sidewalk mopeds
This is the scene outside of 901 15th street right now and I am not sure how I feel about mopeds on the sidewalk.
On the one hand I am so anti-car that I celebrate any transportation alternative, especially one so walker friendly.
On the other hand thanks for taking up bike rack space with your pollution producers.
Which hand do you count?
I think they have as much right to some security as bicyclists. In some cases they’re worth less than the bikes chained to those racks…. If there’s not enough room at the racks for everyone – good! Time to add more racks to accommodate the alternate transportation.
Disclosure: I have a scooter (Piaggio LT150) and I park it on the sidewalks whenever I need to.
In most areas downtown, a scooter would not last in a car parking spot. Given that my scooter is just over 200 lbs., it’s relatively easy for two people to put it in the back of a truck and make off with it if it is not locked up. I lock up my scooter on the sidewalk out of necessity (given that thieves have tried to steal it before).
Also, the reason that I bought a scooter was to be environment-friendly. The LT150 has a four-stroke engine (that doesn’t burn oil) and gets ~65 mpg. The only way to beat that is with either feet or a bicycle.
If they provided dedicated parking spots for scooters (like outside of Asylum in Adams Morgan) with something to lock to, I would use them. I wait eagerly for that day.
And they’re also much more fuel efficient and environment friendly than a car. Sadly, Chicago does not allow you to park your scooter on a bike rack.
What do you expect the drivers to do, park on the street and risk it getting stolen? bike racks are one of just a few options for mopedists to safely lock up to. Additionally, 100+ miles to the gallon with almost no exhuast doesnt produce much pollution. Plus, its not like bike rack space is valuable, they are everywhere.