Why am I seeing so many mopeds?

[castleview]

I've seen about five a day. All slow, all unregistered. Is this a sign of our bad economy? Or are the in style? Enlighten me, please.

 

[Basil of Baker St]

Where I live we call them liquorcycles b/c if you get your license revoked for DUIs you can still drive a moped. But 5 a day probably are not all lushes.
Maybe it's the economy?

 

[ontariomonkey]

They are good for fuel economy and cheaper than a car but I don't know why they would be unregistered?

 

[Bluestars]

I don't think all states require registration.

I'll bet the increase is due to the economy. I'm sure they are saving a lot of money on gas.

 

[CajunDixie]

Around here it's either someone convicted of drunk/drugged driving or a work release person. In 2 cities nearby they've converted 2 hotels into county work release centers. Their parking lots usually have 10-15 mopeds at a time.

 

[N.Bailey]

Where I live we call them liquorcycles b/c if you get your license revoked for DUIs you can still drive a moped. But 5 a day probably are not all lushes.
Maybe it's the economy?

In my state, if you get caught riding a bicycle with a blood alcohol level of .08 (same as operating a vehicle), you will be arrested for a DUI. We call it a BUI though (biking under the influence).

 

[jlima]

In Nevada, certain types of mopeds can be used on public streets, and no insurance or registration is required.

http://www.dmvnv.com/motorcycle.htm

You can buy one on Craigslist for about $600.

So, no insurance, no registration, no car payment. Plus some of them get 60 - 70 mpg. Do the math. Definitely a sign of the economy. But I can't stand them. I think it's so dangerous when a moped is only going 25 mph on a street where the limit is 45 or higher. Plus it pi$$e$ me off that I pay to register and insure my vehicle and they're driving on the same public street and not supporting the system.

 

[Melissa<3Disney]

I live in Downtown San Diego and there are a ton...I can understand wanting to get one. Saves gas, way cheaper than a car, and much more convenient to park! We are avid walkers and pretty much walk everywhere down here so we don't really have a use for one. But my boyfriend can't wait to get another motorcycle out here!!

 

[Sleepy]

I absolutely hate mopeds (I call them scooters). Not that anyone around here drives as they should, scooters add an element to driving that creates a huge problem. First of all, they are small and can weave through traffic. Doesn't matter if traffic is going 50mph or is sitting still at a redlight. These scooter drivers feel they own the road. They weave through traffic honking their horns for people to move out of the way. So, if a car is at a redlight and the scooter wants to get in front of it to do more weaving, they will honk at you, point, and become irritated....demanding that you back up for them to get through. They are also the driver to most likely run a redlight. Again, not many people even in cars follow the rules of the road, but the majority do stop at redlights now. The scooters do not. They try to run you off the road. They cause people to lose side mirrors. Driving is so unsafe here and they make things worse.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We have alot of more motorcycles on the road now. Can't really do mopeds here because you have to do HWY driving to get around.

 

[MiniGirl]

Interesting thread.... We have a ton of scooters on the roads around here, but they don't bother me at all. I haven't seen them weaving in and out of traffic or anything of that nature. Here they are registered and they seem to get up to 40 or 45 mph -- which is about the max speed on the majority of our roads. It is mostly women who use them here. After the kids are in school, they leave the minivan at home and hop on the scooter to do their running around. I considered getting one awhile back, but now that I have my girls with me the majority of the time it just wouldn't work for me.

 

[Jenvenza]

My husband has. We got it last year when gas prices were outragous. I saw one of the PPs said they were terrible were they were and they were all over the place and then I noticed that poster was in Italy and that made more sense!

My husband cannot get on the highway and it doesnt go over 40 miles per hour. And here, he has to watch out for the people driving cars! They dont pay any attention and will cut him off in a heartbeat!

 

[princess momma]

The college kids all have them for going to class here. Weird, how it never bothered me to walk.

 

[Lachesis00]

I think they are cute myself...

 

[LuvOrlando]

I think it's the economy, the price of gas has caused all sorts of changes. We have lots here too, and motorcycles have really taken off also. Although the cold weather seems to be slowing the use down I think any more raising of gas prices will make people more likely to endure the cold so they can eat. They don't bother me exactly, I just don't love when someone in a motorized bicycle speeds past me in my SUV as if he/she was a superhero who can't get hurt. I never want something horrible like that on my conscience, even if it's not my fault.

One thing I just can't get used to are those Smart Cars. Every time I see one on the highway I give the driver about 50 feet of room because I do not want to be responsible when one of those covered lawn chairs lifts off due to a good blast of wind. I wonder if the drivers are aware how much their vehicles drift?

I get why people want these things but to me they are road hazards at certain speeds.

 

[MiniGirl]

I think it's the economy, the price of gas has caused all sorts of changes. We have lots here too, and motorcycles have really taken off also. Although the cold weather seems to be slowing the use down I think any more raising of gas prices will make people more likely to endure the cold so they can eat. They don't bother me exactly, I just don't love when someone in a motorized bicycle speeds past me in my SUV as if he/she was a superhero who can't get hurt. I never want something horrible like that on my conscience, even if it's not my fault.

One thing I just can't get used to are those Smart Cars. Every time I see one on the highway I give the driver about 50 feet of room because I do not want to be responsible when one of those covered lawn chairs lifts off due to a good blast of wind. I wonder if the drivers are aware how much their vehicles drift?

I get why people want these things but to me they are road hazards at certain speeds.

Motorcycle use is on the rise here. LOL!!! As the weather gets cooler, we see them more and more and will until about late Jan or Feb. Come April, they'll get put away again until after summer. It's just too especially if you are wearing appropriate protective gear.

I also don't like those smart cars. They really do get blown around a lot going over the causeways. I don't think I'd be able to get relaxed and comfortable in one of those.

We are also seeing more golf carts around here. Now, those I don't like. I saw a woman leaving our neighborhood driving one with her baby/toddler on her lap and talking on the cell phone and trying to pull into traffic. Ugh!!! Since they aren't registered though, they are also on the sidewalks making it impossible to walk or ride a bike.

 

[kydisneyfans]

I also think gas prices are behind it.

I am still convinced that gas prices hitting $4.50-$5.00 a gallon in May of 08 killed the economy and it won't recover with gas prices rising back to almost $3 again, not with 10%+ unemployment.

People need transport, and they need it cheap. Mopeds are one way to accomplish that.

 

[ChrizJen]

I know around here you only have to register them if the engine is 50cc or higher. Otherwise, you just have to post a "tag" where the plate would go saying that it's 49cc or lower. Here, if it's under 50cc, it's essentially like riding a bicycle. The one thing that I don't get is that you're not required to wear a helmet for the 49cc ones, even though you must wear one on a motorcycle! To me, it doesn't matter what speed you're driving. If you're in traffic, you should be wearing a helmet!! Even if your scooter can only reach top speed of 30 or 35 mph, simple physics dictate that a bus or car driving 50 is going to do just about as much damage to you without a helmet!

As for the reasoning behind why you're seeing them more, I would venture to say that it is economics. The scooter boom happened when gas prices hit their peak, and folks are still driving them for errands and such. They just get MUCH better gas mileage than a car.