I agree AB and LL, and to add to that, I wouldn't even drive one of those smart cars around here. Of course thats not really saying much since I wouldn't drive a smart car anywhere, but you catch my drift.

I wonder how many people won't take the risk of riding a scooter but will drive their car/truck without a seat-belt on.

Pretty much everything we do involves an element of risk, it just depends on how much risk you are prepared to chance.

I love biking and there are times I wish I still had one. I also recognize that there are people out there that never see them. Of course, we have some drivers that cannot see a Mack truck before they collide with it. I had several 'accidents' when riding from some idiot's actions and know the risks. That is one of the reasons my wife does not want me to get a bike again. One of my uncles used to commute on his CB350 until his ankle was fused back together after getting sideswiped in Wichita. It is dangerous to drive one, but I also think that as we see more and more of them, most people will be looking out for them.

The driving risks involved between not wearing a seatbelt and driving a scooter aint even close. You dont get much forgiveness on those scooters... if you crash em, your gonna hurt.

I aint bashing em....and in fact during the last energy crunch in the 70's I owned one for a few months (back then they had pedals to get em started...lol)....they are fun to drive....just dont expect to get big money savings from having a fleet of em....cause it aint gonna happen.

When I owned one....we thought we would save a little gas (hey1...it cost more than a buck a gallon back then) and that we would drive it quite a bit for all the purposes stated above. Thing is (was) the weather didnt always co-operate. Rain, night driving, cold, hot, too much to carry, and all kinds of factors cut into the abilty to use the scooter much (at least for us). And I really worried about one of my daughters crashing the scooter, so....we sold it after a few months.

I have a Harley, sometimes I ride to work and those mornings are wonderful commutes. There are other times that I could ride but take the pick up truck instead. I look at "in hindsight" how much did I save if I get in an accident or die from riding to save a few dollars. My 10 mile commute is short so savings aren't that great. I would rather pay more now in gas than have my son never know who his father is.

Getting married changes your life but having your first child changes it even more.


Last year I was in an accident on my way home from work. A brand new mini van turned right in my lane to make a left hand turn. We were at a red light so speeds were no more than 5 mph. I ended up pin stripping his new mini van from behind the front tire to in front of the rear tire with my highway peg. I get home and call my insurance and they asked what damage was done to motorcycle, fenders, mirrors, helmets, leather jacket, arms, legs....? I told her there was no damage except for a little burre in my $10 foot peg and that isn't worth reporting.

Damage to the minivan was just over $2k.

This is why I don't have a bike. I live in DC. The DC metro area has a lot of transient people from all over the world and they don't seem to know the basics of driving a car. Most people would look before changing lanes and have common sense enough to at the very least use a bluetooth device while on the phone. I don't feel having a bike is even an option for me here.

OH Glad you came out of your accident ok. We're looking forward to seeing you at Raystown. We can meet your little one and you can see how our little one has grown in a year and what you have to look forward too.

I spent a week in India recently. Literally millions of little cars, trucks, buses, motorcyle rickshaws, scooters and small motorcycles share the road in the cities. And it's a free for all. Drive on the sidewalk - no problem - drive in oncoming traffic - yeah if there's room - you have to pull out in front of traffic to enter the street.

Motorcycles will weave between the cars at speed - 40 mph or so - with inches between the handlebars and the car. On more than one occasion, I saw a family of 4 or 5 people on a scooter the size of Capn's. I ride motorcycles all the time in the US, I don't think I could ride one there. Nor do I think I could drive a car for more than five minutes without an accident.

After seeing that, my perception of the dangers here went way down.

Now that's something you can have some fun with.....

Bentley


'57 Chevy


Escalade

I must like to live dangerously, because I ride my Aspencade 60 miles a day to work & back, weather etc. permitting. The trick to staying alive on a bike is NEVER forget you're just an ant trying to work your way thru the land of giants, and ALWAYS assume that every single thing your eyes see is out to kill you. Assume EVERY vehicle on the side street ahead WILL pull out in front of you. Assume EVERY vehicle next to you WILL change lanes into you. Assume EVERY vehicle behind you WILL drive up your tailpipe. And assume EVERY vehicle in front of you WILL stop for no reason whatsoever. Etch that into your brain. Everyone is out to ruin your day. NOW your job is to constantly figure a way OUT once they come after you. Make sure you have a lane to move to. Watch the driver in the car about to pull out in front of you, start slowing down if he's NOT looking back. Look backwards often, make sure you have a way to move sideways, or forwards. Beware of everything, and have a getaway plan. Works for me.

I have the same scooter!!! I love riding around town. Pulled up to the gas station and filled it up for $2.57.

1/2 gall of milk?!? That would last 1 day at our house. We usually buy 2 or 3 gallons at the time.

This week, son is gone on vacation with a friend and 2 gallons have actually lasted since last Sun.

Since you mention different risks... can't help myself TEG.

Alligator Fatalities (FL): 1948-2005: 17
Bicycle-Related Fatalities (FL) 1990-2006: 1,927
Bicycle-Related Fatalities (US) 1990-2006: 12,974
source: www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/attacks/relarisk.htm

Swimming with gaters may be safer
I suggest staying off the Schwinns and Zumas

BTW, I don't hate scooters. It just doesn’t work for us.
Those who have them, have a safe area to use them & are having fun with them... Rock on

Is a Scooter the Answer? (moneycentral.msn.com)