Day #1 and I'm bummed

[BTB Wild]

And another Issue

Let's say I'm wearing a flagger vest, chaser light and slow vehicle triangle on the back of the bike. Maybe add an orange flag etc. Assume I look like a mobile sherbert vendor. I've maxed out safety and visibility.
OK, now let's say I'm involved in an accident ( plowed in to) on the MB versus a street legal moped. As I lie there dying, the MB scrutinized by authorities, no matter what the circumstance the accident would be my fault for riding an illegal vehicle. If this happened while on a moped the authorities might ask " how could a motorist NOT see this guy ?!" I might have legal recourse to have insurance pay all damages ( personal and property) wheras I'd end up in jail on the MB ( that is to say if I survived)
See why I'm bummed out? I can assure you the accident would not be my fault and the outcomes would be very different indeed.

 

[bamabikeguy]

Well, if you had on all that garb, but no engine, you'd be treated like a bicyclist, which is exactly what we are doing, exercising EXTREME caution amongst vehicles, then slipping to the sidestreets and backroads and grinnin' like bandits !

Your money, your call....

 

[bamabikeguy]

and the next thing you might be hollering is "Why am I face down on the ground, with your knee on my neck, Officer?"

he might even have a new Tazer to try out....and the pepper spray is a gimme!

Yea, walking through the valley, shadow of death, yadda yadda, fear no weasel.

 

[BTB Wild]

Here's what I think I'm going to do.......purchase a new TOMOS moped and get my title, plate and insurance. Always wanted one anyhow. THEN, I will motorize a couple of bikes. I'll use the plate on whichever bike I decide to ride. All bikes will be stripped of the original decals and I'll use TOMOS stickers, artwork whatever. In other words, ANY bike I ride is the TOMOS as far as I'm concerned. Who will know the difference? And if caught.."Oops....I'm awaiting several plates for various vehicles and must have mixed them up"

 

[gone_fishin]

hehe...but i'm not so sure i'd be publishing that strategy...we're starting to attract a lot of attention.

 

[BTB Wild]

Well...the good riding weather will only last about a month. The wife urges me to hold off on the TOMOS so I might as well motorize a bike first. Waiting for GEBE to get the Tanaka 2 strokes in so I can make a decision and place the order.

 

[blackmikeybikey]

PA is ok

I just joined this forum and was so excited to select and assemble my first motorized bicycle until I read the legal stuff. I can assure you ( with 99% certainty as a life-long resident of this state) that Pennsylvania will restrict and crack down on these bikes. This state sucks the life out of you.
Now I'm re-thinking the entire idea. I may purchase a TOMOS moped with some assurance that I can ride legally once I jump through the legal hoops of registration, insurance etc. Oh well................

I live outside Harrisburg Pa. & have been riding my bikes for about 2 years.
I've had 1 township cop say something to me about it. I've been past lots of cops & most wave to me even the state police. This motorized bike thing is a real grey area !
good luck/ mikey-bikey mike

 

[gone_fishin]

i really think our success is going to rely solely on how we mind our manners while on the road...grey areas can go black real fast. sometimes a black zone can be lightened up by a well-mannered & -equipped motoredbiker showing how nice it all really is. make people think...about something positive for a change.

 

[smapadatha]

OK, now let's say I'm involved in an accident ( plowed in to) on the MB versus a street legal moped. As I lie there dying, the MB scrutinized by authorities, no matter what the circumstance the accident would be my fault for riding an illegal vehicle.

Well...

1) Ride safe and obey the rules of the road. Common sense tells us that the smaller vehicle has to make way for the larger vehicle.
2) After a brief perusal, it seems that your state does not distinguish between a moped and a motorized bicycle. That seems to mean that you can have a motorized bicycle, totally legit with no problems, as long as you follow the rules for a moped. See:

http://search.state.pa.us/query.html?style=dmv04&qt=moped&other=opt:whole+opt:and

and especially:

http://search.state.pa.us/cs.html?c...heets/fs-momo.pdf&qt=moped&col=dot4&n=2&la=en

3) But see also:

Marshall v. Ortiz
Brazoria Co., Texas, Dist. Ct., No. 40853 (3/13/07)

Plaintiff, 45, a pilot, was driving a motorized bicycle eastbound on the shoulder of a road when he was struck by a sedan and thrown some 50 to 75 feet down the road.

The plaintiff received $2,649,405.

But item #1 above is the best.

-Sam

 

[davidsis]

Hey, maybe you could dress your engine up like a baby, and put it in one of those baby seats.