PHOTOS BY HARRY LYNCH An unattended, untetheredscooter is parked conveniently at the front steps of
Caldwell Hall on UNC's campus Tuesday morning. The handy,
go-practically-anywhere scooters, which had been unregulated
on campus, have recently come under new rules.
Caldwell Hall on UNC's campus Tuesday morning. The handy,
go-practically-anywhere scooters, which had been unregulated
on campus, have recently come under new rules.
insurance motor scooter - Chapel Hill : An online petition and letter-writing campaign by scooter riders has gained the attention of officials in the UNC, now say they will have a second look at the May decision to regulate the small, environmentally friendly vehicles. UNC Board of Trustees approved an annual plan for parking two months ago for scooter riders to buy permits to park in designated lots.
The new regulation will affect 15 August. UNC has never before regulated scooters, and those who use them have enjoyed the freedom to putter across the campus and park near their destinations. But an increase in scooters - probably caused by last year's rise in gasoline prices - led the officials included in the campus parking regulations.
UNC employees pay between $ 174 and $ 371 for a scooter license year, based on salary level. For students, the cost would be $ 175 or $ 44 if they also have a campus parking permit. That share space with scooters motorcycles in certain lots.
In comparison: In the State of North Carolina, all scooter users must buy a permit for $ 60, although students with campus parking permits to pay only $ 5 for new scooters label. At Duke, scooters permits are $ 25, or free if you have a car permit.
At UNC, the change has scooter riders need to cry about the new cost and concerned about the safety of their vehicles. Some see it as an insult to passengers trying to be environmentally responsible.
UNC officials say it is a security measure. UNC for a long time, and the mandate that allows motorcyclists to buy these scooters - with small engines of 50 cubic centimeters or less - have not been covered so far.
"We're not saying that you do not want to ride scooters," said Carolyn Elfland, associate vice rector of the campus. "We want them parked. They are not governed. Just go anywhere."
In fact, you can go almost anywhere, and Brian Moynihan, much of the charm. He and his wife live in Carrboro and work in buildings on the medical campus of the UNC. So I go in every day to work on the scooter and Moynihan park - for free - Moynihan outside the building.
Moynihan, a graduate student in information science from the UNC program, created an online petition protesting the new rules and scooter riders seek to plead their case managers. Quickly attracted more than 200 signatories, many of whom say the policy change will bring more cars to school.
"If people have to pay, it could re-use their cars," said Moynihan. "That is exactly what we do not want that to happen."
Roger Perry, chairman of the UNC Board of Trustees, said it expects its board to review the regulations when it meets later this month.
Elfland said that the change is not a money grab. In fact, it is difficult to project the potential revenue because no one knows how many scooter riders are in the UNC.
David Jansen, owner of Scooter, Inc., a provider of Carrboro scooter, it is estimated that there are "hundreds" of bikes in Carrboro alone.
"It seems like a decision based on revenue for the university because they lose revenue every time someone is going to pay a fee for parking the power of a scooter," he said.
Scooter interest peaked last year when gas prices rose to $ 4 per gallon and has conical shape, because, said Jansen.
"The scooter remains the last urban commuting vehicle," he said.
Scooters usually cost between $ 2,000 and $ 4,500, said Jansen, who receive about 80 miles to the gallon.
At UNC, many of the chain of his bicycle racks scooters, while some just lean them against buildings. Elfland said that the university plans to offer large dowels like scooters bicycle racks that can be secured.
Cheryl Stout, deputy director of the UNC for parking services, said it had no knowledge of accidents caused by scooters on campus. But she has noticed the increasing number of motorcycles, and campus policy prohibits scooters from being operated on sidewalks, a rule is rarely applied in the past.
"It has definitely become a concern," he said. "These motorcycles were traveling at high speed on pavements." by: insurance motor scooter
The new regulation will affect 15 August. UNC has never before regulated scooters, and those who use them have enjoyed the freedom to putter across the campus and park near their destinations. But an increase in scooters - probably caused by last year's rise in gasoline prices - led the officials included in the campus parking regulations.
UNC employees pay between $ 174 and $ 371 for a scooter license year, based on salary level. For students, the cost would be $ 175 or $ 44 if they also have a campus parking permit. That share space with scooters motorcycles in certain lots.
In comparison: In the State of North Carolina, all scooter users must buy a permit for $ 60, although students with campus parking permits to pay only $ 5 for new scooters label. At Duke, scooters permits are $ 25, or free if you have a car permit.
At UNC, the change has scooter riders need to cry about the new cost and concerned about the safety of their vehicles. Some see it as an insult to passengers trying to be environmentally responsible.
UNC officials say it is a security measure. UNC for a long time, and the mandate that allows motorcyclists to buy these scooters - with small engines of 50 cubic centimeters or less - have not been covered so far.
"We're not saying that you do not want to ride scooters," said Carolyn Elfland, associate vice rector of the campus. "We want them parked. They are not governed. Just go anywhere."
In fact, you can go almost anywhere, and Brian Moynihan, much of the charm. He and his wife live in Carrboro and work in buildings on the medical campus of the UNC. So I go in every day to work on the scooter and Moynihan park - for free - Moynihan outside the building.
Moynihan, a graduate student in information science from the UNC program, created an online petition protesting the new rules and scooter riders seek to plead their case managers. Quickly attracted more than 200 signatories, many of whom say the policy change will bring more cars to school.
"If people have to pay, it could re-use their cars," said Moynihan. "That is exactly what we do not want that to happen."
Roger Perry, chairman of the UNC Board of Trustees, said it expects its board to review the regulations when it meets later this month.
Elfland said that the change is not a money grab. In fact, it is difficult to project the potential revenue because no one knows how many scooter riders are in the UNC.
David Jansen, owner of Scooter, Inc., a provider of Carrboro scooter, it is estimated that there are "hundreds" of bikes in Carrboro alone.
"It seems like a decision based on revenue for the university because they lose revenue every time someone is going to pay a fee for parking the power of a scooter," he said.
Scooter interest peaked last year when gas prices rose to $ 4 per gallon and has conical shape, because, said Jansen.
"The scooter remains the last urban commuting vehicle," he said.
Scooters usually cost between $ 2,000 and $ 4,500, said Jansen, who receive about 80 miles to the gallon.
At UNC, many of the chain of his bicycle racks scooters, while some just lean them against buildings. Elfland said that the university plans to offer large dowels like scooters bicycle racks that can be secured.
Cheryl Stout, deputy director of the UNC for parking services, said it had no knowledge of accidents caused by scooters on campus. But she has noticed the increasing number of motorcycles, and campus policy prohibits scooters from being operated on sidewalks, a rule is rarely applied in the past.
"It has definitely become a concern," he said. "These motorcycles were traveling at high speed on pavements." by: insurance motor scooter
