But they make great cover-ups for graffiti.

There's a Sierra Club/etc 520 meeting coming up March 24th at REI.

I think we're outlawing bikes and insisting everyone drive SUVs on 12-lane triple decker freeways ...

The real question is, where are those 40 bikes in the "cluster fuck" going to park when they tear down the viaduct?

there are so many nooks and crannies you should be able to put a scooter in... but you can't because you might get ticketed.

And that is a beautiful scoot. I'm envious.

If you parked next to a pillar, she said you were blocking the crosswalk (but who can walk through a pillar???). If you parked next to the carpool cars, you were violating a "no parking any time" sign next to the cars (it's clearly meant for a CAR not to park in that space between two pillars). And on and on with her.

I can't reasonably take the bus because of my work/school/rehearsal schedule, and don't want to drive and take up a whole space all day / spew fumes / waste gas, and so if I got a scooter, I should not be penalized for trying to find a free place to park all day. And I shouldn't have to park in a car space, move it every two hours, and pay $3 each time. For those of us who can't / don't take the bus but have a reasonable alternative, we should catch a carpool/light transit break as well. I would even pay a yearly parking permit in the city if I could park in designated spots all day. College campuses can manage scooter parking and permitting - the city should be able to as well. Or just get the fuck off our backs and stop treating us like criminals.

There's been way too much emphasis placed on automobile parking OR bus, and not enough on scooter/motorcycle parking. The scooter parking space at the corner of Harvard behind the Broadway Market is the right direction for the city to go. You can fit 8 of them in on car length spot, so the city should say THANKS instead of making 8X the $ off of us.

And please don't ever let your friends become meter maids. There's no good that can come from it. Had Twin Peaks made it into a 3rd year, I don't have a doubt that's what Agent Cooper would have found in the Black Lodge.

You could stick 2 Smart Cars in the spot, or a bunch of mopeds, or 1 plug-in hybrid.

Maybe with a minimum 60 mpg requirement for the vehicles (as certified by the city via a sticker program).

@fnarf is that really true? i've looked for sources many times, and could find that two-strokes were bad, but because of their weight, they are not as bad as the average vehicle found on the road today.

And msot of the classic bike fanatics who collect the old Vespas and Lambrettas are riding modern four-strokes for day-to-day stuff. If you ride every day, you either need a modern 4-stroke, or you need to be a mechanic with three or four classic 2-strokes in your garage--two or three of which, at any given time, are not functioning.

Look at this sweet 500cc 2-stroke that does 96 MPG at 70 MPH and tell me the two stroke is dead.

As in more than three.

God you're lazy, Fnarf.

And, in case you missed it, both Japan and the EU have multiple car models that get 60 mpg or higher, some of which will be (finally) sold in the US starting with the 2009 model year.

Or you could just go to the yellow pages and look up plug-in hybrid conversions for your Toyota Prius or VW Bus and do it now.

But Fnarf is way too lazy. I sure hope someone posts "as" him on Freaky Friday.

Most regular riders in Seattle ride 4 strokes or new two strokes that pass EPA emissions. There aren't really that many old 2 strokes riding around. Start taking a look around when you drive. Most will be modern Vespas, Japanese, or Chinese bikes - all of which are 4 strokes or new 2 strokes that pass emissions.

The emission requirements changed in the 80s. Yes, the old two strokes are dirty. But they are the minority, at least in Seattle.

EPA statistics support the idea that modern scooters emit less pollution to the environment.
Co2 counts (from http://nlquery.epa.gov/epasearch/epasearch )

Scooters:
Aprilia Mojito 150 - 58.7 gm/km
Honda Metropolitan 33 gm/km
Genuine Scooter My Bubu 50.4 gm/km
Kymco Vitality 50 54 gm/km
Vespa GT 200 72.3 gm/km

Motorcycles:
Harley Davidson XB12Scg LIGHTNING 118.5 gm/km
Honda VTX1800R 135.4 gm/km

SUVs:
Land Rover Discovery 3 - 354 gm/km
Land Rover Range Rover - 374 gm/km
Hyundai Santa Fe - 252 gm/km
Jeep Grand Cherokee - 366 gm/km
Volkswagen Touareg - 331 gm/km
Hummer H3 - 472 gm/km

Cars:
Chrysler 300 - 262-330 gm/km depending on engine
Honda Accord - 223 gm/km
Mini Cooper - 216 gm/km
Toyota Prius - 104 gm/km

and that doesn't even consider the less amount of gas used, less road wear, less materials used for manufacture and transport, and so forth.

but i'm far from an expert, and i've heard these horror stories about two-stroke engines. most center around their use in asia. when referenced in the US, the worst culprit is often water recreational vehicles because of the pollution they leave in the water.

so i was just trying to get more information on the whole story.

Encourage green and make it safer for all by letting pedestrians, bikers, drivers et al. see more clearly at intersections, the most dangerous places on the grid.

http://bajajusa.com/emissions.htm

There are new 2 strokes coming out that are far superior, but they have a long road to get approved in this country.

Will in Seattle, quit smoking crack. Lazy can be fixed, but stoopid is forever. 60 mpg cars won't pass crash test standards here, ever. The mileage figures will go up, but not to that level.

Pedestrians can't pass crash tests either, so what exactly is your point. Part of the reason we have the problems we have is that we have this 'arms race' mentality on the road. The biggest reason why so many people who rarely go off-road are buying these gawdawful SUVs is because they need to feel 'safe' from all the other people out there who drive like idiots. Where exactly will it all end, when we're all commuting to work in civilianized Bradley Fighting Vehicles?

What we need to do is take moving violations seriously. Most collisions have other factors such as speeding, aggressive and/or impaired/distracted driving involved. The current penalties for speeding, running red lights, etc. are frankly chump change. If a speeding ticket fine started at $500, and the fine for running stop signs/lights started at $1000, with confiscation of vehicle or imprisonment if you can't/don't pay, I'll bet the streets would become safe for peds/bikes/scoots/motorcycles/60+ mpg cars overnight! People simply have to start driving with an awareness of the needs of others. If good manners doesn't bring that about, than severe penalties for automotive jackassery surely will.

What, we already...? Oh, nevermind.

Erica, is that bike out of commission because it's a vietnam/indian import? I can't quite see the badge but it looks like an imfamous Vespa 150. If so, I feel your pain, having once had one. If not, I am awestruck by your A+ paint job and curious what model it is.

Also, my first scoot was a really early Honda Elite that must have weighed 80 lbs. I feel this odd affinity with you right now...

Anyway, yes, I second the need for follow-up tomorrow, as as soon as I finish school in the spring I intend to purchase another two-wheeled, motorized form of transportation, but can't make it this evening...

The mind reels.

Once someone moved my scooter out of a street spot onto a planting strip... breaking the mirror and side panel in the process (plastic late 80s Honda Elite, and I think they probably tipped it over when parking their car.) As I was getting ready to leave a cop came by and yelled at me about how illegal it was to have my scooter there. Sigh.