Spring Break
Scooter sales boom, bring safety and legal issues
Kimber Wenzelburger
Issue date: 1/16/08 Section: News
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.
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.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Tiffany Webb
posted 1/15/08 @ 9:13 PM CST
I don't understand why there are not any tickets written. It wouldn't take too much effort to find violaters of these policies. On any given day there are multiple scooters parked between Old Main and the Peace Fountain. (Continued…)
Charlie Alison
posted 1/16/08 @ 9:14 AM CST
Just wanted to say thanks to Kimber and the Traveler for this story. Safety issues on campus are important and this story looks at a growing segment of students who use scooters. (Continued…)
Brian
posted 1/18/08 @ 1:18 AM CST
As a long time scooter rider, and facilitator of the current scooter policy enacted about 3-4 years ago, I too am concerned about what I'm seeing on campus. (Continued…)
Matt
posted 1/23/08 @ 11:58 PM CST
I think these laws need to be rewritten. They are way out of date. I don't mean scooters should be allowed to drive on sidewalks, but they SHOULD be allowed to park there, and they can park in such a way as to still allow for pedestrian traffic. (Continued…)
Post a Comment