Tomorrow, 12 year olds riding scooters will be allowed on the roads...

[Deja Q]

http://www.minnesotavotes.org/2005-SF-808

Passed in the Senate (55 to 1) on April 27, 2005, to establish state regulations of motorized foot scooters. Among the provisions, this bill: 1) grants scooters the same rights and duties as bicycles, 2) prohibits use of scooters on sidewalks, 3) prohibits passengers on scooters, 4) prohibits the use of scooters by people under 12 years old, 5) requires the use of a helmet on a scooter for those under 18 years old, 6) requires headlights and tail lights on scooters, 7) allows for the use of motorized scooters on trails and bikelanes normally reserved exclusively for nonmotorized traffic, and 8) exempts motorized foot scooters from tax and registration fees.

Great. 12 year olds now get to terrorize the roads and car drivers... complete with special privileges...

[mzteris]

1. how stupid

are they?

Scooters were dangerous enough on the darn sidewalk! I forget what the stats are - but they're pretty high for serious injury. And I think that mfgs don't "recommend" scooters for kids under 18 anyways....

Besides being DANGEROUS - they should be PEDALING a bicycle to get some exercise!!

[theshadow]

2. Sounds like some money was spread around. 55-1??

[Deja Q]

4. I wouldn't be surprised. It's always sold to the highest bidder.

Would the founding fathers be proud?

[MnFats]

3. I could be wrong, but I think the law allows cities the right to...

...impose more strict regulations. some, like bloomington, already have done so.....if memory serves.

so maybe it's not so bad to allow the same rights and responsibilities as bicyclists....but I see a lot of youngsters getting these little vehicles and dashing into traffic before the kid operating it is accustomed to it.

kind of like teenagers who, for their first motorcycle, get a super-powerful bullet bike and plow into the side of a truck at 75 mph before they've been riding three months...(which happened here).

[Deja Q]

5. But the kids NEED to be taught safety.

Otherwise the parents would sue the car driver because they're always at fault, these days.