Taxpayer wrote on Jul 6, 2008 8:08 PM:I understand why people are buying scooters. Unfortunately with more people on scooters- more of these people will be hurt in accidents.

Gasarita wrote on Jul 6, 2008 8:16 PM:As I said before, my boss gave me a bottle of Beano and said that it would help out on gas. I put one in the gas tank and it did nothing, so I put four in next time and still it did nothing. What am I missing? Does Beano work in scooters?

Harley Driver wrote on Jul 6, 2008 9:07 PM:To those of you who have purchased or are thinking of purchasing a 2-wheel vehicle, please take a safety driving course. It will increase your level of protection.

Jimbo wrote on Jul 6, 2008 10:14 PM:I owned three motorcycles before I ever owned a car. They wake you up real fast to a couple of things. Little old ladies find it hard to see you as they peer through their steering wheel. And road surfaces are to be respected. You are better off getting a larger displacement machine than a smaller one, which are basically moving roadblocks that frustrate driver's who already don't care about the safety of motorcyclists. Wear bright colored clothing that offers protection. And watch out for the old ladies.

Krakenbound wrote on Jul 7, 2008 12:12 AM:Saving a hundred bucks a month isn't worth the risk and hassle of riding on two wheels... one second of inattention on any ones part on the road and your driving your wheelchair by a blow straw on your way to the bathroom to change your bag out for the rest of your. Just not worth the risk for either me or my family (and I've been Class M for 25 years!)

UrsaPolaris wrote on Jul 7, 2008 3:41 AM:Until ownership of scooters reaches critical mass, there MAY be more accidents, but that is not necessarily a given. Having taken and passed the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Basic Rider Course and positioning myself to take the Experienced Rider Course, I would definitely recommend that everone that is even thinking of riding on two wheels take the courses; it will assist you in becoming as safe as you possibly can be on the roads. As a matter of fact, I think it would be a very good idea for drivers that don't intend to ride on two wheels to take this course as well!

I seen a scooter wrote on Jul 7, 2008 5:52 AM:collide with a car, not much left of the scooter or rider, car was fine.

Mary wrote on Jul 7, 2008 6:06 AM:To Harley drivers- Please keep your muffler on your bike. Straightpipes are a sign you have complete disrespect for all the other people who live in our community.

John E wrote on Jul 7, 2008 6:58 AM:This whole sorry situation could have been avoided remarkably easily. Back in 1973, and again in 1979, we received brief wake-up calls in the form of gasoline "crises." The American automakers responded by downsizing their vehicles and re-engineering engines, transmissions, and aerodynamic profiles for increased fuel efficiency. A nationwide speed limit of 55mph was set. Adults rediscovered the joy and freedom of bicycling or walking to nearby destinations, carpooling and transit became more popular, and two-wheeled vehicles of all types sold well. Then, through the 1990s vehicles got larger and thirstier, while vehicle miles traveled steadily increased. "Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it."

I enthusiastically voted for John B. Anderson in the 1980 Presidential primary partly because he had the vision back then to promote a $0.50/gallon tax on gasoline, to encourage conservation. With global demand now at record (and increasing) highs and the supply of oil gradually being depleted, the market itself is now painfully abruptly telling us that the cheap oil party is over. We can cry like spoiled children and spout conspiracy theories, or we can do something about the problem by curbing our personal appetites for fuel. (By walking and bicycling more, we might even magically lose a few of those collective excess pounds of health-threatening fat in the process.)

Break out the wrote on Jul 7, 2008 7:15 AM:3 button suits. The MODS have returned!

GO GREEN wrote on Jul 7, 2008 7:44 AM:Ban all cars!! Gore for President!

Keido wrote on Jul 7, 2008 7:45 AM:To Mary,
Disrespect I say not, How about give us some respect. Loud pipes are what sets Harley's above and apart frome the rest. LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES.

Chris wrote on Jul 7, 2008 8:19 AM:I started off with a scooter and then moved up to a motorcycle. Anyone who is thinking of getting either had better be very good defensive rider. I crashed twice on my motorcycle, once was my fault, the other an elderly woman turned left in front of me sending me flying over the hood of the woman's car. I was lucky and walked away with no serious injury. I considered myself a very smart rider, but no matter how smart there is always that person who doesn't see you. I would consider owning another bike again, but now how a wife and two children and that is not worth jeopardizing my health and safety.

Hmmm... wrote on Jul 7, 2008 8:29 AM:I'm wondering how many of these NEW scooter owners realize that you need a motorcycle license to operate them?

I severely DOUBT that they have been rushing to the DMV to qualify for one.

And one little note to all the GUYS buying scooters.

You'll never get anywher with any women when seen riding one.

HD Rider Here wrote on Jul 7, 2008 8:34 AM:Loud pipes or not motorcycles are fuel efficient and save space on our overcrowded freeways. Look around you the next time you are stuck in traffic and count just how many solo riders are taking up all that space in all four or more lanes while driving their big metal boxes waisting fuel and polluting the air in stop n go traffic.
Mary will never change her attitude about motorcycles or pipes but when I see my pipes make people in cars look for me I know for sure that loud pipes do save lives and make me more visible.
PS-HOV lanes are nice but maybe it would be nicer if motorcycles could get their own lane someday

danielle wrote on Jul 7, 2008 8:58 AM:Do they have one with a side car for my daughter's car seat?

Arnie had a wrote on Jul 7, 2008 9:14 AM:side car for his son but he crashed it in Los Angeles. He should of stayed in Hollywood.

DD Wiz wrote on Jul 7, 2008 9:25 AM:Great article, but I would like to see one on electric scooter options.
Also, continue reporting on the development of the electric (or optional plug-in hybrid) Aptera, being produced right here in North County, providing local jobs. It is technically a motorcycle, with three wheels, but is a two-seater (to respond to the question in the post from "danielle" (8:58am), but is fully enclosed in a compartment made of extremely durable lightweight composite materials that are actually stronger and safer than a car, and thus will not require using a helmet.

To Hmmmm.... wrote on Jul 7, 2008 9:45 AM:Scooter drivers don't need a standard motorcycle license so long as they stick to daylight driving on surface streets. To drive at night or on the highway, they have to pass a driving test at the DMV or take a 15-hour motorcycle safety course approved by the state.

They will get everywhere with the women because they will have the extra income to afford the maint. of a woman.

Just because you have pipes that are beyond loud does not mean your own pipe is any bigger. If anything, just showing how small it really is.

Do cell phone laws wrote on Jul 7, 2008 9:55 AM:apply to scooters?

Calafornian wrote on Jul 7, 2008 10:07 AM:The fads come, and the fads go, just like conservation of the 1970's.

The only thing that hasn't gone yet, is this, arrogant,president, and vice president. They took the wealth right out of the citizens of this great nation, to part unkown.

Wake up call for all of us now!

Little Old Lady wrote on Jul 7, 2008 10:24 AM:For those who don't care, there are TALL old ladies who can well see over the steering wheel! They don't use cell phones, don't drink, don't cut you off, don't swear, and are probably the safest drivers out there. Courtesy helps too. "OLD" also means experience, stability. As for scooters, first learn to respect bicyclist riders please. I see more disrespectful CAR drivers in the bike lanes, endangering school kids, disregarding turn signals, etc. Grow up! Little and big old ladies rule!

Oh brother wrote on Jul 7, 2008 10:53 AM:Are most of these bloggers just ignorant or bored? Scooters are a sign of the times. They have been widely used all over the world and America is just going to have to catch up. These folks who are purchasing scooters are doing the responsible thing- using less fuel and making a smaller carbon footprint. The rest of you complainers and criticizers should also take defensive driving courses so YOU can see the bikes and not be part of the problem. And has anyone noticed there are still jerks going 80 and 90 miles per hour on the freeway in their big gas guzzling cars? Wake up folks.

To HD wrote on Jul 7, 2008 10:55 AM:but when I see my pipes make people in cars look for me I know for sure that loud pipes do save lives and make me more visible.

People look to see who the a-hole is that is about to blow their ear drum out.

Kinda funny that hd doesnt mention anything about his pipes being so loud they break the law. Interesting...

Dont Tread On Me wrote on Jul 7, 2008 11:29 AM:LOUD pipes do nothing but annoy. A well engineered exhaust system will offer the same performance and gas mileage as a loud pipe, perhaps even better. Overly loud exhausts on motorcycles and cars scream out, "look at me, I am under-endowed and I'm trying to make up for it!"

JustSayin wrote on Jul 7, 2008 11:40 AM:There are about 35,000 registered lobbyists in Washington (Washington Post.com)
There are 542 elected federal officials (FVAP.gov). One Pres., one V.P., 100 senators,
435 representatives, 4 delegates from U.S. territories, 1 minister to Puerto Rico. That means there are about 64.5 lobbyists per lawmaker. Lobbying, to my understanding, is legalized bribery. Let’s do some math.
It was reported Exxon made about a 40 billion dollar quarterly profit, recently. A billion is a very large number. A million is a very large number. A billion is a thousand million.
Let’s, for the sake of argument, say that Exxon gave every elected official 1 million dollars. Democrat, Republican, Independent, whatever, every lawmaker is given a million dollars to just do nothing, to look the other way, to incorporate phrases like: “free enterprise” and “supply and demand”, into their responses about spiraling gas prices.
That would be a lot of money for Exxon to spend, over 500 million dollars, but it would only be one half of one billion….to make 40 billion….in one quarter of one year. Good deal for Exxon, bad deal for us. Relax, I’m sure the numbers in my scenario are way high.
We’re probably being sold out for much less than that.
Back in the day, our ‘public servants’ passed laws to protect Americans: child labor laws,
minimum wage requirements, OSHA safety standards, The Sherman Antitrust Act.. These elected officials are supposed to protect us from the kind of debilitating corporate greed the oil industry is inflicting on us, not enable them.
This is the way Washington works, the way it’s always worked, but they didn’t used to be so obvious about it. If you don’t think tons of money is made under the table, consider this: most politicians were successful lawyers or businessmen. They had enough connections and finances to win a political campaign! Why would someone give up making 300-400 thousand dollars a year (a conservative income estimate for a successful lawyer or businessman) for a congressional or senatorial seat whose official annual income is so much less.
How much would Exxon make if gas could be available for $3 a gallon, or $2?
When I say Exxon I’m using them as an example of all the American oil companies. I know Exxon doesn’t set the price at the pumps. But the retailers have to charge this much because they have to pay so much for the product.
Many companies in the U.S. make billions, but we can choose to buy their products or not. We all have to drive to work, school, the store etc.. All products that are flown, shipped or trucked will cost more because of the increased cost of fuel.
All this talk about terrorists…. and we allow American oil companies to raise their prices every time OPEC does. They don’t need to sneak across the border, they can ruin us from over there.
Where are the billionaire philanthropic entrepreneurs? The Warren Buffets, the Bill Gates, the Richard Bransons. We need someone of this magnitude to invest in the development of alternative sources of energy. Only they could be insulated enough to not be dissuaded (strong-armed) from cutting into the oil cartels profits. We don’t need another, better hybrid car. We need to eliminate our dependence on fossil fuel completely.
This would save the global economy and the planet. I think there is some merit in that.

Forget the loud pipes wrote on Jul 7, 2008 11:43 AM:do something about the cars stereo system that they have blown the speakers out and still drive around town with the volumne all the way up. It is like chalk on a chalk board.

Chuckles wrote on Jul 7, 2008 11:54 AM:Riding a 250cc scooter on the freeway is madness, it will never have the power to get you out of a sketchy situation. Went for a trip on the I5 the other day and set the old cruise control at 65mph, I was the slowest car out there and nearly got blown off the road by sportscars & SUVs. I have ridden bicycles for 30 years, and ever since the invention of the cell phone have developed the finest of defensive riding skills. Now I commute by motorcycle (with stock quiet pipes) and because of my years on the bicycle I know how to anticipate an inattentive drivers moves and how to avoid the aggressive drivers. Riding skills save more lives than noise, just stay out of the blind spot.

Noise Pollution wrote on Jul 7, 2008 12:21 PM:Do away with both the loud pipes and overblown stereos as well as a few other things ... they all give me a headache!

And to the one who said loud pipes save lives ... No they don't ... attentive drivers save lives.

To old lady wrote on Jul 7, 2008 12:56 PM:Wrong. Old people behind the wheel = disaster. You're probably not old enough to fit in the "old driver" catagory. There are some elderly that can actually drive a car and still have response times that can save them from accidents, and then there are the rest that just do more harm than good. It's a proven fact that your reaction time, as well as other things start to fade with age, accept it and keep up your "good driving"

Just a note that i respect our elders and we wouldn't be here with out them. Just like everything else in life there are some people who shouldn't do certain things because they are simply not good at them. When it endangers others is where you have so realize that doing your best just isn't worth it.

Chuckles wrote on Jul 7, 2008 12:57 PM:You should see what it is like in China & Taiwan, scooters everywhere and the sidewalks are mostly used for parking sccoters with only a small area for walking. When it rains they just put on the raingear and commute by scooter anyway. I remember sitting at a traffic light in Hsing-Tien City Taiwan and wondering what the white striped box was for in the intersection. Before the light had turned green it had filled with scooter riders coming up from behind the cars, and they got to be the first through the light. If you want people to ride scooters, try this here and I bet people would really go for it.

If you decide to ride a wrote on Jul 7, 2008 2:07 PM:scooter make sure you have enough insurance cuz chances are the one who hits you won't have any. At least make sure your family is left well off once you are gone.

The REAL Chuckles wrote on Jul 7, 2008 2:53 PM:I love my scooter, but someone stole my nom de plume!!!

Dude wrote on Jul 7, 2008 2:54 PM:Story Idea here...

Howabout a story comparing motorcycle/scooter injurys when gas was 3.00 a gal vs. 4.50 a gal.

Could be an eye-opener.

Faux Chuckles wrote on Jul 7, 2008 4:00 PM:Didn't know it was taken, you should post more, I am outta here.

Roberto wrote on Jul 7, 2008 5:23 PM:I work for an oil company...I just wanted to say thank you and keep driving. SUV's, scooters or whatever.... I just wished it could be refined in California instead of antother part of the world.

chickenlittle wrote on Jul 7, 2008 11:38 PM:I personally like hearing those tailpipes coming up behind me. I especially hate when a motorcycle is splitting the lane in traffic moving 80mph and most of the people don't see him. I especially think they should do their handstands and tricks on an emptier freeway. Guys trying to make up for something are usually driving a huge truck that they almost need a ladder to get into it. Then drive it recklessly, on your tail and other rude things.
As people get into the middle years, their responses do slow down, but we make up for it with experience. By the time we get older, we need to take even more care with defensive driving as even our experience isn't enough for some maneuvers.
One of this weeks scary events. Watching an elderly woman, with a cane, barely walking, with one eye covered by a huge gauze bandage, wandering around the grocery store parking lot looking for her car, putting a magnifying glass in front of the good eye to see better.
I wanted to ask her which way she would be going so I could be sure to go the other way.

Borrego wrote on Jul 8, 2008 7:35 AM:As an alternative to a scooter try a Kawasaki Ninja 250. They cost less than $4000 new, go 0-60 in less than seven seconds, cruise all day at 70 mph(top speed about 110)and real world mileage is in the 50-60+ mpg range. They are quiet too. The CHP approved motorcycle safety course is offered at Palomar College year-round.

MC Rider wrote on Jul 8, 2008 12:44 PM:For those who plan on riding for the first time: If you ride long enough, you will go down. Just hope that SUV-driving soccer mom on the cell-phone yelling at the kids in the back to keep quiet is paying enough attention to the road to avoid your body laying in the travel-lane in front of her.

Best way to learn is riding off-road. This way you fall off in the dirt which is softer than asphalt. You also don’t have semi-trucks sharing a lane with you. Best of all, you learn how to react to navigate obstacles. It becomes second nature where you’re surprised you’ve avoided an accident after the situation has already happened. There is no time to think what that instructor from the motorcycle safety course told you to do in the situation you’re already through. Things happen fast, and I can tell you my years of desert riding saved my rear when I started riding on the street.

Oh, and those who have never ridden on the freeway, you wait…… I’ll bet a lot of people who buy an underpowered scooter to commute with on the freeway will be selling them within the next year or so. Nothing like riding next to an 18-wheeler at freeway speeds……

Eric wrote on Jul 8, 2008 3:15 PM:This is to "Hmmm..."

I have a new scooter and yes, I actually took the written PERMIT test BEFORE I drove it home, so yes, I have a motorcycle permit.

And about the "girls"...right after I bought my scooter (weeks ago) I met a girl, who I am now happily dating.

My masculinity doesn't need artificial reinforcement from the vehicle I drive.

-Eric

blm wrote on Jul 8, 2008 10:42 PM:Be sure to drive on the road like you are invisible, except that people can see you to run into you. We either need lots of scooters and bikes on the road to even things out, or find other ways to save gas (Hybrid or electric cars), because in today's traffic conditions scooters have all the liabilities of a motorcycle, but lack the power, braking and suspension advantages. -- 40 year Class M.

mb wrote on Jul 11, 2008 12:57 AM:Scooters are dorky. However, some girls like dorky. Being a dork will not necesarily disqualify you from getting girls. That being said, Drill Off-Shore until we can figure out a logical gas-free car.