Transcript Pocket Bike and Motorized Foot Scooter Summit

Pocket Bike and Motorized
Foot Scooter Summit
Lynn Drake
Program Manager
WTSC
Steve Lind, Acting Director, Washington Traffic Safety Commission
Pocket Bikes
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Tiny motorcycles less
than three feet long
and 24 inches high.
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Powered by 40-49cc,
two-stroke gas
engines or electric
motors.
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Pocket Bikes
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Capable of speeds
up to 40 mph. Kits
available to boost
speed up to 70 mph.
Designed as
specialized racing
motorbikes for paved,
closed-circuit racing
courses.
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Pocket Bike Issues Overview
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Confusion on
applicable laws
High concern for law
enforcement
Too small to be seen
in traffic
Marketed to children
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Driven by suspended
licensed drivers
Noise and safety
concerns
Nine-year-old
Washington boy killed
while riding pocket
bike on street
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Applicable Laws
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Is it a motor-driven cycle?
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RCW 46.04.330 defines motorcycle as: a motor vehicle designed to
travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, on
which the driver rides astride the motor unit or power train and is
designed to be steered with a handle bar, but excluding a farm tractor, a
power wheelchair, an electric personal assistive mobility device, and a
moped.
RCW 46.04.332 defines motor-driven cycle as follows: motorcycle,
including every motor scooter, with a motor that produces not to exceed
five brake horsepower (developed by a prime mover, as measured by a
brake applied to the driving shaft). A motor-driven cycle does not include
a moped, a power wheelchair, a motorized foot scooter, or an electric
personal assistive mobility device.
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Applicable Laws
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Is it a motorized foot scooter?
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RCW 46.04.336 defines motorized foot scooter as
follows: a device with no more than two ten-inch or
smaller diameter wheels that has handlebars, is
designed to be stood or sat upon by the operator, and is
powered by an internal combustion engine or electric
motor that is capable of propelling the device with or
without human propulsion. For purposes of this section,
a motor-driven cycle, a moped, an electric-assisted
bicycle, or a motorcycle is not a motorized foot scooter.”
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Applicable Laws
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Is it a motor-driven
cycle? Yes!
Kitsap County
Prosecutor’s Office
Washington State
Patrol Memo dated
September 27, 2004
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Is it a motorized foot
scooter? Yes!
Law enforcement
officers in Spokane,
Olympia, Lacey, and
Thurston County
have said motorized
foot scooter laws
apply.
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Off Road Vehicle
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Department of Licensing classifies
pocket bikes as off-road vehicles
(RCW 46.09) and is in the process of
notifying dealers of licensing
requirements.
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If it’s a Motor-Driven Cycle:
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Pocket bikes may not meet many
equipment requirements, including:
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RCW 46.44.050, Requiring a minimum wheel base of 3’6”
RCW 46.37.523, Requiring a minimum headlamp height of 24”
RCW 46.37.525, Requiring a minimum tail lamp height of 15”
RCW 46.37.400, Requiring two mirrors
RCW 46.37.420, Requiring pneumatic rubber tires
RCW 46.37.380, Requiring horns and warning devices
RCW 46.37.390, Requiring mufflers and noise prevention
measures
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If it’s a Motor-Driven Cycle:
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Pocket bikes may not be legally operated
on public roads, sidewalks, bike lanes,
trails, or anyplace prohibiting the use of
motorized vehicles.
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If it’s a Motorized Foot Scooter:
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The pocket bikes would have the same access to
roadways as bicycles according to WAC 46.04.336.
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Pocket bikes could be further regulated by the local
government ordinances that govern motorized foot
scooters. Many of these set a minimum age for
operation and restrict where the scooters are allowed,
such as only allowing them on streets with speed limits
of 25 mph or less.
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Size of Pocket Bike
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The miniature
size of these
vehicles make
them a bad fit
for traffic.
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Marketed to Children
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Noise and Safety Concerns
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Law enforcement
officers state that
they have received
noise complaints
about the gaspowered pocket bikes
and complaints about
the vehicles being
driven by children or
in an unsafe manner.
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Drivers with Suspended Licenses
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Law enforcement
officers report finding
pocket bike drivers
choosing pocket bikes
because their license
has been suspended
and they believe no
license or registration is
required. Some web
site sellers encourage
this belief.
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Motorized Foot Scooters
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Like a skate board with a
small gas or electric
motor, handlebars, a
brake, and a hand
operated accelerator.
Speeds up to 30+ mph.
Some come with bicyclelike detachable or
permanent seats.
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Motorized Foot Scooter Issues
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State law does not meet
Consumer Product
Safety Guidelines.
Patchwork of local
regulations.
Marketed to children.
Noise and pollution
complaints.
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10-year-old Kennewick
boy killed when scooter
crossed in front of truck
on 30 mph road.
Injuries increasing.
Motorized and foot traffic
a hazardous mix.
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State Motorized Scooter Laws
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RCW 46.04.336 Definition, motorized foot scooter
"Motorized foot scooter" means a device with no more
than two ten-inch or smaller diameter wheels that has
handlebars, is designed to be stood or sat upon by the
operator, and is powered by an internal combustion
engine or electric motor that is capable of propelling the
device with or without human propulsion.
For purposes of this section, a motor-driven cycle, a
moped, an electric-assisted bicycle, or a motorcycle is
not a motorized foot scooter.”
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State Motorized Scooter Laws
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RCW 46.20.500 Drivers license not required,
Reflectors needed at night. No driver license
is required to operate a motorized foot scooter.
Nighttime use prohibited without reflectors.
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State Motorized Scooter Laws
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RCW 46.61.710 Vehicle registration and
licensing not required, access and access
limitations.
Vehicle licensing and registration requirements
do not apply to motorized foot scooters.
Motorized foot scooters have access to
highways to the same extent as bicycles.
Motorized foot scooters may not be operated on
trails or bicycle paths built with federal funds.
Local jurisdictions may restrict access.
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Local Motorized Scooter Laws
City
Age
Restricted use
(sidewalks, etc.)
yes
yes
Hours
Passenger
16
16
Restricted to
roads <25mph
yes
yes
Violation
not allowed
not allowed
Helmet
Required
yes
yes
Asotin
Auburn
daytime only
daytime only
Everett
16
yes
yes
daytime only
not allowed
yes
not allowed
not allowed
yes
yes
no
daytime only
requires reflectors at
night
requires lamp at night
custody of scooter,
released to adult, $50
traffic infraction
infraction, up ot $250
Federal Way
Kennewick
16
16
yes
yes
yes
yes
Lake Stevens
none
no
not addressed
impound
yes
yes
daytime only
not allowed
required for
minors
yes
Lynnwood
16
Mount Vernon
16
yes
yes
requires lamp at night
yes
$30
Pasco
13
yes
yes
requires reflectors at
night
must wear
helmet
must wear
helmet
yes
Renton
13
yes
yes
must wear
helmet
yes
Seattle
not allowed
yes
yes
requires lamp at night
16
yes
requires lamp and
reflectors at night
must wear
helmet
must wear
helmet
yes
Spokane
electric
restricted to 35
mph roads
yes, except with
bike lane
yes
restricts gas more
than electric
Sedro-Woolley
16 for gas
no age for
electric
16
requires reflectors at
night, but also restricts
night time use
requires lamp at night
<13 warning to $500
13-16 infraction
>16 $150-500
infraction
yes
infraction, rules of road
penalties apply
Stanwood
16
yes
yes
not allowed
no
Sunnyside
16
yes
yes
requires reflectors at
night
requires lamp at night
not allowed
yes
$40-250
subject to forfeiture
up to $250, subject to
impoundment
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$75-250
infraction
forfeiture
Misc.
ridden close to right-hand curb, rider
must dismount to turn left, no violation of
city noise ordinance
limits speed to 15 mph, requires mufflers
for gas scooters
scooter safety school set up
requires mufflers for gas scooters
classifies scooter as wheeled
recreational devise, like bicycle
rights and duties as bicyclists; r idden
close to right-hand curb, rider must
dismount to turn left; requires muffler
requires muffler
requires muffler
requires muffler
electric scooters subject to “ speed zone
restrictions” of 5 mph on sidewalk some
places; gas scooters require muffler
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Defines “Motorized Personal
Transportation Devise” includes pocket
bikes but excludes motor driven cycles?
requires muffler for gas scooter; requires
seller to provide copy of rules
Consumer Product Safety Commission
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CPSC recommends:
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Riders of motorized scooters wear a helmet,
knee and elbow pads.
Children under age 12 should not ride a
motorized foot scooter.
Scooters should not be ridden in traffic.
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Marketed to Children
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Noise and Pollution Concerns
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Mixing Motorized and Foot Traffic Hazardous
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Injuries on the Rise
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According to the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission, there were 1,330
emergency room-treated injuries related to
motorized scooters in 1999. In 2000, the
number of reported injuries climbed to 4,390.
However, by 2002, there were 5,900 reported
injuries, 40 percent involving children under
age 15. The most common injuries involve
broken arms, hands, and legs caused by
collisions with motor vehicles.
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Injuries on the Rise
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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission is aware of at least three deaths
associated with motorized scooters. Two of
the deaths involved children. None were
wearing a helmet.
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Questions?
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Is the current system working in this state to
provide accurate and clear information on
regulation and safety concerns for pocket bikes
and motorized foot scooters? If not, what is
needed?
Do we need statewide clarification on these
vehicles?
Is it finally time for a statewide helmet law?
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Future Planning
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WTSC will convene a meeting
between Department of Licensing,
Washington Association of Sheriffs
and Police Chiefs, Washington State
Patrol, and the State Attorney
General’s Office to reach agreement
on statewide policies in regard to
pocket bikes.
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