Editorial: Scooter users need to obey rules of road

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, July 27, 2005

In about a week, it will be perfectly legal for a child too young to get a driver’s license to drive his 30-pound motorized scooter alongside 3,000 pound cars on streets throughout the state.

The Legislature overwhelmingly passed and Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed into law a bill to legalize the popular scooters as of Aug. 1.

We aren’t even going to touch upon the wisdom of this decision. For many, the decision came as a surprise. Theoretically, 12- and 13-year-olds could legally operate these scooters in urban areas during rush hour.

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Others say children are already on the streets on bicycles and there is very little difference.

Some scooters resemble skateboards with a handle and others look like sophisticated motor scooters. They come in electric and gasoline-powered versions. Some have top speeds of up to 30 mph. As of Aug. 1, the scooters will be banned from sidewalks and will be ridden on the streets just like bicycles.

The new law defines motorized scooters as those with either 10-inch or smaller wheels or an engine that can’t go faster than 15 mph. However, if a scooter has 10-inch wheels, its driver can go as fast the law allows, he said.

The law was partially in response to injuries to people on sidewalks. Proponents argue that the street is a better and safer place for everybody involved.

Before the new law was passed, state government and some cities considered the scooters motor vehicles without safety equipment. The designation effectively restricted their use to private property.

Whatever your take on the law, we urge parents to make sure that if their children get these scooters they learn and use every safety precaution. They need to exhibit responsibility before getting on. Riders must be at least 12, the law says, and they must wear helmets until they turn 18. Passengers are not allowed and all scooters must have headlights and tail lights.

While the new law tells drivers to stay close to the right curb, they can move away from it to pass vehicles or to avoid parked cars or walkers. The law also requires riders who want to make a left turn to get off their scooters at the right curb and walk them through the intersection.

Scooters can be an energy-efficient and fun way to get around, but not if they’re being used recklessly. Make sure scooter users know the rules of the road before getting on them.