HONOLULU - State lawmakers on Saturday gave first-round approval to a bill that would require all moped riders to wear helmets. Current law requires helmets only for moped riders under age 18.

But many moped users say they hate the idea, calling helmets unnecessary.

Architecture student Andy Lau said his moped is an inexpensive way to travel from home in Kalihi to his classes at UH Manoa.

“I don’t think moped riders should be required to wear a helmet,” he said. “I don’t think it’s that necessary. We don’t really ride on the freeway. Most of the time, the fastest I am going is 30 miles per hour.”

Even motorcyclists were at the Legislature Saturday to protest a proposal to make helmets mandatory for all moped riders.

“We should not be placing further governmental regulations on a means of transportation that reduces congestion on our already taxed roadways, reduces pollution and saves our natural resources,” said Brian Grayling of Street Bikers United.

But government health and transportation agencies want moped riders to better protect themselves.

“The department strongly supports this bill. The legislation would reduce injuries and fatalities on our roadways because a safety helmet saves lives,” said Jiro Sumada, state transportation deputy director.

The proposed law would slap fines of up to $500 on moped users without helmets.

It’s difficult to say if a mandatory helmet requirement for mopeds like this will make it through the full Legislature. Generally, lawmakers in the past have only been inclined to pass helmet restrictions for young people.

Motorcycle drivers are regulated the same as moped users. All motorcycle and moped riders under 18 must wear helmets. State law also says that all bicycle riders under age 16 are required to wear helmets.

SOURCE: MSNBC

Hundreds of Coloradans who rely on low-power scooters to commute inexpensively will be required to insure the vehicles under a bill set for state legislative hearings today. And owners of Segways — the head-turning two-wheeled vehicles riders use while standing up — would be limited in where they can operate.

Until now, the scooters — neither motorcycle nor bicycle but with enough power to travel up to 40 miles per hour — had only to be registered with the state, a mild $5 fee every three years.

However, some owners were unpleasantly surprised to learn that homeowner liability policies that typically cover bicycles and other recreational vehicles don’t automatically cover the scooters or Segways.

“People were really shocked about the lack of liability coverage,” said Rep. Don Marostica, a Loveland Republican and sponsor of HB-1026, which is headed for a hearing today before the House Appropriations Committee.

Scooters and motorized bikes became increasingly popular last summer, when gas prices spiked above $4 a gallon. There were 5,964 registrations of motorized bicycles in Colorado in the past 12 months, according to the state Department of Revenue.

The legislation only covers scooters that are gas- or electric-powered, less than 50cc or 4,476 watts and manufactured for street use. The scooters would be limited to roadways and could not be operated on sidewalks or bike trails and paths.

“What was happening was as they became more popular, the likelihood of them colliding with cars or bikes became greater,” said Jerry Abboud, a lobbyist for the power-sports industry that sells them. “The need for insurance became more obvious. The last thing you want is a crash with a Porsche and no insurance.”

If the bill becomes law, consumers would have to pay about $100 a year to insure the vehicles. The requirement wouldn’t take effect until mid-2010.

The bill would also limit Segways to roads with speed limits under 30 mph. Colorado is one of six states where Segways, which reach a top speed of 12 1/2 mph, are not regulated because they are not considered motor vehicles under federal definitions.

The insurance requirement for scooters would not apply to Segways.

The law would allow local governments to decide whether Segways could be operated on sidewalks but not on multiuse trails in parks.

The regulation miffs Linda Reynolds, who runs Colorado Adventure Segway Tours, where tourists ride the vehicles from one historic location in Denver to another.

“Limiting use to roads of less than 30 miles per hour puts us out of business,” said Reynolds, who is also a Brighton councilwoman. “Every route we use is 35 miles per hour.”

David Migoya: 303-954-1506 or dmigoya@denverpost.com

House Bill 1026

Application of vehicle laws to low-power vehicles and defining the same:

Amendment: Adds regulations pertaining to Segways

Main sponsors: Rep. Don Marostica, R-Loveland; Sen. Suzanne Williams, D-Aurora

What it does: Makes liability insurance mandatory for owners of gas or electric scooters of at least 50cc or 4,476 watts and restricts their use from multiuse paths; also prohibits Segways from streets with posted speed limits over 30 mph and allows for sidewalk use only with local approval

What’s ahead: Hearing before the House Appropriations Committee, 8 a.m. today

SOURCE: DENVERPOST

That’s right, Consumer Reports has tested two groups of scooters (50cc and 125-150cc) and a pair of 250cc motorcycles. Last summer, there was tremendous reader interest in two-wheel commuting alternatives, inspiring our auto team to develop a test program for evaluating affordable and entry-level choices.

The tested scooters include the Honda Ruckus, Motorino Allegro from China, and Vespa LX 50 from Italy. The larger engine class included the Kymco People 150 from Taiwan, Yamaha Vino 125, and Vespa LX 150. For motorcycles, we tested two popular, entry-level choices, the Honda Rebel and Kawasaki Ninja.

Scooters and motorcycles require different skills to operate than cars and provide nowhere near the safety of even the smallest car. (See our video scooter buyer’s guide.) Best proceed with caution and carefully consider if the compromises and costs are worth the potential fuel savings, parking convenience, and admittedly, the fun.

Scooters and motorcycles

Last year, sales of motor scooters and small motorcycles skyrocketed as consumers went looking for economical transportation. Readers, too, have been clamoring for information, so we decided to conduct our first evaluation of two-wheelers since 1981.

We tested six scooters and two similarly priced, entry-level motorcycles and found that their fuel economy is impressive, ranging from 60 to 100 mpg at a steady cruise. The prices are also attractive, ranging from less than $1,000 to $4,400. And the best are fun to ride.

But the most fuel-efficient scooters can be ridden only up to about 35 to 40 mph, and no scooter with less than a 250cc engine is suitable for freeways. Only two scooters had better gas mileage than a Toyota Prius in city driving. Carrying capacity is very limited. And weather and road conditions greatly impact the riding experience.

There’s a high probability of serious injury with motorcycles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2006 motorcyclists were about 37 times more likely to die in a crash per driven mile than someone riding in a passenger car.

The basics

Novices will find scooters easier to ride than motorcycles. They’re simpler to get on and off, the riding position is similar to sitting in a chair, and their transmissions don’t have to be shifted manually.

We tested two groups of scooters. One group included three entry-level models (available to subscribers) with small 50cc engines: the Honda Ruckus, the Motorino Allegro from China, and the Vespa LX 50 from Italy. Prices ranged from $995 to $3,299. With limited power, those models are easy to handle and are among the least expensive. And in some states, they don’t require licensing.

The other group (available to subscribers) included three models with 125cc to 150cc engines: the Kymco People 150 from Taiwan, the Yamaha Vino 125, and the Vespa LX 150. They have more reserve power and higher top speeds, which benefit them in traffic. Prices ranged from $2,799 to $4,399.

Our two motorcycles (available to subscribers), the Honda Rebel and Kawasaki Ninja, have more powerful 250cc engines, making them suitable for highway riding. But their manual transmissions and higher performance require more skill to handle well. They also sacrifice practicality by having no storage. Prices were $3,399 and $3,999, respectively.

Bottom line

Scooters and motorcycles require different skills to operate than cars and provide nowhere near the safety of even the smallest car. But they can be a fun and fuel-efficient way to get around town when weather permits. Parking is easy, and gas mileage is far better than that of most cars. To minimize risk, professional instruction is a must for new riders, as is protective gear. Registration and licensing laws vary by state, so check before buying. Also, make sure parts and service are easily available.

SOURCE: CONSUMER REPORTS