A Placard for Motorized Bicycle
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A Placard for Motorized Bicycle
I own a 49cc scooter and was told by a police officer, that motorized bicycle are prohibited from sidewalks. That I could park it on the street like other vehicles. It sort of rubbed me the wrong way, because I live in a town of only 1500 people. Telling me they take it seriously. So me having a permanent disability, I thought, if they wish me to park like other vehicles, than I will be entitled to all the rights and duties of any other vehicle including a handicapped parking permit.
So I started thinking. The State of Missouri gives Disabled Motorcycle Riders a placard or Disabled Plate. This allows them to access handicap parking. So I looked on the internet for a 49cc scooter that had a handicap parking permits. Could not find anyone. I thought, This is discrimination. So I emailed the Dept of Revenue to see if I could get a placard or plate stating Disabled. What makes this worse is this small town has a park, grocery store, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Casey's, school, restaurants and not one bicycle rack to lock bikes up.
THe Dept of Revenue decided I could have a placard but not a Disabled Plate. Because my 49cc scooter is classified as a motorized bicycle and not a registered vehicle. So now I am finding out whose responsibility it is to implement bicycle racks in front of stores. Because I ride a bicycle sometimes too. Take my service dog for rides.
So I started thinking. The State of Missouri gives Disabled Motorcycle Riders a placard or Disabled Plate. This allows them to access handicap parking. So I looked on the internet for a 49cc scooter that had a handicap parking permits. Could not find anyone. I thought, This is discrimination. So I emailed the Dept of Revenue to see if I could get a placard or plate stating Disabled. What makes this worse is this small town has a park, grocery store, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Casey's, school, restaurants and not one bicycle rack to lock bikes up.
THe Dept of Revenue decided I could have a placard but not a Disabled Plate. Because my 49cc scooter is classified as a motorized bicycle and not a registered vehicle. So now I am finding out whose responsibility it is to implement bicycle racks in front of stores. Because I ride a bicycle sometimes too. Take my service dog for rides.

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I'd talk directly to the stores themselves. Or their home offices.
Last edited by Rolla; 05-20-22 at 11:33 PM.

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Does your motorized bicycle comply with the regulations for an e-bike. If not, you won't get any sympathy from me for where you are allowed and not allowed with your bike. Get something more appropriate to you and where and how you want to use it. In some jurisdictions, even human powered bicycles are not allowed on side walks.
However I very much like that on my bicycle that I am entitled to all the rights and duties of any other vehicle. Though realize that that does not prohibit more restrictive rules that might apply to particular types of vehicles.
However I very much like that on my bicycle that I am entitled to all the rights and duties of any other vehicle. Though realize that that does not prohibit more restrictive rules that might apply to particular types of vehicles.

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Motorized bicycles, Mopeds and Motor Scooters are not the same things, and there are things that you can and can't do with one or the other, depending on your jurisdiction.
In VA, where my vehicles are registered,a 49cc scooter isn't a motorized bicycle, it's classified as a Moped, which can receive a Moped license plate, allowing for low speed operation, on public roads, without a driver's license. You could get a Disabled license plate, but it would have to be registered as a motorcycle, which comes with more registration and licensing requirements.
Generally, since you can't ride a motor scooter on the sidewalk, you can't park on it either.
That said, you can park a motorcycle or scooter a lot of places that aren't full-sized parking spaces; as long as they're not vehicle traffic or foot access.
Adding in the need to lock it to something is a consideration, and while it's usually acceptable to lock a bike to a convenient lamp post or handrail, it's usually discouraged to put your scooter on a bike rack
In VA, where my vehicles are registered,a 49cc scooter isn't a motorized bicycle, it's classified as a Moped, which can receive a Moped license plate, allowing for low speed operation, on public roads, without a driver's license. You could get a Disabled license plate, but it would have to be registered as a motorcycle, which comes with more registration and licensing requirements.
Generally, since you can't ride a motor scooter on the sidewalk, you can't park on it either.
That said, you can park a motorcycle or scooter a lot of places that aren't full-sized parking spaces; as long as they're not vehicle traffic or foot access.
Adding in the need to lock it to something is a consideration, and while it's usually acceptable to lock a bike to a convenient lamp post or handrail, it's usually discouraged to put your scooter on a bike rack

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Petro powered bicycles are the red headed stepchild of powerized bicycles. There are the state laws and there can be different laws for county and city. The laws are intentionally convoluted for Petro powered bicycles. That noisy engine paints a target on the back of your head for any law enforcement person, because they notice you. Even if you follow all the state and other laws in your location, you may still be in violation of someone's laws.

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Unless laws in your area mandate that stores, restaurants, etc must provide bicycle racks, then the "responsibility" to implement bike racks falls to no one. Bicycle racks are a courtesy. Going into a store demanding to know who is 'responsible' for installing them will probably get you nowhere fast. You would most likely have better luck asking to speak to a manager, and explain your situation to him/her in a calm, rational way. Even then, if it's a national chain, they may not have the authority to do so.

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In your town of 1500, does anyone else have a motorized scooter?
John
John

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