Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2.fluke 9/24/84; site vax4.fluke.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!fluke!marauder From: marauder@fluke.UUCP (Bill Landsborough) Newsgroups: net.bicycle,net.cycle Subject: Re: requesting advice about motorscooters for 16 yr. old daughter Message-ID: <2539@vax4.fluke.UUCP> Date: Fri, 16-Aug-85 13:01:04 EDT Article-I.D.: vax4.2539 Posted: Fri Aug 16 13:01:04 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 20-Aug-85 05:11:03 EDT References: <2036T3B@psuvm> <654@sfmag.UUCP> <4940@mit-eddie.UUCP> Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA Lines: 25 Xref: watmath net.bicycle:1527 net.cycle:1171 In my opinion they are not safe for anyone who plans to go anywhere except around a controlled enviornment (such as exclusively on a University or large corporation). Scooters have very small wheels and steer very quickly therefore oversteering is a problem. Also the wheels get caught in ruts easily. But the main problem is that people tend to think of them as just a toy. Not as a vehicle which demands respect. So they ride with shorts and sandals and no helmet because, "Its just a scooter, I can't get hurt." Well they do get hurt, often because they don't take precautions. Another problem with small motorcycles and scooters is that they can't stay up with traffic. When traffic is going 50 up an incline and the scooter can only go 35 mph the cars will pass, regardless whether there is room or not. So the scooter rider is forced to drive on the shoulder and be subject to rocks, parked cars, glass and all of the surprises that bicycles have to contend with only at a much higher speed. Bill Landsborough -- "Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude... Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7