The new law states that a 14 year old must obtain their learners permit (Class 7) from Alberta Motor Vehicles in order to ride. This consists of taking a vision test and a written test on the rules of the road. Service Alberta has driver training manuals and practice tests on their website. 1 Parents need to note too that insurance, registration and a motorcycle helmet are required. The scooters themselves are made by all of the name brand motorcycle companies such as Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki as well as some Italian companies like Piaggio and Vespa. Chinese or Taiwanese made scooters should be avoided until their quality improves. All scooters need to be equipped with a headlamp, tail lamp, brake lamp, reflectors, brakes, horn, muffler and mirror. Since these vehicles are low speed you must ride on the right side of the road, unless you are making a left turn. Under the age of 16 kids cannot carry a passenger.
One of the considerations to be made is how experienced your teen is with a scooter. Familiarity with the scooter controls and knowledge of rules of the road will be critical. In the press release even the Alberta Government recognized that the biggest risk for new riders is their unfamiliarity with the controls and handling characteristics of small vehicles. They are lighter, less stable and more vulnerable in a crash. Our boys have some experience riding small vehicles, having grown up riding dirt bikes and ATVs offroad, however this is not the case for all teens, especially kids from the city. For those who have no riding experience and/or parents who want their teen to get extra training and experience before riding, the Calgary Safety Council2 offers a Scooter Training Course. This course is offered over three nights, one night is spent in the classroom and two nights are on scooters in their practice street area which is set up with a road course complete with intersections and lights, etc. We are going to insist that our boys successfully complete this course! We are also lucky in that both my husband and I have our motorcycle licences so we will ride along with our kids for the first few rides and then from time to time to ensure that they are riding safely. It helps that we live in fairly quiet traffic areas. For those without a motorcycle they could follow their teen in a car or go to a big empty parking lot and supervise a practice session. Anything to improve parents' comfort level to see how well the teens can actually ride.
Statistics show that most scooter accidents are caused when another driver makes a right or left turn in front of them, or when another driver changes lanes into them. Scooters are relatively small and quiet so ensuring visibility is paramount. In fact, according to Ken Condon, acclaimed motorcycle safety expert, this is the top concern. 3 In his new book he says that wearing bright clothing and having a bright helmet (white being the most visible) are most important. He also urges riders to ride within their abilities, do not attempt any risky maneuvers. Don't ride too close to any other vehicle. Learn to recognize and manage high risk situations such as when a driver is distracted talking on their cell phone, give them a wide berth. Sharpen your visual awareness while driving. Remember to look where you want to go, not where you don't want to go. Understand the traction of a scooter, avoid gravel patches if at all possible or slow down and ride over them straight. Purchasing this book, or a Scooters for Dummies-type book would also be a benefit to your teen, and it might actually get them reading!
Finally, the big consideration for parents will be "is my kid ready for this"? Is your child mature and responsible enough to understand the risks and manage them appropriately? With the independence can they be trusted to go where they say they are going to go and come back on time? Many have commented on the CBC article by saying there is no way they are going to allow their kid on the road with our crazy traffic and drivers.4 A scooter dealer commented that "[Scooters] are not speed demons. The irresponsible typically don't ride scooters. That's the truth of it. The irresponsible think that [scooters] are nerdy. The responsible think they are practical." We are going to wait and see. Once our kids turn 14, if they are still chomping at the bit to get a scooter we will execute our training plans and if they pass to our satisfaction they will be riding on their own to school next spring!
Andrea Garnier Spongberg is a Calgary writer and a mother of three tweens who is looking forward to doing less chauffeuring!
1 servicealberta.ab.gov.ca
2 www.calgarysafetycouncil.com
3 Condon, Ken. Riding in the Zone: Advanced Techniques for Skillful Motorcycling, 2008.
4 www.cbc.ca Teenage Albertans gain more moped options, July 2, 2009
This article was originally published in the August/September issue of the Western Parent, 2009
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