Scooting in NYC

[Marnor]

Looking for some advise...

I will be moving from Atlanta to NYC in a few weeks and relish the idea of daily commutes and weekend scoots around Manhattan. However, it seems like a much more prohibitive place to own and operate a scooter than the lawless Atlanta.

My Buddy's a 50cc.

Can anyone provide a little advise about parking rules, ease of getting a motorcycle license, or registration rules for the Big Apple? Does anyone think it'd be easier to get a mc license down here, then getting in transfered?

Anything else I need to know?

Thanks in advance!

[jmazza]

I can't but these guys can:

New York Scooter Club

I lurk there on their forums and you are right- it's WAY strict. Lots of ticketing/towing going on right now for parking on sidewalks. It seems pretty nuts. But that forum is super active and has lots of veterans there who can help you out!

[littleao]

Hoppsan

[The Ninja]

As a new scooter owner I am become very angry how people and more importantly cities treat scooter owners. Don't these people realize that our scooters take us less space, and use less gas then the average vehicle.

Cities like NYC should embrace scooter owners. They should provide parking so we aren't forced to park where we will be ticketed. Scootering in NYC would be such fun if we had safe places to park and were treated fairly.

[Marnor]

Thanks for the link, Jmazza. Yes, it does seem incredibly strict.

I'd have to agree that cities should favor scooters over big ol' fourwheeled counterparts. I guess, though, in a place like New York where not many people own cars and public transportation is super efficient, they just don't care.

Looks like I'll have to find an extra 100 square feet in a new apartment to stow the Buddy until I get all the red tape untangled. That shouldn't be expensive...

[jmazza]

Thanks for the link, Jmazza. Yes, it does seem incredibly strict.

I'd have to agree that cities should favor scooters over big ol' fourwheeled counterparts. I guess, though, in a place like New York where not many people own cars and public transportation is super efficient, they just don't care.

Looks like I'll have to find an extra 100 square feet in a new apartment to stow the Buddy until I get all the red tape untangled. That shouldn't be expensive...

Yeah I read that forum and it boggles my mind that NYC (and all cities) wouldn't be thrilled to help congestion/emissions by providing parking, etc for scooters.

Have you read some of the towing and ticketing stories? I guess it used to be that they'd pull their plates b/c the cops couldn't give them a ticket but now they are towing those scoots w/o plates or giving them a ticket based on their VIN.

Someone from that club was interviewed for an article in one of the NY papers- all about the issue of parking, etc. It was a great piece and I think a club like theirs could really do some good to get things changed.

[afriendofcheese]

It may give you guys some peace of mind that Colorado is very scooter friendly, at least when it comes to 50cc scoots. They do not need plates, the registration is $5.25 and good for 3 years, parking at any bike rack is acceptable, and you don't need a motorcycle endorsement to operate.

[jmazza]

It may give you guys some peace of mind that Colorado is very scooter friendly, at least when it comes to 50cc scoots. They do not need plates, the registration is $5.25 and good for 3 years, parking at any bike rack is acceptable, and you don't need a motorcycle endorsement to operate.

Yeah I'm pretty certain FL is like that for 50cc's as well. Many states don't treat 50's as motorcycles so it's a whole other set of rules.