cool electric scooter

[Zzebotes13]

hey, does anyone think that if i rode this bike on the sidewalks in NYC, that i'd be pulled over and ticketed.
http://www.mrtoys.com/radmaxx/
I've read the dmv rules, but even so i see people ride by police on gas powered scooters all the time. Anyone from NY (or anywhere else) feel free to throw out your ideas

[Lady Indecisive]

Wow that looks awesome! I really doubt you would get pulled over.

[Twisted Warthog]

How big is that thing? It looks like it would ride up your crapper pretty good.

[vskid]

How big is that thing? It looks like it would ride up your crapper pretty good.

I was thinking the same thing.
How old are you? Would it be best for you to get a real motorcycle?

[Zzebotes13]

it's about 33 inches tall and 40 inches long. apparently the seat is very comfortable. I'm 15 turning 16 in August. So i could get my motorcycle permit then, but my mom doesn't want me on a motorcycle. I've convinced her, but i can tell that if i were to get this, it would satisfy my needs, and keep her poor heart at ease . Also, i can always just get a motorcycle after college, this would just really be to get around the city, meet up with friends etc.

[Sir Games-A-Lot]

I had something a bit like that thing before, it didn't work very well for me because I'm like 235 Lbs, so I could barely get a 6M round trip out of the battery.

Then again, we have a lot of hills around here to.

[hy phrend]

hey, does anyone think that if i rode this bike on the sidewalks in NYC, that i'd be pulled over and ticketed.

Well one of my friends little brothers has an electric scooter. and he wasn't allowed to drive it out in the streets. like literally the cops came up to his mom and told her that he couldn't be driving on the streets unless he got it registered. but then you have to be 16 to drive it. But it's ok for him to drive it on the side walks. now you must remember, i live in VT, where it's legal to cross a double yellow line, and it's illegal to whistle under water. so i'm not exactly sure on the laws in NYC. But still, just think of the way people would... look at... you....

[Zzebotes13]

thanks for the responses guys. if i got it i'd get close to the max speed seeing as i only weigh 137lbs.

[Limewater]

You've stated in your post that you are aware that the scooter is technically illegal to ride on the sidewalks. I haven't lived in New York for almost ten years, so my knowledge of city government/policy is out of date.

I lived near Baltimore when those pocket bike things got big a few years ago. Once enough people had them, the police started enforcing the law about them not being allowed on sidewalks.

I'm willing to bet NYC did the same, given the city's population problems and track record of heavy enforcement (like the installation of pedestrian barriers to prevent jay-walking ten years ago).

So, you may be fine riding one of those on the sidewalks for a little while, but it's only a matter of time before those things become a nuisance and vehicle laws are enforced.

How strictly do they enforce the bicycle-on-sidewalk thing?

And do you really think that this thing would really be effective transportation? You can easily match its speed on a bicycle which you can chain to a bike rack, rather than having to carry around this 45-lb brick whenever you aren't on it. Also, you won't be able to safely travel particularly fast on the sidewalk anyway.

That thing looks like a fun toy, but for actual transportation (especially in an urban environment) you're probably better off sticking to a bike or your feet. Or you could get a Vespa or other motor-scooter that you could ride on the road and actually keep up with traffic.

That's just my two cents.

[Zzebotes13]

the reason i considered is for the fact that my mom would "think" that its safer than a motorcycle/moped. as for riding on the sidewalk, there are no rules/laws against that. as long as you don;t hit anyone it's fine. [/i]

[Limewater]

as for riding on the sidewalk, there are no rules/laws against that. as long as you don;t hit anyone it's fine. [/i]

Dude, check it out:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/pdf/trafrule.pdf

From page 23:

(3) Bicycles and limited use vehicles.
(i) No person shall ride or operate a bicycle upon any sidewalk area
unless permitted by sign. This prohibition shall not apply to the operation
of bicycles with wheels of less than 26 inches in diameter upon the
sidewalk by children of 12 years or less in age.
(ii) No person shall ride, park or operate a limited use vehicle within any
sidewalk area except where permitted by sign. This prohibition shall not
apply to the pushing of a limited use vehicle within a sidewalk area or to
the pushing of such a vehicle to an authorized parking area.

The electric scooter is a limited use vehicle.

They're illegal to ride on the sidewalk (except where permitted by sign). It's just a matter of whether or not police enforce it.

[Zzebotes13]

thanks limewater. i guess it won't be a problem since police NEVER stop people (or me) from riding bicycles on the sidewalk. Thanks a lot everyone. Now i just have to get my mom's ok to get it

[bicostp]

I don't know about New York, but here in Taxachusetts we can operate mopeds, electric scooters, or basically any vehicle with a <50cc engine with a standard class D driver's license. (Passenger vehicles for up to 8 passengers up to 26,001 pounds excluding school buses/vans.) Anything more and we need motorcycle licenses. I was thinking of getting that endorsement next time I renew... bikes are fun.

[toby dawg]

No offence but any one riding that would look retarded, get a moped or scooter... man it only goes 8 miles at 15 miles per hour plus its all small and tiny wheels. Pretty much electric stuff like that is only going to make you mad... but then again i live in saskatchewan where room is plentiful.

[joevennix]

Those things are so uncomfortable to ride, my neighbor has one and after five minutes of him pushing the bike (my legs are too long to pedal), my ass hurt like anything.
Just get yourself a proper scooter or something (Segway? ), or hack up an bicycle with a motor. $500 sounds like a huge waste of money for something like that...