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Scooter Driver Killed/Make That Three
#190196
04/09/2019 04:16 PM
04/09/2019 04:16 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,567 Ohio
ruralcarrier
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I guess they will never learn. ARTICLE
Last edited by Carol_Hill; 04/19/2019 09:10 AM.
J.D.
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Re: Scooter Driver Killed/Make That Three
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#190206
04/09/2019 05:05 PM
04/09/2019 05:05 PM
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I sold my ride a little over a year ago and had ridden most of my life but I NEVER got how or why they ride on the island like they do. Total insanity. SXMWendell and I were there many years ago and witnessed a car and scooter, it was not pretty, at the top of the hill. The car won.
J.D.
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Re: Scooter Driver Killed/Make That Three
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#190229
04/10/2019 01:18 AM
04/10/2019 01:18 AM
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Bahston
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Many people, when they think of a scooter, think of something like Audrey Hepburn riding on a Vespa. That's not what we see on St Maarten. The Yamaha TMax in this incident may be classified as a scooter based on it's design, but performance-wise it's closer to a Harley-Davidson Street 500 than it is to a Vespa. Depending on the model, it may exceed some of the specs of a Harley Street 500.
You can't fix stupid, and oh so many of these 2-wheel riders ride stupid. Darwin gets a few of them, but only a few.
Last edited by Bahston; 04/10/2019 01:21 AM.
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Re: Scooter Driver Killed/Make That Three
[Re: SXMBND]
#190237
04/10/2019 07:24 AM
04/10/2019 07:24 AM
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Agreed, it was not pleasant to see it happen in person either.
J.D.
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Re: Scooter Driver Killed/Make That Three
[Re: Bahston]
#190239
04/10/2019 07:39 AM
04/10/2019 07:39 AM
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Correct, you can not fix stupid and that is proven over and over again.
IMHO, it is no so much the size of the ride but the lack of common sense and respect for the ride. Granted, more power is more potential for a lot of things but 2 wheels, little or no common sense and no regard for personal safety or safety of others is dangerous without regards to power. Having ridden a lot of cycles, both GoldWings (1800 CC/6 cyclinder/800 punds) down to 250cc bikes, the lighter the bike (without regard to power), the less respect of safety in many cases.
J.D.
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Re: Scooter Driver Killed/Make That Three
[Re: irina]
#192160
04/13/2019 09:11 AM
04/13/2019 09:11 AM
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While many states in the US allow riding without a helmet, with age and other restrictions, you do not see the passing on the left and other reckless antics often seen on the island. I often rode without a helmet (my choice as per OH law) locally but I always wore a helmet on a trip or if riding on the interstate but I NEVER rode like I often see on SXM. Virtually all laws that apply to vehicles apply to motorcycles in the states and are enforced as such. Such enforcement seems to be rather lax on the island to say the least.
J.D.
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Re: Scooter Driver Killed/Make That Three
[Re: irina]
#192163
04/13/2019 09:30 AM
04/13/2019 09:30 AM
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Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 363 The Villages, FL
deputydog1157
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I don't think it's a motorcycle rider thing and in if fact is an island thing.
As Ruralcarrier states there are certain states within the USA that allow for personal choice of wearing a helmet. Two the states that I have lived in don't require helmets, one being New Hampshire and the other Florida. When I lived in NH you would watch the motorcycle riders coming from or going into Massachusetts stop at the state line to remove or put on their helmet because it is required in Mass but not in NH. Now in Florida a rider over the age of 21 who has medical insurance in excess of $10,000 (Basically a health insurance policy) does not need to wear a helmet Having been an avid motorcycle rider until recently due to back surgery, I would never ride without a helmet.
As for the DRIVING PRACTICES, that's where the rub is. In every state it is illegal to pass, in any type of vehicle, on the left unless there is a broken line, white for multiple lanes in same direction and yellow for opposing. It is also illegal to pass on the left on the crest of a hill, a vehicle turning left. I have seen these morons pass on the left into oncoming traffic and they EXPECT the driver in the oncoming lane to yield to them.
As a retired law enforcement officer I can tell you that type of behavior was not tolerated and it also causes many unneeded deaths.
So, yes in my opinion, IT'S AN ISLAND THING.
Last edited by deputydog1157; 04/13/2019 09:31 AM. Reason: grammar
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Re: Scooter Driver Killed/Make That Three
[Re: deputydog1157]
#192164
04/13/2019 09:37 AM
04/13/2019 09:37 AM
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Totally agree. Most riders that I have encountered on the island have the same poor/illegal riding practices. The helmet is a minor issue in the grand scheme of things. MOTORCYCLE LAWS BY STATEBTW, as of 2017 California was the only state that addressed "lane splitting" as legal. A few other states did not mention it so it would be up to the judgement of law enforcement.
J.D.
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Re: Scooter Driver Killed/Make That Three
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#192166
04/13/2019 09:46 AM
04/13/2019 09:46 AM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,899 Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman
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Totally agree. Most riders that I have encountered on the island have the same poor/illegal riding practices. The helmet is a minor issue in the grand scheme of things. MOTORCYCLE LAWS BY STATEBoth you and deputydog hit the nail on the helmetless head.
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Re: Scooter Driver Killed/Make That Three
[Re: SXMScubaman]
#192169
04/13/2019 09:50 AM
04/13/2019 09:50 AM
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I have no idea if "lane splitting" is actually legal or not in SXM but I do know the riding practices and disregard of common sense and overall safety contribute greatly to the number of accidents and resulting deaths or injury.
J.D.
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Re: Scooter Driver Killed/Make That Three
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#192172
04/13/2019 09:53 AM
04/13/2019 09:53 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,022 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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I was stunned, reading that link that Scubaman provided, to read that lane splitting is NOT illegal everywhere in the US, that in fact there is no specific law on it in several states in the US.
Carol Hill
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Re: Scooter Driver Killed/Make That Three
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#192173
04/13/2019 09:55 AM
04/13/2019 09:55 AM
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Me too. I bet it could easily fall under "reckless operation" in many cases.
J.D.
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Re: Scooter Driver Killed/Make That Three
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#192180
04/13/2019 10:52 AM
04/13/2019 10:52 AM
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BeachKitten
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Love the link, thanks JD.
Having grown up all over the country with a dad who rode, and now we ride Harley's, I can say that I feel it isn't necessarily an "island thing". We are having major problems in DC and Maryland with unlicensed bikes, dirt bikes, trikes, scooters, etc.... They are operating en masse and swarming the Beltway. Holding up traffic, popping wheelies....lane splitting on the BW Parkway. I often want to open my door and take them down. It is insanity.
"It is good to do nothing all day, and then to rest"
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Re: Scooter Driver Killed/Make That Three
[Re: BeachKitten]
#192183
04/13/2019 11:11 AM
04/13/2019 11:11 AM
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Unlicensed drivers/riders seem to a be problem in a lot of places and with both cars, motorcycles and other vehicles. Once you break the law once, what is the conern for doing as you described? NONE!
J.D.
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Re: Scooter Driver Killed/Make That Three
[Re: SammyM]
#192188
04/13/2019 12:59 PM
04/13/2019 12:59 PM
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As stated in the motorcycle law link I posted, "lane splitting" is LEGAL in CA. Go figure that something like you described would happen. Common sense would tell me that in a very congested traffic situation that had come to a complete stop, you might on occasion find people opening a door, getting out of their vehicle, etc. Something the "lane splitting" rider should keep in mind.
J.D.
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Re: Scooter Driver Killed/Make That Three
[Re: BeachKitten]
#192230
04/14/2019 08:00 AM
04/14/2019 08:00 AM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,359 a little right of center
2fingers
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Also frequent in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, and New York. They all have something in common.
Last edited by 2fingers; 04/14/2019 08:01 AM.
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Re: Scooter Driver Killed/Make That Three
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#192671
04/19/2019 09:09 AM
04/19/2019 09:09 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,022 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Make that three, this one on the Dutch side. Scooter without a plate on it, driven by a young man from the French side. Thursday evening on Cole Bay Hill. I am not going to post a link to the story, as in typical Daily Herald fashion, there is a picture of the dead body. For those interested in gore, it's easy to find.
Carol Hill
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