By Morgan Witt
It’s not quite a car, but not quite a bike. So where do you park?
Students using mopeds as their way of transportation to and from campus are getting towed from bicycle racks and from marked motorcycle parking areas when without a permit.
Mopeds, generally smaller than a motorcycle and with two, three or four wheels, don’t quite fit into one category, which makes it difficult, said freshman Jennifer McNeil.
“It is considered somewhat of a motorcycle, but it can only go about 55 mph so in that aspect it is not a motorcycle,†McNeill said.
Don Thornton, UK’s director of parking and transportation services, said the university’s parking guidelines are currently under review to address mopeds.
Thornton also said mopeds and motorcycles are required to park in Motorcycle (M) permit parking areas with a motorcycle permit displayed on the rear fender to park during restricted hours.
Many moped owners do not need a UK permit because a motorcycle license is not required to operate mopeds, which do not exceed 55 mph.
In addition, UK’s parking regulations state that mopeds may be secured to a bicycle rack.
Sophomore Nathan Cruse said he received a citation for parking his moped on a bicycle rack. The citation was for parking a 50cc moped on a bike rack even though his moped is not a motorcycle, he said.
“I cannot park where the motorcycles do because I would get towed because you have to display a motorcycle permit on your fender, but I cannot get a motorcycle permit because I do not need a motorcycle license because my scooter is does not exceed 50cc or 55 mph,†Cruse said, “And I cannot park in a car parking spot so I do not know what they want me to do.â€
Moped owners are having trouble finding parking spots all over campus, McNeil said.
“I cannot park at my dorm hardly ever anymore because all the bikes park on the end of the bike rack and that is where scooters have to park obviously because we cannot fit between little bikes,†McNeil states.
Cruse stresses the need for more bike racks at the W.T. Young Library and C.A.T.S., a tutoring service for athletes.
“Many students live close to school so that they do not have to waste money in gas every day,†he said. “Driving a scooter and living close to campus is all about saving money, and we should not be punished for
studying at the library or using the computers.â€
“UK’s parking regulations state that mopeds may be secured to a bicycle rack.”
if this is in the parking regulations, I don’t understand the issue. Apparently the UK officer who cited the student who parked his moped at a bike rack was wrong.
Perhaps UK should install special racks for mopeds that have larger spaces where more mopeds can park.
I’m happy to know that so many people are ditching the car for more environmentally (and money) friendly mopeds!
It figures, it will be another way for them to get money out of students, I wouldn’t be suprised if they didn’t charge us for the privilege to just walk on their grounds. But if the rule said moped can be secured at a bike rack they should recind tha ticket on the student. It’s all about the all mighty dollar. people should protest, I’d park miles away before I’d pay for a parking fee and possibly not have a space.
Leave it to UK parking Nazis to have another overzealous opportunity to suck money out of students and employees. It’s ridiculous. However I’m not surprised in the least. UK needs to step up and act quickly and not penalize people trying to use a quick, easy, environmentally and space-friendly mode of transportation.
Lexington could step up as well. For a University town, this is NOT a bike and moped friendly place. There’s an occasional bike lane, but not enough.
To start with, UK has a serious parking problem, whether you’re dealing with vehicles, bicycles, or mopeds/scooters! Whose idea was it to sell more parking passes than there are spots available? I know they’re figuring those who purchased passes would not all be there at the same time, but logically why wouldn’t they be? We’re all going to the same school, taking classes at the times they specify. Not smart UK! As for the moped/scooter citation, that ridiculous! UK Parking Regulations clearly state if you have a 50cc or less moped/scooter you are permitted to park at the bike racks. If your engine exceeds 50cc, you are required by Kentucky State Law to obtain a motorcycle permit. Therefore you would be required to purchase a UK motorcycle parking pass, and park in the designated motorcycle areas. As for me, my 49cc moped/scooter will continue to be parked at the bike rack until the KY Law and UK Regulations say otherwise. I thought I had escaped the “UK Parking Nazi†fury, but apparently maybe not just yet. Good luck fellow moped/scooter-ists! For more information about mopeds/scooters check out these links:
http://www.uky.edu/Parking/parking-regulations.html#restricted
http://www.lexingtonpolice.lfucg.com/Moped.asp
Perhaps UK should update its vehicle regulations to agree with state law. That way most of the “mopeds” that are facing the problems would be properly recognized as the motorcycles that they really are. I don’t know where someone came up with 55mph as the speed for a moped, but under Kentucky law, anything capable of going more than THIRTY miles per hour is not a moped.
The vast majority of the “mopeds” running around are really motorcycles being operated illegally without registration, insurance, and in many cases without the required motorcycle license (a regular driver’s license is not valid to operate a motorcycle).