Scooter sales boom, bring safety and legal issues

By: Kimber Wenzelburger

Posted: 1/16/08

As scooter sales rise throughout the country, some riders are taking their scooters to UA sidewalks and Fayetteville highways, causing increased safety and legal concerns, students and police said in interviews.

At the end of last semester, the number of registered scooters and motorcycles on campus had increased to 68 since the 2005-06 school year, said Andy Gilbride, program adviser for the UA Transit and Parking Department. Of those 68 vehicles, 29 were registered in the last six months of 2007, he said.

However, discrepancy regarding campus scooter laws has been evident, said Lt. Gary Crain, public information officer for the UA Police Department.

"On campus, scooters are prohibited from sidewalks," he said. "There are about three different policies that prohibit scooters from the sidewalk."

Scooters are not allowed to be ridden on city sidewalks, according to Arkansas Code. And on campus, anyone who rides or parks a scooter on the sidewalk will be fined $30 by the Transit and Parking Department, with the exception of small scooters parked at bicycle racks within 50 feet of the street, according to city ordinance.

"If they are going to be on the sidewalk, they have to get a permit," Crain said. "Other vehicles cannot be on the sidewalk."

Junior Emily Carpenter was unaware that a campus law existed that prohibited scooters from the sidewalk, she said.

"I have never heard of anyone getting a ticket for riding a scooter on the sidewalk," Carpenter said. "I mean, it makes sense since scooters are almost bigger than sidewalks, and sidewalks are for people walking so they don't get hit by cars, bicycles and scooters.

"I would imagine that since the majority of the student population with scooters are athletes, tickets are not that common," she said. "Not that I have anything against athletes, but I'm sure they would just get a warning or something."

There have been many complaints about scooters on campus sidewalks, but so far there have been no reported accidents or injuries, Crain said.

"I don't typically mind the scooters on the sidewalks, except for when there is a big crowd of people and the scooter is inconveniently trying to get through the crowd," Carpenter said.

"Sometimes I also feel a little nervous… I haven't had any accidents with people on scooters, but I could definitely see it happening," she said.

Sophomore Erin Scarbrough was almost hit by two people riding the same scooter on the sidewalk, she said.

"They drove up on the sidewalk, and I tried to dodge them, but they were coming right at me and I almost got ran over," Scarbrough said.

Two people riding on a scooter is legal if the scooter is equipped with an extra seat and proper foot support, according to Arkansas Code. However, having more than two people on a scooter at one time is prohibited.

"[Multiple people on a scooter] doesn't really bother me so much," Scarbrough said. "My biggest problem is that they were on the sidewalk when there was an empty street. They had no reason to be on the sidewalk."

Steven Hankins, a senior who borrowed his 15-year-old brother's scooter last semester to move around campus easier, "sometimes [rides] on sidewalks when there aren't too many people around," he said.

"I think it's fine if you don't drive it like an out-of-control lunatic," Hankins said. "The scooter can go just as slow as a bike or person walking if you want it to.

"Of course, there are those idiots who think that the scooter has one speed… That's when I think it's not okay," he said.

Senior Will Estes, who bought a scooter at the beginning of summer, tries to only ride it on the sidewalk when it is necessary to park, he said.

"I pull it up right in front, and I don't block the door or the path or anything… like if I park next to a bike rack," he said. "I guess there are some spots where you kind of have to [ride on the sidewalk] for at least 20 feet."

Scooters that are 50 cubic centimeters or smaller cannot be ridden on the highway, and a certificate issued by state police is required for riders who do not have a driver's license, according to Arkansas Code. However, scooters larger than 50 cc require a license and can be ridden on the highway.

Anyone riding a scooter too small to be on the highway will be pulled over, said Sgt. Shannon Gabbard of the Fayetteville Police Department.

"We'll ask them why they're out there; they might just not be aware of [the law]… and there is a statute that allows you to issue a citation for impeding traffic flow if you deem it necessary," he said.

However, Gabbard has not seen a significant increase in accidents involving scooters, he said.

"I mean, some [scooters] are fast enough [to ride on the highway], but there's no way that mine could possibly do that," said Estes, whose 50 cc scooter goes about 35-40 mph.

"Typically, I avoid all streets with speed limits higher than 40," Hankins said, "thus leaving highways out of the equation. Overall, I think scooters should avoid the highway."

Riding scooters on the highway "seems pretty unsafe to me," sophomore Zach Jostad agreed, "and I wouldn't do it. But if other people choose to ride scooters on the highway, then that's fine with me, because it doesn't affect me any."

Crain has seen an increase in scooters on campus, but it's difficult to know exactly why their popularity has grown, he said.

"It's just the easiest way for me to get around town," said Estes, who cited high gasoline prices as the main reason he was prompted to buy a scooter.

In the first six months of 2006, 19.7 percent more scooters were sold compared to that same period in 2005, according to a Motorcycle Industry Council press release.

Rising fuel prices have contributed to the surge in scooter sales, according to the press release, as many scooters are capable of getting 60-80 miles per gallon.