Moped Crackdown

What is an easy way to move around a city that is constantly bombarded with traffic? Mopeds have become very popular among Boston residents. Mopeds are easy to handle, easy to park and are run on electric power which means saving on gas and improving our environment. Mopeds are small and easy to handle which makes the drivers able to avoid most traffic jams and park on sidewalks if there are no spots available on streets. Parking is almost impossible in the city of Boston and these mopeds have been allowed to park on sidewalks. The city of Boston is thinking about implementing a law that would require moped owners to have a license plate and therefore moped owners will not be allowed to park on the cities sidewalks.

Mopeds should be required to have a license plate on the back of their bike because they do drive on our main roads. What makes them so special to be able to park on sidewalks? Try walking down Newbury Street or Hanover Street in the North end. These streets are constantly congested with people especially on weekends with tourists shopping and dining around. These mopeds have been taking up walking space for the tourists and also makes it tough for drivers to get access to the parking meters when 2 mopeds are tied up to a meter. Also it makes the sidewalk look messy and overcrowded with bicycles already tied up to poles and trees. Why should mopeds have such special privileges over cars?

Moped drivers are upset with the new law requiring them to have license plates. They believe the law is just a way of bringing in more money for the state. Personally, I get mad when I am sitting in traffic and a moped buzzes between my car and is able to get to their destination quicker than I am. Sometimes these moped drivers believe they are inferior and have priority over everyone else by cutting drivers off and pulling in front of cars at stop lights. I believe if Boston does pass this law, the city should design special parking spots for these mopeds. People in cars have to constantly drive around blocks to find parking spaces in the city. Residents sometimes have to park blocks away from their own apartment, where moped owners are allowed to drive up on the sidewalk and park in front of their apartment. Also, mopeds take up entire a parking spot which is very frustrating to most car drivers. It’s unfair to car drivers but if mopeds cannot park on sidewalks this will cause more parking problems in and around the city for not only mopeds but for car drivers as well.

In San Francisco, the state has designed spots for mopeds only. I believe if Boston designs special spots for moped drivers this will accommodate moped drivers as well as car drivers. The moped spots will be equivalent to handicap spots but instead multiple mopeds will be able to fit in a large spot. Moped drivers should be required to have plates on their bike and be required to park on streets and not on sidewalks. After all, mopeds are allowed to drive on main streets, why should they have special privileges?