What may look like miniature electric cars zipping through city streets are actually enclosed mobility scooters — and they’re not allowed to be there. The North Bay Police Service is now cracking down with fines.

I’ve seen several of these around, on roads. And to be honest, if I had to replace my car, it might be for one of these!

But what the hell? They are ONLY allowed on sidewalks, which IMO, they really shouldn’t be. And are NOT allowed on roads because they are classified as “pedestrians”?

We need new laws to accomodate and encourage the adoption of “mini cars” as car alternatives within urban and sububan travel…

  • JohnEdwa@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    8·
    1 day ago

    Here in Finland they are mopeds (EU classification L1e) - limited to 45km/h, allowed on the road and most bike lanes, can be driven without a license if you were born before 1985 (grandfathered) otherwise requires the quick and cheap AM license you can get at 15.
    Which is why they are almost entirely advertised for the elderly, literally known as senior scooters, as a vehicle that doesn’t require a license means you can keep driving one even if the doctor takes your drivers license.

    • Treczoks@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      17 hours ago

      Wow. You only get the 25km/h model here for that. For anything faster, you need a full driving licence.

    • rumschlumpel@feddit.orgEnglish
      5·
      1 day ago

      Driving a vehicle that can do 45 km/h without a license and no crumple zone sounds suicidal …

        • rumschlumpel@feddit.orgEnglish
          31·
          1 day ago

          I’m not ready to accept that as-is. Sure, you’re less likely to fall down in a four-wheeled vehicle, but I’m not convinced that a closed vehicle without a crumple zone is actually safer than an open two-wheeled vehicle in a collision. My guess is that you’re more likely to injure yourself on a regular moped, but you’re more likely to outright die in a mobility scooter.

          • JohnEdwa@sopuli.xyzEnglish
            2·
            16 hours ago

            AFAIK there hasn’t been a single death in Finland involving one. Biggest thing is that they stick out like a sore thumb in traffic so you reduce the risk of getting driven over by an inattentive car driver by multiple orders of magnitude.