*** Kirkland imposes limitations on scooters ***

Kirkland, Washington -- 07/08/2004
Kirkland last night became the latest Puget Sound-area
city to restrict the use of motorized scooters.

The City Council voted to ban the scooters from sidewalks and parks,
and from streets with speed limits over 25 mph. Scooter drivers must
be at least 15 years old, wear a helmet, and use a headlight and rear
reflector from a half-hour after sunset until a half-hour before
sunrise,
the council decided.

Like many cities in the region, Kirkland has been debating how
to balance the increasing popularity of motorized scooters against
the rising number of complaints from residents concerned about
young, reckless drivers and excessive noise.

Renton, Issaquah and Auburn have also voted for scooter restrictions
in recent weeks. In May, a 15-year-old boy was seriously injured in
Issaquah when his scooter hit a sidewalk dip and he flew into the
path of a car.

In Kirkland, the council had planned to vote on scooter restrictions
last month but decided first to give more thought to the question of
at what age teens could be expected to responsibly handle scooters.

Age continued to be a hot issue last night. The Kirkland Transportation
Commission, for a second time, recommended a minimum age of 13,
arguing that an older age limit would cut out much of the demographic
that uses scooters. Three council members appeared to agree with a
lower age limit but were outvoted.

Kirkland Mayor Mary-Alyce Burleigh said younger riders are not
savvy enough with road rules. "These are people who I daresay
have not read the driver's manual," she said.

Councilman Jim Lauinger argued that a new generation of more
sophisticated — and speedier — "pocket bikes" makes it more
crucial that younger teens are kept off the streets.

Geneb...Wenatchee,Washington-USA
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