Cause for concern - wife riding

 I bought a barely used Honda CH80 Elite scooter a couple of years back
for my wife and daughter to have something to scoot around the
neighborhood. I ride up to the store or around the nieghborhood
myself.

My wife who is teaching summer school this summer had talked about
riding the scooter to work about 7mi away. The scooter gets 100mpg and
the thought of spending $4/week in gas thrilled her.

I didn't encourage her riding to work because she just doesn't have
the experience riding to be doubly aware of everybody and everything
around here and try to anticipate other drivers.

Case in point: this AM I'm riding behind my wife part of the way
before we split up and go our separate ways. A lady in a SUV is coming
out of a parking lot. She looks like she is stopping, but there's just
something that strikes me odd; I'm just not sure she see us, so I lay
on the horn.

Sure enough, the SUV lady quickly comes to a complete stop and, as I
pass her, she raises her hands over her eyes like a visor to
counteract the glare of the sun. I connected with her enough to know
that she really didn't see us and was shielding her eyes from the sun
to make sure nobody else was coming behind us before she pulled out.

I doubt my wife knew what happened or I laid on the horn as we neared
the lady in the SUV.

I'll have a chat with my wife about it later, but her riding is scary
- not because she's a bad rider, but because she's inexperienced and
on that scooter, she's less visible than I am on my bike.

Thumper... I can only imagine what you go thru when Cat goes out
riding!!!

Greg

 

I agree! The idea that someone can buy a 49cc scooter and then place
themselves into traffic without any MSF like training, or testing is
bothersome.

My daughter is starting to talk about how "cool" they are and that scares
the bejeezus out of me! I can't imagine my wife doign 7 miles of
Massachusetts traffic on a scooter.. people around here will run you over as
soon as look at you, if they admit to seeing you at all.

 

Steve L wrote:

<SNIP>


I believe the CH80 Elite is 80 cc's, which at least can keep up with
traffic.  I'd never advise anyone to use a 49 cc scooter (moped).  Top
speed of 33 MPH and inability to keep up with traffic is dangerous.

--
HPT

 
Please! Send her to MSF School before somebody kills her.

I don't care how long or well you ride, you will forget to mention something
she needs to know. MSF has curriculum to avoid that.  Your bride should
understand, being a teacher.

 
Getting her to take the MSF course is only half the battle.

You simply can't be safe on a scooter.  It isn't possible.

I see a couple people with scooters on the 2-laners every day.  The traffic
moves 55 or 60.  Every driver has to slow down, match speed, then safely
pass.  When you repeat that cycle often enough, sooner or later ...

Any vehicle that doesn't keep up with the traffic is doubly dangerous.

Get her into an MSF course.

Get her off of the scooter and onto a motorcycle.

Ger her all the protective gear that money can buy.