*** Motor Scooter Restrictions Approved In Seattle, Kirkland, Yakima ***

SEATTLE, Wash. (AP) -- 07/09/2004
A variety of motor scooter restrictions have been approved by
city councils in Seattle, suburban Kirkland and Yakima following
similar action in other jurisdictions.

The most restrictive of the latest measures, all adopted Tuesday,
would require scooter operators in Yakima to have a driver's license.

The Seattle City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to prohibit
riding motorized scooters in street bicycle lanes, public paths and
schoolyards.

Those powered by gasoline are barred from sidewalks and must
be equipped with mufflers. Electric scooters, generally slower,
may be ridden on sidewalks. Drivers must wear helmets and be
at least 16 years old, and passengers would be barred from both
types of scooters, which would have to be equipped with brakes
and lights.

Mike Kristofferson, owner of the MotorManMike Electric
Scooter Repair shop in Fremont, rode one of the devices to
the downtown meeting and said it was important to distinguish
between the two types of vehicles.

Helmets won't be required for operators of Segways,
a third type of individual motorized transport.

In Kirkland, the City Council voted to ban scooters from sidewalks,
parks and streets with speed limits exceeding 25 mph. Drivers must
be at least 15 years old, wear a helmet and use a headlight and rear
reflector from dusk to dawn.

The Kirkland Transportation Commission had recommended a
minimum age of 13, but council member Jim Lauinger said younger
teens should be kept out of traffic because of the danger of more
sophisticated and faster "pocket bikes."

In Yakima the City Council voted 5 to 2 to set the minimum age
at 16, require a driver's license and require drivers of gas and
electric scooters alike to wear helmets and use lights and reflectors
at night.

The measure also bars scooters on sidewalks in a
40-block area encompassing the central business district.

The Seattle suburbs of Renton, Issaquah and Auburn previously
approved scooter restrictions in recent weeks, and regulations
are currently under consideration in Selah and Union Gap, both
near Yakima. Scooter regulations were adopted last year in Lake
Stevens.

CC - The Associated Press (AP) Wire.

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