What are some helpful tips/rules of the road/etiquette for a new scooter owner in Seattle? for Questionland Seattle

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What are some helpful tips/rules of the road/etiquette for a new scooter owner in Seattle?

I just bought a little 50 CC Honda Spree that I plan to use for buzzing around Cap Hill and to and from work, which is in SLU at the bottom of Denny.

I'm a new scooter owner/rider and am a little nervous about getting out there on the road.

Any tips, rules and/or alternate routes would be awesome! Thank you!

Laura Wolf asked in Cars, Bikes & Transit over 2 years ago | Report

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elenchos

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The others covered most of the main points.

I would suggest taking the Motorcycle Safety Course. It might seem like overkill, but it can save your life, especially if you have any misconceptions or bad habits in your riding that need to be corrected, such as not understanding how to use the front brake or how to countersteer.

The best book on motorcycle (and of course scooter) safety is Proficient Motorcycling by David Hough. Also, get a copy of the Washington Motorcycle Operator Manual and read it, even if you don't intend to get a motorcycle license. You can pick one up at the licensing office or download the PDF.

Sound Rider has an article on motorcycle parking in Seattle. You pretty much can only legally park in a designated spot, or on private property. Note that some private lots will dun you for fines if you violate their rules, and can send it to collections if you don't pay. If you keep your eyes open, you can learn where they enforce parking laws and where they don't. For example, never park on the sidewalk on the Ave or Broadway. On Market Street in Ballard, motorcycles often park on the large sidewalk aprons with no hassles, although I wouldn't do it on a Friday or Saturday night.

The infamous "cluster fuck" motorcycle parking is at Yesler & Alaskan Way. It's illegal but tolerated by tradition, and the street people are mostly friendly to motorcyclists who park there.

Buy a Battery Tender Junior and hook up the quick release to your battery. Connect it overnight once or twice a month to keep your battery always in top shape. Often scooters and motorcycles don't charge their own batteries enough, especially if you spend too much time idling in traffic jams.

Buy the factory service manual and learn to do your own maintenance. Seattle Cycle is a good shop to go to if you need someone to do it for you.

Spend a little time becoming known in some of the local forums, such as the Cretins MC, NorthWest Scooter Enthusiasts, Emerald City Flying Monkeys, and so on -- whatever flavor suits you. Give a little and you'll get back so much, especially when you're stranded or your scooter won't run and you don't know what to do. There are tons of social events -- Sound Rider maintains a calendar, as to the many clubs. is one I like. Use these online and offline resources to ask a lot of questions and make contact with people who ride the same model, and who can help you out.

Wave back!

elenchos answered in Cars, Bikes & Transit over 2 years ago | Report

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1) Take it slow. Get to know your scooter by riding it on quiet neighborhood streets, parks, or (if it isn't too noisy) cemeteries. Learning to ride is much easier if you aren't in traffic.

2) Armor up. You don't have to dress in full-on gladiator attire every time you leave the driveway, but I advise wearing a lightweight armored jacket like the ones from Corazzo, full length jeans, and sturdy shoes. Shorts, flip-flops, and a t-shirt are an invitation to road-rash.

3) Never trust a car. Always assume that you are invisible to traffic, as well as to parked cars along the road.

4)Beware of puddles. It may seem like fun to ride through them, but a deep pot-hole or hidden manhole cover can cause you to lose control of the bike.

5)Get gloves that have a little windshield wiper thing along the side. They're really helpful when it is rainy and you need to wipe off your face shield.

Rhias Hall answered in Cars, Bikes & Transit over 2 years ago | Report

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Coming from someone who was hit on a Vespa riding right by Denny at night, I definitely suggest wear bright clothing, a helmet (saved my life), having insurance (the lady who hit me was uninsured but my Progressive Insurance covered that), and keeping your headlights on even in the day.

Also I took the motorcycle safety course which is a 3 day class that isn't too expensive. It is super informative and lowers your insurance rate.

Mister Cagro answered in Cars, Bikes & Transit over 2 years ago | Report

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Agree with Rhias on #3. Never trust a car in Seattle. They stop with signalling, and they roll into an intersection looking the other way (not at oncoming traffic). The other thing to beware of are the SLUT tracks when it rains and those metal road work plates. Around the zoo, there are these ruts in the road with some sort of rubber cement in them that can wobble you, and the Aurora bridge is a little scary when it's windy, rainy or just generally.

biff answered in Cars, Bikes & Transit over 2 years ago | Report

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Assume cars don't see you. IE: Slow down when approaching intersections that you can't see the cars at.

ALWAYS wear a helmet.

Get a scooter cover or a seat cover. The rain makes for a wet tush.

If you have a scooter capable of going on 99, then stay in the right lane.

Don't park behind big trucks that will back up into you.

When it doubt: let the bus pass you.

Remember that you MUST back angle park if you're on the street. IE: Back tire to the curb and front tire to the street.

Be careful at intersections downtown when it's windy. I've been blown into other lanes before.

Ride around Magnolia... it's beautiful.

When riding on grating, don't change lanes. And as wobbly as you feel, you're fine.

NEVER PANIC.

And lastly... ALWAYS carry your two stroke oil with you. When your oil light comes on, you need to put that in ASAP.

And lastly: Have fun. It's a great and cheap way to get around.

Courtney Scott answered in Cars, Bikes & Transit over 2 years ago | Report

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Always wear your helmet! You might think, oh its hot outside and it messes up your hair. HOWEVER! I was riding and one of those giant grasshoppers flew out and hit me right in the middle of my forehead. Ow! and Eew! That was a hint of what it must feel like to get shot.

beelzebufo answered in Cars, Bikes & Transit over 2 years ago | Report

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That stretch of Denny is nasty. Nasty hills, nasty traffic. Nasty.

As far as alternative routes, getting across the freeway poses a problem. The only route that seems like it could be safer is to take Lakeview Blvd. It's a nice little two lane road, it shouldn't be TOO heavily trafficked, and it brings you to Eastlake Ave E. From there you would head south as far as you need to, then take side streets to your destination or just head back all the way to Denny.

Be careful if you take the Belmont Ave hill to Lakeview, because the visibility for people trying to turn onto or cross Belmont is fairly poor. Recently a biker was seriously injured near Bellevue when someone pulled out in front of them.

Where on the hill do you live? If its the southern end this might not be a viable alternative since it takes you as far north as Roy St. Other routes across the freeway are Pike/Pine and Boren, and those are pretty heavily trafficked and littered with stoplights.

Jon answered in Cars, Bikes & Transit over 2 years ago | Report

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1) What Rhias said (especially about practice!)
2) Take alternate/side street routes whenever possible.
3) Get scooter insurance. It's cheap.
4) Take extra caution on bridges, those grates make the scooter wobble like crazy.
5) Always wear a helmet!!!!
6) Educate yourself on where you can legally park it. I never figured it out and got a couple of tickets.

nseattlite answered in Cars, Bikes & Transit over 2 years ago | Report

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don't block the sidewalk or park it in the middle of a parking space ...

Gordon Werner answered in Cars, Bikes & Transit over 2 years ago | Report

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You know how when you are driving up to a stop light and the lane next to you has no cars at the light so you switch lanes quickly before you pull up to the light? Well, this is when you are very likely to be hit by a car while on your scooter. In this situation drivers don't bother to look if you are next to them - they are too busy looking for that 2 second advantage in front of them. Learn to anticipate it. Be paranoid.

Duffy McGuire answered in Cars, Bikes & Transit over 2 years ago | Report

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