Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/343136
4 JULY 9-15 2014 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM High 89º Low 72º Thunderstorms Over the years, several bills have been introduced in an attempt to license and regulate motor scooters on North Carolina public highways. Many feel they are dangerous and put not only their riders but also other motorists in extreme danger. Some people feel they are not a danger, rather just innocent, cheap transportation for the poor and unfortunate — especially if they have been convicted of driving while impaired and no longer have a driver's license. Just as you do not need a license to operate one of these vehicles, you also do not have to have a vehicle registration or insurance, which makes licensed, insured drivers responsible if accidents happen. The pros and cons of scooters on North Carolina streets and highways will probably be debated for a very long time; however, I do think it is worth revisiting in light of what we are experiencing here locally in Fayetteville and Cumberland County. North Carolina defines a scooter as a vehicle with less than a 50 cc engine, single geared that accelerates up to a level of 30 miles per hour. Say it ain't so. There are not many drivers that I know who have not experienced motor scooters passing them doing 45 mph down Raeford Road. A couple of years ago, a scooter driver in Wilmington, N.C., was given a citation for doing 57 mph in a 45 mph zone. He also got a DWI. Speed and irresponsible drivers are not the sole reasons we should look at closer regulation of these vehicles. Within the past few weeks, I have witnessed people riding motor scooters without helmets, shirtless and in flip flops, exceeding the legal speed limit, cruising in the passing lane and, even more terrifying, driving in the center turning lane. But it gets worse. This week I saw a very young child riding on the back of a scooter being driven recklessly down Raeford Road. He was wearing a toy Styrofoam helmet. While I am at it, I need to bring up the wheelchair scooters that many people utilize. These wheelchairs are not designed for and should not be ridden in the middle of the road. It is not safe for anyone involved, and if you don't believe me, check out Owen Drive at 5 p.m. on a Friday afternoon. It's terrifying! Again, I know there are a lot of pros and cons when it comes to this touchy subject. I would hate to think that someone has to die or get seriously injured before we recognize that this problem needs to be addressed. Motor vehicles that are used for basic transportation should be registered with the state. The operators should have a valid drivers license, insurance and required to wear a Department of Transportation-approved helmet. Legislation is needed now. Hopefully, this issue will not become politically charged. If it does maybe the folks in Raleigh will realize that few scooter drivers are registered voters. What do you think? Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly. Scooter Power: Time to Evaluate and Regulate by BILL BOWMAN STAFF Calendar.......................................12 Concert.Connection....................20 Free.Wheelin'.Feelin'...................20 Horoscopes/Advice.Goddess.....21. Classifieds....................................20 Games..........................................22 INSIDE PUBLISHER'S PEN PUBLISHER Bill Bowman Bill@upandcomingweekly.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Janice Burton editor@upandcomingweekly.com OPERATIONS OFFICER Jerred Sanders accounting@upandcomingweekly.com EDITOR Stephanie Crider stephanie@upandcomingweekly.com ART DIRECTOR Alicia Miller art@upandcomingweekly.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS D.G. Martin, Pitt Dickey, Margaret Dickson, John Hood, Erinn Crider, Shanessa Fenner, Heather Griffiths DISTRIBUTION MANAGER/ OFFICE COORDINATOR Laurel Handforth laurel@upandcomingweekly.com MARKETING/SALES Aurora Alexander aurora@upandcomingweekly.com Linda McAlister Brown linda@upandcomingweekly.com Kristy Sykes kristy@upandcomingweekly.com Beverly Pone beverlypone@upandcomingweekly.com Cindy Cramer Blanchard Cindy@upandcomingweekly.com ––––––––––– Up & Coming Weekly www.upandcomingweekly.com 208 Rowan Street P.O. Box 53461 Fayetteville, NC 28305 PHONE: (910) 484-6200 FAX: (910) 484-9218 Up & Coming Weekly is a "Quality of Life" publication with local features, news and infor- mation on what's happening in and around the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community. Up & Coming Weekly is published weekly on Wednesdays. Up & Coming Weekly welcomes manuscripts, photographs and artwork for publication consideration, but assumes no responsibility for them. We cannot accept responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts or material. Opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to edit or reject copy submitted for publication. Up & Coming Weekly is free of charge and distributed at indoor and outdoor locations throughout Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, Pope Air Force Base, Hope Mills and Spring Lake. Readers are limited to one copy per per- son. Subscriptions can be purchased for $30 for six months or $60 for 12 months, delivered weekly by first class mail. ©2007 by F&B Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or advertisements without permission is strictly prohibited. High 89° Low 70° Scattered Thunderstorms 7 Forecast available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Monday July 14 Tuesday July 15 High 86° Low 70° Scattered Thunderstorms 24 / Thursday July 10 High 86° Low 70° Scattered Thunderstorms High 92° Low 73° Scattered Thunderstorms High 90º Low 72º Thunderstorms Friday July 11 Saturday July 12 Sunday July 13 Fayetteville's Weather Forecast Call 910.354.1679 BILL BOWMAN, Publisher, Up & Coming Weekly. COMMENTS? BILL@ upandcomingweekly.com. 910.484.6200.