Gas-fueled scooters banned by Council
By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser City Hall Writer
The Honolulu City Council has passed a bill to outlaw gas-powered scooters on public streets and sidewalks.
The council approved the measure Wednesday after hearing months of complaints from residents and community groups that the scooters are too loud and unsafe.
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The bill only addresses gas-powered scooters designed to be ridden while standing up.
"The dangers presented by these ... far outweigh the desires of scooter-owners and distributors of the devices," Council Transportation Chairman Nestor Garcia said.
Garcia said some of the scooters are modified so they can travel faster than 45 mph.
Mayor Jeremy Harris has 10 working days to decide whether to veto the bill and will talk to police before making the decision, city spokeswoman Carol Costa said.
Police have testified in support of the bill that would allow them to issue citations and respond to complaints. Councilman Romy Cachola, who introduced the measure, said the bill will give police the power to enforce the ban.
Albert Young, manager of Scooter Alley, said he is not sure what the ban will do to his business. The gas-powered scooters sell from $500 to $2,000 and he estimates there are already thousands on the streets.
He said rather than an outright ban, the City Council should have regulated use, perhaps by setting curfews and age limits for use.
"I think they were very hasty in passing this bill," he said. "In other cities, these are street legal."
He also said there have been few serious injuries resulting from scooter use.
Wally Parcels, owner of Bikefactory Sportshop, said he previously decided to stop selling all scooters.
"There is no gray area. They are not licensable, they don't have adequate brakes, there's no turn signals or other requirements for motorized vehicles," he said.
Garcia said a similar ban on electric scooters may soon follow, but Parcels said he thinks there will be a bigger fight on that issue because such legislation will also have to deal with motorized-devices that assist the disabled.
Parcels noted that electric scooters are much slower and quieter than their gas-powered counterparts.
Garcia said new legislation regarding electric-powered devices will be introduced after Gov. Linda Lingle makes a decision about whether to sign a bill allowing Segway scooters on public sidewalks. The bill mandates that users have to be at least 16 years old and the scooter travel at speeds of no more than 8 mph.
Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.
