What is it with the scooter mentality?

[Bulldog]

Every time I drive past a scooter rider wearing shorts and tshirt and a soup bowl helmet I cringe. I constantly harp on about it in the car with the mrs but it simply blows me away. Have any of these scooter riders ended up sliding down the tarmac or run into a car yet?! I think the scooter industry is to blame for advertising them as such with chics wearing skirts etc. It would seem this is how they are being sold as a more 'carefree' mode of transport than a motorbike. Check this... http://www.nzgirl.co.nz/articles/8324

If my daughter ever gets a scooter she'll be wearing full kit for when that blind numb nuts pulls out in front of her.

A quick search on the net brings up all the attached images. I think I know where the problem lies. Perhaps I should upload the pics from a couple I know who fell off their scooter two up while in fiji....nasty gravel rash.

Am I the only one who thinks Scooters are portrayed too lightly, as in you don't have to wear protective gear because you're not going as fast. It's MAD!!!

[Grub]

Good point, well made.

I guess the only thing we can do is chat to the riders if we get the chance (usually when parking up). The old "... this person I know who fell off ..."

[Finn]

I think it's called "freedom of choice". Something we are all losing too fast.

[Jantar]

Here in Alexandra, I have often seen a particular young lady riding a 50cc scooter with no gear other than a helmet. It frustrates me so much that I'm tempted next time I see her to suggest she follow me to the bike shop and I'll buy her a pair of gloves. Maybe she'll then see the advantage of gear and start getting herself a jacket etc.

[ManDownUnder]

I love the safety tip - "Just make sure you take all the usual precautions like a brightly coloured scooter to make sure everyone can see you."

Re Finn's freedom of choice. There's choice and ignorance. Choice kinda implies you know the consequences of your actions - the advice given (above being more than typical of the article) limits that knowledge... and ability to choose.

The article is promoting ignorance.

[Grub]

I think it's called "freedom of choice". Something we are all losing too fast.

Or ignorance of the consequences. So when it comes to choice, I choose for my ACC levies to not keep going up because these people need long rehabilitation and skin grafts ... so I choose to try and educate if I can.

[Finn]

Or ignorance of the consequences. So when it comes to choice, I choose for my ACC levies to not keep going up because these people need long rehabilitation and skin grafts ... so I choose to try and educate if I can.

That's lame Grub. How much to you pay in ACC levies per annum.

[Bulldog]

I'm not sure I agree with the freedom of choice. You know we all pay when you grind your knees to the bone and can't work for 12 months with skin and bone grafts. That being by ACC for surgery and taxes for your sickness benefit.

If you're willing to sign away all these things then cool go ahead and have your freedom.

Perhaps that's the answer? We'll give you the freedom to wear no protective gear if you sign a waiver that says you will pay from your own pocket all the costs associated and if you can't work becuase of your injuries that you won't ask for assistance from the government or should I say us? Whadya reckon?

[WarlockNZ]

Perhaps that's the answer? We'll give you the freedom to wear no protective gear if you sign a waiver that says you will pay from your own pocket all the costs associated and if you can't work becuase of your injuries that you won't ask for assistance from the government or should I say us? Whadya reckon?

What he said!!!

[Grub]

That's lame Grub. How much to you pay in ACC levies per annum.

Currently $1,690.88 plus whatever the figure is for a bike as part of the registration fee

[AnotherLeon]

I canned off my nifty 50 when I was 17, with just jeans, sweatshirt, helmet. OUchies.

Now (many years older) I wear full face helmet, gloves, armoured jacket. I might look a bit overkill on a scooter, but I want to remain attached to my skin thanks very much.

[Finn]

Currently $1,690.88 plus whatever the figure is for a bike as part of the registration fee

How do you figure that out?

[Bulldog]

By running a business you get charged ACC levies. It sucks until you need it.

[bobsmith]

I'm not sure I agree with the freedom of choice. You know we all pay when you grind your knees to the bone and can't work for 12 months with skin and bone grafts. That being by ACC for surgery and taxes for your sickness benefit.

If you're willing to sign away all these things then cool go ahead and have your freedom.

Perhaps that's the answer? We'll give you the freedom to wear no protective gear if you sign a waiver that says you will pay from your own pocket all the costs associated and if you can't work becuase of your injuries that you won't ask for assistance from the government or should I say us? Whadya reckon?

Someone who doesn't wear a helmet and dies in a crash costs ACC far less than someone wearing a full kit and gets maimed for life....

Just my 2 cents... hang on.. I mean 10 cents....

[RantyDave]

[finn said "losing freedom"] Or ignorance of the consequences.

It's ignorance ... and a cultural thing. Scooters are more viewed as a bicycle with an engine than a modified version of motorbike. Certainly when I had my 50 I rode like a twat, and I rode my mountain bike round London (without a helmet) in an extra twatty fashion. It was only when I started riding bikes and came into contact with something that halfway resembles a safety culture ... in as much as "mate, that's going to hurt like a bastard" can be described a safety culture ... that it struck me exactly how badly I could have been injured doing this.

I think bike shops can be at least partially to blame. Knowing nothing about bikes at all I wandered into Sawyers, many moons ago, asked for a helmet for a scooter and was recommended an open face lid. I think if newbies were at least given cause to consider whether or not some cheap cordura and a proper helmet would be a good idea then many more might take to it.

Dave