EnigManiac

The other day, I watched a moped in my mirror approaching from behind at the same rate of speed as motor traffic. But he was in the bike lane. He signalled and passed every cyclist considerately, but I was uncertain whether he was actually permitted in the bike lane at all. I didn't confront him or anything, but I'm wondering what the rules are.

lima_bean

I believe it is permitted in Illinois if they are under a very small CC, otherwise they are not. Doesnt really bother me though.

jeff-o

As long as they don't hit me, I don't care. A moped is still better than a car, IMO.

1ply

If by moped you mean the kind with pedals... I think that they ARE allowed in a bike lane.

AEO

something like that?
I'd say, no, but he can use the car lane and not get harrassed by JAMs in toronto, I know for sure.
And you can't use any motorized bike in parks and MUPs.

Allen

The general rule of thumb is assisted bicycles are allowed on the MUPs. That would be bicycles (must have working pedals) with motors, gas or electric, that will go no faster than 20 mph unassisted.

Very basically, if it looks like a bicycle (example) it's kosher, if it looks like a Vespa, not so much.

CliftonGK1

RCW 46.61.710
Mopeds, EPAMDs, electric-assisted bicycles, motorized foot scooters -- General requirements and operation.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a moped may not be operated on a bicycle path or trail, bikeway, equestrian trail, or hiking or recreational trail.

RCW Definitions of bikeway classifications:
Class 1 – Paved “Bike Path” with an exclusive right-of-way, physically separated from vehicular roadways and intended specifically for non-motorized use.
Class 2 – Signed and striped “Bike Lane” within a street right-of-way.
Class 3 – “Bike Route” within a street right-of-way identified by signage only.
Undesignated – An additional category defined as locally recommended on-street routes that appearon area bikeway maps only.


Definitely illegal according to the Revised Code of Washington.

Bekologist

states have GOT to drop the vague 'bikeway' designations....

does that statute imply mopeds are not allowed on streets signed as bike routes? (not that we have many of those right now in Seattle, but they are on the increase with the new bike plan)

bike paths, bike lanes, and streets signed as bike routes are NOT equal.

HardyWeinberg

There's a guy near my office who's been riding his... I don't know what it is, much smaller than a moped, but I've never seen him pedal, not sure it even has pedals, but 2 wheel contraption anyway, motoring along in bike lane and on MUP. He's actually slower than me in most places, but he's loud so he can't hear 'on your left', and he chicanes, taking up all space available to him, very annoying.

Where I used to live in WV people would rent these power mountain bikes that I thought were really cool but I never tried it. They'd zip up the hill (there was a big hill in town), sounded exactly like one of those zip-tie powered evel knievel motorcycles I used to have as a kid...

greenstork

If it ultimately means more money and infrastructure for bike lanes (and mopeds), then I say bring on the mopeds. The most successful system and all around bicycle bliss can be found in Holland, where mopeds are permitted to ride on bicycle lanes when not on slower city streets.

Flimflam

Heh, I saw a moped in the Queens Quay bikelane get passed by a roadie who was coasting - I thought that was pretty amusing As for them being in the bikelane, just like if a car goes in there, I don't care so long as I'm not put out.

AStomper

No "Motor vehicle" is allowed on the sidewalk or on MUPs, I'm assuming the same is true for bike lanes. That said, people ride pocket rockets and the bikes with briggs and stratton engines on the front tire on sidewalks as they aren't allowed on the road without a license plate. The police don't seem to bother them too much, if they're not being ****** bags. Bet its a big ticket. and +1 for it if it means more money for infrastructure, there should be a wieght limit though.

andrelam

Recent trafic law changes is forcing Mopeds off the bike lanes in all urban areas as they cause too many accidents. Ofcourse the bike lanes there can be quite busy during rush hour. If you get outside of the cities, the Mopeds are not allowed on the highway and can then use the bike paths that run along the route of the highway. Generally the mopeds get great mileage, but polute a lot more than a car.

Happy riding,
André

donnamb 

It would be wise to check the traffic laws of the state/province/country in which you life. It differs greatly from area to area.

Doug5150

-Depends on the state's laws you reside in .
In Illinois for instance, I know it says that mopeds (as proper registered "motor vehicles") are supposed to be operated the same as bicycles. That would imply that mopeds CAN use bike lanes and paths, unless otherwise specified (some IL bike paths do have signs that say among their other rules "no motor vehicles allowed").
First off:
As far as pocket bikes go, they are not ever "motor vehicles" because there's no federal classification for roadworthiness that they were constructed to meet.

As for motorized bicycles, once again it depends.
The difference between a bicycle and a pocket bike is that there's already laws in all 50 US states that state bicycles can be operated on public roadways. The matter is if adding an engine disqualifies them from that or not.

Common sense would indicate that once you put a motor on a bicycle, it should be operated according to moped laws, but that's often not the way the laws end up. Some states prohibit motorized bicycles at all, others allow them with registration, while still others place no requirements at all beyond a valid drivers license of any type. As a practical matter, most staes limit bicycle engines to moped restrictions (2 HP, <30 mph top speeds).
~

atombob

Here in Eugene we had a problem with all these electric scooters. Most were actually slower than bikes and served to put those pedaling out into traffic to pass. Worst part is most of the people riding these could really use the exercise. (This coming from a 220lb guy.)

CliftonGK1

He's not allowed to have the thing in the bike lane or the MUP. If he's got a routine schedule, contact King Co. Parks and Rec. Dep't and find out what can be done to ticket and remove him from the path. The only motorized vehicles allowed on the King Co. MUP system are motorized wheelchairs or other EPAMD's, maintenance vehicles, and emergency vehicles.

The only portion of that definition which is vague would be Class 3. I'm less familiar with the west side of the lake, but here on the east side there are quite a few roads which have a "signed only" bike route designation, but no stripe-marked bike lane. The road is a few feet wider, but that's really the only (poor) indication aside from the signs on the lightposts. My guess (and it's only a guess, so nobody bite my head off if I'm just blowing smoke) is that the statute is meant to keep mopeds out of that far-right area of the lane, and in with regular traffic.
I'm not too keen on the unstriped bike lane, actually. I've ridden the MUP system and don't have much issue with it aside from the buckled pavement from all the root growth around Bothell and down into Lake City. The striped bike lanes are pretty good in most areas. They might consider trimming some of the raspberry branches which are overgrowing parts of it on 202 between Redmond and Woodinville, but mostly I'm OK with them. Are they (with the exception of unstriped lanes) moderately acceptable: Yes. Are they equal: Heck no.

FlyingAnchor

I used to ride the Silver Strand in San Diego some years ago. I used a moped and a Schwinn Mirada. I asked a cop where I should ride and he told me on the MUP. It never felt right, so a couple of months later I asked another cop and he told me not to ride it on the MUP. I rode my bike on the MUP but the days I rode my 49cc moped I rode on the side of the road.
Even cops may not know what is legal.

Steven

znomit

Get in behind and draft him.

Bekologist

I drafted a vespa convention all the way across downtown one night- seattle downtown is kind of small- from the stadiums to the space needle. no bike lanes.

JeffB502

Well here's what California says...

Motorized bicycle and moped are the same. Here's the definition:
It appears to be legal, but not required, to operate a moped or motorized bicycle in a bike lane on a roadway.
Operating a moped/motorized bicycle on any path not within or adjacent to a roadway is prohibited.
There are some other sections mentioned but my post is already too long. www.leginfo.ca.gov is a great place to look up California laws straight from the source.

n4zou

You're so correct on that comment! I purchased a Chinese bicycle engine kit about 2 years ago just because it looked so cool and after building and riding my motorized bicycle discovered how much fun it really was. Now don't start thinking it's the only bicycle I own! I enjoy my "real" bicycles as well and actually put more miles on my "real" bikes than the motorized bicycle but it has its place and uses. Below is a photo of my motorized bike.

Most people think it's from the early 20'th century and I always show up at motorcycle events on it and all the Harley guys think it's an "original". It is built on an Antique Raleigh frame complete with head badge. I ride it on the street and was pulled over and checked out several times by policemen and had to show them the regulations about motor driven cycles in there copy of the Code of Alabama. I ran into one policeman that would not listen to me and arrested me for not having a tag, registration, and insurance. He took me before a speed trap judge immediately. The judge did listen to me and looked up the appropriate laws concerning my motor driven cycle. Consequently I won my case and the policeman ended up looking like an idiot and had to pay $60 court costs. After that I never had any more trouble. I know the policeman had a camera in the car and must have posted my motorbike and me on all the bulletin boards state wide to prevent future incidents of this nature.

CB HI

In Hawaii, mopeds are required to ride in the bike lane!