here is becoming unreal. More pickups on the road only make it worse.

Scooter drivers are required to follow the rules of the road. Automobile drivers often do not so scooter drivers are no different.
As far as a helmet, I wear one. If you want your head cracked like an egg so be it. I'd like to continue not eating through a straw.

As far as your picture, I'm not sure what current law the guy is breaking?!?

Anonymous said...

It's called sharing the road. It's the only mode of transporation he can afford.
I am sure it is a pleasure cruise for him every morning dealing with you impatient morons acting like you are going to run him over.
Pass him when its safe and go on with your day.
He is no different than the old lady/man going 10-20 mph under the speed limit, or the self absorbed moron on their cell phone, not keeping up with traffic.

Anonymous said...

Anon 2:46. "More pickups on the road only make it worse." Pickups have rights too. "Come on man!!!"

Anonymous said...

My concern is the fact that most of these people commenting don't know the law. These are probably the same people who drive 50 MPH in a two ton vehicle and cause accidents because they DON't know the law. I see hundreds of people every day breaking the motor vehicle laws and creating life threatening situations. I've never heard of anyone being a killed by a scooter. This poor guy in this picture isn't openly breaking any laws or creating a dangerous situation. Oh, and don't forget bicycles - they're supposed to abide by the SAME laws as automobiles - no riding on sidewalks, no going thru stop lights and signs, no speeding, etc. Plus, most of them don't wear helmets. Why would anyone want Maryland to create more fees (registration) for taxpayers - isn't anyone sick of all these fees yet? Instead of being critical, try one - they're fun. I've got a gas guzzler pickup, a high performance car, and a scooter. I enjoy all three.

Anonymous said...

12:34 PM

You are so wrong I don't know where to begin.

Anonymous said...

Please remember that everyone on the road is a human being, whether they should be there or not according to the law, they should be respected and protected from harm.

Anonymous said...

There is no respect or courtesy out there. Everybody thinks they are a nascar driver or something. They will do anything they can just to get 10 feet in front of you.

Anonymous said...

Folks ......If you stop these machines what are people going to use for cheap drug running transportation???

Anonymous said...

Go to Crisfield and see all the golf carts on the highway-yes the highway!
None of these people on scooters or carts are paying for registration or insurance.What happens if they hit a car or a car hits them?