I’ve got wheels!
Two of them to be precise, but not a bicycle like usual. I’ve gotten myself a 2005 Yamaha Vino 49cc scooter, and so I’ve been out tooling around (well, except for this weekend….my scootering spirits have been a bit dampened). It’s so much fun, but now I’m not riding my bicycle as much. That may change, however, as I received my first parking ticket for the scooter today. I’ve been parking it on the sidewalk downtown, which I thought was legal to do. I’ve seen plenty of other scooters on the sidewalks, and have been told by people who own scooters that it’s legal. At least it is for moped class like mine. But of course, just because everyone does it, doesn’t mean that it actually is legal. I’m going to take the ticket in and see what I can find out about it. Looking at the Minneapolis Municipal Code, it doesn’t really say much about moped class vehicles. Hopefully, if it is illegal, I can get it waived as a first offense. And if it’s legal, I wonder how many times I’ll have to get an invalid parking ticket taken care of.
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I’ve been seeing an influx of Scooters around the metro. And not just not just Grandmas. Is it a trend?
I have a scooter and have had ticket problems too. As I understand it at the Univeristy of MN you can park a 49cc scooter at bike racks but you can not park a motorcycle there. This means you have to have the right kind of licence plate. When I registered my scooter they nice old lady at city hall gave me a motorcycle licence and I kept getting tickets because the cops only look at that. I went back, got a new licence plate, and have not had a ticket at the U since.
I spent some time researching this issue last summer. Here’s the quote, right from the statute. I have no idea if these laws have changed in the meantime.
Mpls city:
“Motorized and non-motorized bicycles shall be permitted to be parked upon a sidewalk and to be temporarily attached to sign posts and bicycle racks. When parked or attached as permitted, motorized and non-motorizedbicycles shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of pedestrian or other traffic. (91-Or-065, ยง 8, 4-12-91)”
From the state statute:
“”Motorized bicycle” means a bicycle that is propelled by a motor of a piston displacement capacity of 50 cubic centimeters or less, and a
maximum of two brake horsepower, which is capable of a maximum speed of not more than 30 miles per hour on a flat surface with not more than one percent grade in any direction when the motor is engaged.”
I am now selling my scooter (the one with the scooter plates). This one you can park at the bike racks. I thought someone here might be interested. It is a 2003 Aprilia Scarabeo 50cc. Good shape. If anyone is interested call me at (612) 600 0213. I am thinking in the neighborhood of $2000. Thanks.