City weighs motorized scooter ban
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As the Lansing City Council considers a ban on certain motorized scooter-like vehicles, East Lansing citizens are left to consider whether their city should take similar action.
On July 21 a Lansing City Council member introduced a city ordinance to ban the use of many motorized scooter-like vehicles that aren’t required to be registered by the Secretary of State.
Fellow Council member Sandy Allen said residents have been complaining about the vehicles.
“My perception on these little vehicles is that someone should not use these vehicles as something to go to work or the store,” Allen said.
East Lansing mayor Vic Loomis said the issue of the vehicles hasn’t come up in East Lansing City Council meetings.
“Given that it has arisen in Lansing, I am going to contact our police department and get some inquiry from them, before going from there,” Loomis said.
Michael Jones, a political theory and constitutional democracy senior, said his experience as a delivery driver makes him think East Lansing should look into a ban.
“They drive from street to street and sidewalk to sidewalk very recklessly,” Jones said. “It puts pedestrians at risk because of quicker turning.”
Secretary of State spokesman Ken Silfven said many of the vehicles don’t have the criteria for being street legal in Michigan, including proper mirrors and turn signals.
“It really is a matter of safety,” Silfven said. “If it can’t handle the proper speeds, and doesn’t have the proper equipment, you don’t want it on the road.”
Tim Soule, owner and sales manager of Campus Scooter, 412 Albert Ave., said he was worried a ban could hurt his business, although all of his vehicles are required to be registered through the Secretary of State.
“It does concern me when people hear scooter ban, that they could think about not getting one of our scooters, which are a safe and economical form of alternative transportation,” Soule said.
Commentary
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Matt
(08/01/08 12:45am)Report
Oh man, then what are the student athletes going to do? They don’t like to walk.
CRIS
(08/01/08 8:25am)Report
Why is Michigan such a punitive state? Why ban what americans are using to fight back on the outrageous gas prices. If someone is driving recklessly just give them a ticket. You don’t ban cars and trucks do you. Don’t be so mean. We love to punish in Michigan and then we wonder why people are leaving in the droves. Try some self-help therapy and try to be a kinder Michigan.
Zach
(08/04/08 10:22am)Report
Some of those small vehicles do drive recklessly but if they ban them I don’t really know where people whom live in the city would actually be able to drive them. Some of the pocket bikes are very very loud 2 cycels and should be baffled better because they do clearly present an annoyance. If a car were that loud the driver would receive a ticket…If the small vehicles have the equipment, are baffled correctly and are able to maintain a street legal speed(35) then they should be allowed to be registered…if not then they should not be driven on a public road…but then you run into the problem of deciding whether or not these vehicles should be allowed on sidewalks…but then again how long can someone drive on a sidewalk before having to cross a road or running out of sidewalk…I’m not sure what the answer should be…
Doug
(08/04/08 3:27pm)Report
Well, I believe it’s best to make an attempt to determine if there’s a authentic problem in East Lansing before even considering the topic of a ban. I strongly encourage that sort of sensible process which seems to be so rarely followed these days.
I bought an electric scooter and I commute about 6 miles to and from work on it each day. I tend to believe most people with a 6 mile commute to work each day do not walk, or even bike, but in fact most likely drive a car or SUV. I think the more people who can find an alternative form of transportation that works for them, the better for East Lansing. Fewer cars and SUVs, less traffic, less parking issues, less noise, less pollution and less dependence on oil are all good things we should strive for.