NBR: Scooters Save Lives!

hal888 · Post by **hal888** » Mon Aug 05, 2013 12:47 pm

Well, the dedicated EMTs riding the scooters help too, but the scooters make the dream possible.

A great solution to a critical problem as urban congestion increases.

http://www.tedmed.com/talks/show?id=47048

guzziknight · Post by **guzziknight** » Mon Aug 05, 2013 1:31 pm

I've had this thought for years, but with motorcycles!

As crowded as our cities have become, this may be the best way for first responders to get to a scene quickly.

Just wish I had the desire to be an emt!

Post by **ericalm** » Mon Aug 05, 2013 11:49 pm

Just discussing this with a friend. I think outfitting dual sport bikes for search & rescue would be a huge advantage in our mountains or in the event of The Big One.

Of course, I just want to be a Rescue Rider!

hal888 · Post by **hal888** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 12:43 am

ericalm wrote: Of course, I just want to be a Rescue Rider!

I love the idea of it too.

gar1013 · Post by **gar1013** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 5:45 pm

SFPD uses dual sport bikes to help them not really do much about enforcing the law.

(not a slam on SFPD, but rather on the culture of SF that practically views them as an occupying army)

ScootLemont · Post by **ScootLemont** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 6:05 pm

When I was in London last month, I noticed EMTs riding motorcycles (pretty sure they were BMWs) - they actually said "Ambulance" on them.

The first time I saw one I thought.... how weird.... then 2 minutes later I realized how logical it was to get the first responders on-site much faster than they could in a car, van or truck.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 6:36 pm

I'm not sure I'd want to be transported to the Casualty Ward by riding cupcake, however.

ScootLemont · Post by **ScootLemont** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 7:46 pm

TVB wrote:I'm not sure I'd want to be transported to the Casualty Ward by riding cupcake, however.

yeah... you are right - they need sidecars

gar1013 · Post by **gar1013** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 9:18 pm

Actually, me riding a scooter did increase the level of safety in my family.

Because I was on my scooter, my wife was driving the Volvo XC60 that is my primary vehicle instead of the Subaru Outback she normally drives.

She was rear-ended by a guy in a Mercedes, and it jacked up the rear of our car and the front of his car looked more or less totaled -- it was an offset sort of impact. Surprisingly, his airbags didn't go off, which makes you wonder how bad the accident has to be for them to be deployed.

At any rate, my Volvo spent about a month in the body shop, but nobody in the Volvo was injured -- our toddler was asleep, an 11 year old former neighbor was fine aside from bumping her head on the window... and most impressive was the fact that my wife had no whiplash. The seat design, combined with the anti-whiplash movement of the seat itself kept things totally under control.

So yeah, riding a scooter DEFINITELY is better from a safety perspective.