Geniusman- I really sort of feel like you do. I have to spend alot of money keeping up a vehicle, paying the tax on it, spending money on it to be sure it passes a federally mandated inspection, keeping up an insurance policy, paying for an annual license, and I must drive sober and safe, I have no problem with people that want to drive them just for the economics of it. The problem I see is those that drive them just because they can't stay sober and drive. I think that if you lose your drivers license due to impaired driving you shouldn't be allowed to drive period. It is a sad situation when someone loses there license because they can't stay sober. Im glad this state is tough on drunk drivers. I feel they need to be tougher. I know a man that would give anyone the shirt off his back. He is a good and kind man. He just can't seem to stay out of a vehicle when he drink's. The company he works for has gone to bat for him and he is allowed to drive only to work and back home. Otherwise his family would hurt due to his addiction to alcohol. He doesn't drive one but I don't think even he should be allowed to drive a moped.
Unless you are talking about a commercial Motor Vehicle there is no federally mandated inspection
I bet that if he ever got to Fancy Gap he could have a neat ride coming back down to Wilkes. Some times those guys make me mad with their pokey driving. Of course it's better than the bicycle hippys. They look to me like a big ole Praying Mantis going down the road with their spandex and pointy helmets. I don't mind them using the road but they need to get out of the way and not impede my travel. It hurts my motor to go so slow. I think the mopeds are supposed to pedal every once in awhile. How do you spell it ? Moped or mo-peds. I think it should be Mo-Peds, like pedal more often. Maybe the guys are just lazy and have no reason to travel to Boone. I left up there in 75 and have never found a reason to return
The part in red is just completely wrong it is a well know fact that the slower an engine turns the longer it will last
Evidently. I met one headed up on my way down yesterday about 5 pm. He was hunkered down in fast mode between the outside white line and the grass. He was just above the sawmill, and closing in on the Parkway. I have a suspicion is was more like a 125-150cc being ridden as a liquorsickle. A bone stock 50cc with what looked like a two hundred pound male would be crawling up that grade. He was probably doing at least 20 or so.
gen, thank you for the insight. I commend you for your consideration and courtesy as a Moped/scooter operator. I believe the biggest complaint most of us have with the riders is them not doing the posted speed on the open roads; I myself have gotten behind riders on 268 (in both directions) that seemed to riding along at a Sunday stroll. If you transportation is incapable of doing 45-55, please, for the sake of all of us, stick to in-town riding, or be courteous enough on the highways to move over into a parking lot or driveway if you see you're holding up traffic.
To Hot Mess, I'll meet you on Deep Gap Mtn where the service station used to be and we'll wait for the fun to begin.
I drive a 49 cc scooter myself, never had a DUI cause I only drink at home. My ex had a drinking problem & while we were married never got a DUI but he was a mean drunk so I never wanted to be in public with him.
Anyways - mopeds have pedals, scooters are step-thru & motorcycles you swing your leg over. That is the basic difference between the three. I know someone with a legal tagged 250 cc scooter, they ride it instead of a motorcycle because no need to shift gears.
The reason I drive a scoot is because I live on disability and I honestly can't afford to own a car. I spend 75% of my income on rent & utilities. I may be slower getting places but I can go shop or go to the doctor. The scooter beats walking 4 miles into town from MC to catch the shuttle, I've been on the DSS transportation wait list over 2 yrs now. I can't buy as much at a time but that can be a good thing, makes you stop and thing before buying stuff on clearance or at yard sales, etc.
I know one of the guys who drives the WTA vans rides a scooter because we chatted about them, He lives less than 10 miles from work and loves the gas money he saves, not to mention, when your annual mileage is low, so is car insurance. Simple fact, the more you drive, the more likely you are to be involved in a wreck.
As far as where you can drive a scooter/moped - no you are not supposed to take them on limited access roads. A scooter over 50 cc is considered a motorcycle for DMV purposes and must be tagged & registered and can legally travel any road. This means that while you can drive the 49cc on 421 where it is in town, you are not supposed to take them on 421 where you have to use exits. However, there are valid reasons at times. Like where the bridge work is being done, if you drive a scooter and need to travel on 421 to get to an alternate route, that is permitted, but only while the obstruction occurs.
People in cars can be just as dangerous as a scooter.moped. Couple weeks ago, I was the first vehicle on the outside lane on D St in front of Walgreens, headed back towards WalMart. When I got to the light, it had just turned red and several cars ended up stopped behind me. Light changes, I take off and my scoot has pretty good pickup. Traffic was in both lanes and I was being courteous, riding on the right side of MY LANE. I get right in front of that Citgo & some idiot passes me IN MY LANE so close I could have kicked the car. For anyone in cars, just so you know, that is totally illegal, a scooter has the right to full use of the lane.
I know there are people who cause problems when driving their scooter/moped but you also have people who are causing problems in their car/truck. Look how many people cause wrecks because of texting or talking on the phone while driving. Can't do that on 2 wheels for the simple fact you need both hands to control your ride. Please don't judge all of us by the actions of the bad apples. The only mods made to my scoot so far are to make it easier to carry stuff and adding lights, although I will be changing a spring in the CVT (tranny) so it stays in the lower gear ranges longer when climbing a hill so it maintains power.
Notice how there are no stop signs at the intersections and there's plenty of highway for cars and mopeds. Also notice the cars are cruising at or only slightly faster than the mopeds. Now why can't hillbillies drive their cars and pickups like that. I'll tell you why, there's a lot of lead in the water around here.
rmog: You are wrong. I personally know 3 DWI offenders that ride scooters and live in the city limits of Boone. There are several between Boone and Deep Gap. A LOT in the western end of the county. One is the son of a neighbor of mine got his 2nd DWI and gave up on life. Quit his job, dropped out of school, left his lease and moved back home. Told me he was going to wait 3 years and start fresh, probably move "Out West" when all the points dropped off his license. Was not happy when I told him the points stayed until he had his license for 3 years minimum, and insurance kept them longer since it was his second. He was seeing a girl that lived in Powderhorn Mtn and rode that scooter up and down Elk Creek Rd day and night.
Geniusman- You are probably right about that. When I went to App the town of Boone was dry. Had to go over to Blowing Rock to buy beer. Even then Blowing Rock would not sell cold beer except on premises. You would go to the package store and buy hot beer. It sat in the floor in cases or cartons. They sold a lot of ice though.
they don't have enough DWI recipients in Watauga county to have moped drivers. They walk from the college to the bars. Don't have to drive or want to drive drunk.
You know with all those liberal Democrats around that college you would think the moped would be a hit. It would help the environment with all the fuel that would be saved. You know it should go over in a town that names their newspaper after a Liberal political party. The only problem I see is the things do not transverse well in the snow. I went to college there back in the early 70's. Living in Boone really turned me against the snow and winter. I saw snow that would be over the handlebars of most mopeds.
Watauga has there share too. Especially on the west side near the TN line. Also, a lot in town in Boone too. I was in Boone one morning and saw one going through town with a chainsaw strapped on the back.
I know some of the first one's that came out had pedals. You were suppose to have to pedal part of the time. Now I think they are just scooters and the law overlooks the pedaling part. Years ago Honda made little 50 cc
scooters that sold like hotcakes. That was before 2 wheelers and ATV's. I think you had to license them if you rode them on the highway. The problem we have in my area is 4 wheelers. People that own farms have them and use them as they should be, It helps them out alot. Most of the people that drive them around here make people mad driving across their fields and crops. Its funny, usually the people that cause the problems don't own any property at all. Sometimes I think the legislature should pass a law that you should own property before you own one. I know there are some that gets permission to use them on others land land and thats fine. It's like anything. The people that do the right thing are often hindered by those that don't.
Yes it was printed in the newspaper a while back when a couple got killed on a moped here in Wilkes. That it is ILLEGAL by law for a moped to be on ANY four lane highway, interstate or super highway. Because of the entrance / exit ramps, very dangerous for mopeds to be seen by people merging and stuff like that. So they are not suppose to be on 421 period for any reason.
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