GRIDLOCK GURU : Parents can’t ride scooter law
Posted on Friday, August 22, 2008
Elizabeth, The Guru’s almost 12-year-old daughter, has been known to read her father’s column, but today’s newspaper will be hidden from her.
That’s because this week’s column is rated “R.” It has information about scooters that no child should know.
Parents who don’t want to have debates with their children know it’s best to hide information from them.
And, certainly, every parent wants to avoid a debate with a child who can legally obtain a permit and drive a scooter on Arkansas roads.
The Guru also discusses Merrin Locke’s idea to improve access to the Fulbright Expressway.
Question: “Now that gas prices are up you see scooters everywhere,” writes Roger Stark, who lives in Rogers. “What are the requirements for insurance, and operators ? Adults with DWIs buy these things to get around on. Do they need a permit ? Or is this just sneaking around the law ? Is a helmet required for kids ?” Answer: The drunkendriving question is easy.
“A person who has their driving privilege suspended cannot legally operate any motor vehicle upon the roadways, not a scooter or even a riding lawn mower,” writes Tonie Shields, administrator of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration’s Office of Driver Services.
People as young as 10 (fifth-graders !) can obtain a motorized bicycle certificate from the Arkansas State Police. Those vehicles have engines that are less than 50 cubic centimeters, and they generally go less than 35 mph.
The good news is that there aren’t many children riding motorized bicycles — at least not legally. The Arkansas State Police has issued just 35 certificates in the past 13 months.
At 14, kids in Arkansas can obtain a motor-driven cycle license and guide motorcycles that have 50 cc to 250 cc engines, Shields said.
All people under 21 on motorcycles, motor-driven cycles and motorized bicycles must wear helmets.
All drivers — even the little kids who The Guru thinks shouldn’t be allowed to drive on public streets — must have liability insurance.
Q: “Has anyone ever addressed the traffic along Shiloh Drive near the Fulbright Expressway on-ramp ?” writes Locke, who lives in Fayetteville. “At the wrong time of day, a westbound traveler can wait an eternity for a gap in the eastbound traffic so as to scoot across to the ramp and head toward Interstate 540.
“ The flow from Gregg Avenue is unabated. A stop sign for the eastbound lane would be a solution to allow everyone to take turns getting onto the freeway.” A: Widening Shiloh Drive four years ago created room for a left-turn lane so westbound drivers could wait to get on the Fulbright Expressway without impeding those going straight toward Gregg.
A stop sign was put up then and it took two hours for city workers to see the sign made traffic worse, not better, said Ron Petrie, Fayetteville’s city engineer. It was removed.
The solution — at least for now — is the kindness of others. Those headed east on Shiloh Drive might just have to stop long enough for those headed west to turn onto the expressway.
The Guru fully recognizes that being kind to another driver is a radical concept. Robert J. Smith, aka The Guru, writes on traffic issues in Northwest Arkansas each Friday. He can be reached at gridlockguru@arkan sasonline. com or www. nwanews. com / gridlockguru.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online