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There is, or should be, an understanding that mopeds and scooters can pass motor-vehicles on the right and bunch up at intersections and then fly off in front of the cars and trucks because they CAN - like in Italy. That helps keep traffic moving and less congested for everyone. Those who are helping the planet by riding a scooter or moped or whatever should be rewarded by being allowed in front at red lights. But NOT if they impede bicycle movement or safety.
If that giant motorized chopper bicycle thing can't jack-rabbit it should not be on the street with traffic at all.
Two cycle mopeds and all of those stupid conversion kits for bikes have zero in the way of emission controls and are some of the WORST polluters on the road. They may be efficient fuel consumption wise but they are a nightmare emissions wise; exhaust wise a full sized SUV probably has less damaging emissions than a moped.
arohr and DUG,
These are really great points that I failed to consider.
Does anyone know if the new mopeds have four stroke engines? I've seen a couple around town that look brand new and not like a thirty year old moped that someone found in a crate, but entirely new designs. Not that I'm any authority on the moped, but they looked new to me anyway.
Two cycle mopeds and all of those stupid conversion kits for bikes have zero in the way of emission controls and are some of the WORST polluters on the road. They may be efficient fuel consumption wise but they are a nightmare emissions wise; exhaust wise a full sized SUV probably has less damaging emissions than a moped.
I am not an expert on combustion engine, but I did take Chemistry in High School. 1 gallon of gas produces a specific output of CO2. That has nothing to do with the MPG your transportation achieves. So a moped that gets 40 mpg emits half the CO2 per mile compared an SUV that gets 20 MPG.
Of course they smell bad, a lot worse than most cars. But more smell does not equate to more CO2 emissions.
On the other hand, a moped likely has a higher output of particulate matter, because of the oil that is burned
notoriousDUG said:Two cycle mopeds and all of those stupid conversion kits for bikes have zero in the way of emission controls and are some of the WORST polluters on the road. They may be efficient fuel consumption wise but they are a nightmare emissions wise; exhaust wise a full sized SUV probably has less damaging emissions than a moped.
Ok, to everyone bringing the environment into the conversation here: The environment isn't the point!
The point is that that strip of pavement is intended for BICYCLES, not mopeds (weed whackers on wheels), scooters, and sure as hell not motorcycles.
Even if this motorized chopper ran on bio diesel, and its exhaust made non-vegetarians salivate from the smell, it still shouldn't be in the BICYCLE lane.
I think the point that mopeds don't belong in the bike lane is so self-evident to most of us on here that, besides being annoying when you witness it happen and needing a place to vent, there is almost nothing else to discuss about it. At least imho. It's wrong period when someone does it, and I don't think anyone was losing sight of that or arguing they should be allowed in turing the conversation in a different direction.
Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:Ok, to everyone bringing the environment into the conversation here: The environment isn't the point!
The point is that that strip of pavement is intended for BICYCLES, not mopeds (weed whackers on wheels), scooters, and sure as hell not motorcycles.
Even if this motorized chopper ran on bio diesel, and its exhaust made non-vegetarians salivate from the smell, it still shouldn't be in the BICYCLE lane.
I guess I would disagree that someone is truly helping the planet by riding a scooter. The only time the "helping the environment" argument holds true in my opinion is if a person uses a scooter to do trips they otherwise definitely would have used a car to do. More often than not, though, it seems the people who buy and use mopeds didn't own--and probably wouldn't have owned--a car in the first place, and simply use it as a cheap and convenient way to get around the city without using public transportation. College students here and in other cities are a perfect example of this.
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