Modern Buddy

Hi all. Newbie here. Had a question for you all.

I live in a pretty busy part of the city and noticed after coming home from work today my scooter had been moved roughly 5 feet that it ended up in a tow zone. (I parked it at the tail end of the tow zone sign - but still in legal limits)

Obviously somebody moved it so they could park their car there (but I have no idea if the car that's parked there now was the culprit)

What can I do to prevent/deter people from doing this again? Do those disc locks in the front prevent the wheel from moving at all? Recommendations of what to get? Are there ones with alarms on them?

Should I report it to the police or am I being petty? (I would've been pretty upset if I got a ticket or it got towed, though)

Any help would be appreciated!

I would say you should look at the Xena Disc Alarm or the Gorilla 8007(?)

I'm sure those that have each of these will be able to give you more information.
As far as just a plain old disc lock, it will keep your wheel from moving... BUT if someone forces it, it could damage some important stuff. So I would definitely suggest something with a sensitive alarm setup on it to freak people out if they try to do this again.

yeah, a disc with alarm sounds like the best way to go for that. they're probably willing to screw you for a second, but not if it makes them seem like a thief.

Yeah, this will be a recurring thing. Essentially, cage drivers see "a whole spot wasted" and get frustrated.

Park at an angle in the center, with the rear wheel at the curb if it's curbside, and make sure to lock your steering column. That limits where the scoot can be rolled.

I recommend avoiding a confrontation with the cage driver.

jerome wrote: I live in a pretty busy part of the city and noticed after coming home from work today my scooter had been moved roughly 5 feet that it ended up in a tow zone. (I parked it at the tail end of the tow zone sign - but still in legal limits)

So you parked right at the edge of the legal part of the curb, and someone moved your scooter into the illegal/tow-able part??? That's a pretty crummy thing to do.

I second the audible alarm route... Also, you may have already looked, but if not...

1) what are the motorycle-on-sidewalk-but-out-of-the-way laws like where you are? is that an option?

2) do you know anyone in the neighborhood who has a small spot that you can park at, that you may be able to work out a deal with? it may be some random spot that's not good for anything, that could be a permanent parking-spot for you.

3) too late now, but if (hopefully not) it happens again, perhaps try leaving a nice note for the car asking if they knew anything about it. people who knowingly move someone's vehicle into a tow-zone is pretty shady, but you know sometimes you stay optimistic and things work out...

Did you lock the handlebars?

I remember last year we went for a club ride to the river. We parked en masse in some car spots but we had one scooter too many. Some cage driver ended up breaking his steering lock to move his bike and dump it into the grass

you should report it to the police along with the license plate of the car that's in the spot - perhaps they could ask them if they did it.

at the very least if you reported it to the police and you did get a ticket at some future date because someone moved your scoot, you'd be able to plead that you reported that someone moved your scooter into an illegal area.

un_designer wrote:So you parked right at the edge of the legal part of the curb, and someone moved your scooter into the illegal/tow-able part??? That's a pretty crummy thing to do.

I second the audible alarm route... Also, you may have already looked, but if not...

1) what are the motorycle-on-sidewalk-but-out-of-the-way laws like where you are? is that an option?

2) do you know anyone in the neighborhood who has a small spot that you can park at, that you may be able to work out a deal with? it may be some random spot that's not good for anything, that could be a permanent parking-spot for you.

3) too late now, but if (hopefully not) it happens again, perhaps try leaving a nice note for the car asking if they knew anything about it. people who knowingly move someone's vehicle into a tow-zone is pretty shady, but you know sometimes you stay optimistic and things work out...

Good advice. And thanks to everybody else who posted as well. I ended up ordering a Xena XX-6 last night.

Unfortunately, parking on the sidewalk is not an option. In Illinois, scooters follow the same rules as cars.

Also, I did park my scooter with the rear tire touching the curb. And I did lock the handlebars.

When I first got home I couldn't believe it. It's one of those 'violated' moments you get knowing somebody messed with your stuff. I've had my car broken into some time in the past and it had that similar eerie-kind-of-feeling.

Anyway, I appreciate all the help. I'm sure I'll write again if it happens in the future. Hopefully the alarm will be enough of a deterrent.

jerome wrote:

un_designer wrote:So you parked right at the edge of the legal part of the curb, and someone moved your scooter into the illegal/tow-able part??? That's a pretty crummy thing to do.

I second the audible alarm route... Also, you may have already looked, but if not...

1) what are the motorycle-on-sidewalk-but-out-of-the-way laws like where you are? is that an option?

2) do you know anyone in the neighborhood who has a small spot that you can park at, that you may be able to work out a deal with? it may be some random spot that's not good for anything, that could be a permanent parking-spot for you.

3) too late now, but if (hopefully not) it happens again, perhaps try leaving a nice note for the car asking if they knew anything about it. people who knowingly move someone's vehicle into a tow-zone is pretty shady, but you know sometimes you stay optimistic and things work out...

Good advice. And thanks to everybody else who posted as well. I ended up ordering a Xena XX-6 last night.

Unfortunately, parking on the sidewalk is not an option. In Illinois, scooters follow the same rules as cars.

Also, I did park my scooter with the rear tire touching the curb. And I did lock the handlebars.

When I first got home I couldn't believe it. It's one of those 'violated' moments you get knowing somebody messed with your stuff. I've had my car broken into some time in the past and it had that similar eerie-kind-of-feeling.

Anyway, I appreciate all the help. I'm sure I'll write again if it happens in the future. Hopefully the alarm will be enough of a deterrent.

I just noticed you were in Chicago. what part of town did this happen?

Velobuff is right. Report it to the police. In many states that would actually be considered theft because they temporarily seized the scooter.

I would call the non emergency number and tell them you want to make a information report.

Kyle

Maximus53 wrote:I just noticed you were in Chicago. what part of town did this happen?

Ravenswood/North Center. You around the area?

Wiggins wrote:Velobuff is right. Report it to the police. In many states that would actually be considered theft because they temporarily seized the scooter.

I would call the non emergency number and tell them you want to make a information report.

Kyle

Thanks. I will look into this.

jerome wrote:

Maximus53 wrote:I just noticed you were in Chicago. what part of town did this happen?

Ravenswood/North Center. You around the area?

I'm up in Roger's Park but spend a lot of time in Lakeview. The closest I have had is coming out to an obviously knocked over and picked back up scooter (broken turn signal stem and scratches on cowl and break lever).

I use a wheel lock so maybe that is helping...