Before you buy that motorcycle or scooter
With gas at $4 a gallon it isn’t surprising that motorcycle sales are up and that more people are using them to commute to work. However, a new article in the LA Times claims that motorcycles and scooters are bigger air polluters than Hummers (smog producers that is).
The other bad news about motorcycles is that they carry with them a higher number of deaths per million miles traveled in the US than cars and trucks. This is particularly of concern in Ohio where there isn’t a mandated helmet law.
More bang for your buck
Now before you write off the motorcycle and scooter for good, let’s talk about what motorcycles and scooters do have going for them.
Because of their size and weight, motorcycles and scooters:
- are approximately twice as fuel efficient as a car or truck
- cost a lot less
- use less resources to produce
- create less CO2 - the greenhouse gas that causes global warming - then larger vehicles
What to look for when you buy
You’ve decided that you have a commute that is ideal for owning a motorcycle or scooter, or you live in a the perfect neighborhood for scooting to the store and back. When you visit some of the great scooter stores in Cincinnati, make sure to ask a few questions.
- Ask if the scooter or motorcycle meets EPA standards - or the even stricter guidelines for models in California called CARB
- Ask if they carry any models with catalytic converters
According to the EPA, with the surging demand for scooters in the US, importers are bringing in sub-standard products that do not meet EPA guidelines. Make sure you buy from reputable dealers and ask to see the EPA sticker for the scooter. Any scooter with an engine over 50cc is required to have them.
Consider all the factors
For those of us who are more safety conscious, a motorcycle is probably not the best idea, but for many this may be a viable economic option. Keep a few things in mind if you do get one.
- Purchase a full-face helmet and heavily padded jacket
- Always wear long pants, gloves and boots when riding
- Take a motorcycle safety class
Wear your helmet
My former home state of Florida lifted their mandatory helmet law in 2000 and according to an article in the American Journal of Public Health, the state saw a 48.6% increase in motorcycle occupant deaths the year after the law changed.
After suddenly falling off my bicycle a few years ago and hitting my helmeted head on the concrete, it reinforced the need to keep the helmet on at all times. Instead of a couple of bruises, I could have been in the hospital. Now imagine going 25 to 65 mph. Enough said.
Currently, anyone over the age of 17 has the choice to wear a helmet in the state of Ohio. Regardless of the law, Live Green Cincinnati encourages everyone to wear a helmet whether biking, scooting or motorcycling your way around the tri-state.
Local Scooter Stores
Now, here are few stores in town where we suggest you start your search for the perfect scooter:
Good luck, enjoy the road and be safe!
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