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I'm moving to Durham this year to do a grad program at Duke. I'm also going to take one class per semester at UNC. Quite a few people have advised me that a car is almost a prerequisite fr enjoying life in this area, but I was thinking about my finances and the cost of petrol, and the idea of a Vespa came up.
Any thoughts on practicality, safety, road users' etiquette? Good idea or terrible one?
I own a scooter and I get 80mph a gallon. In North Carolina you do not have to register any scooter that has 49cc. engine however you have to register it as motorcycle if it has 50cc or higher. If you do get a scooter stick to roads less than 45 mph and four lane roads.
Quote:
You must be age 16 or older to operate a moped on North Carolina highways or public vehicular areas. A driver license is not required, and the moped does not have to be registered, inspected or covered by liability insurance. A motorcycle safety helmet is required by law when operating a moped on North Carolina highways. A moped cannot have a motor of more than 50 cubic centimeters, an external shifting device or have the capability of exceeding 30 miles per hour on a level surface.
The driver of the scooter must obey the laws that other drivers must adhere to. It states in the handbook you are suppose to ride right side of the lane.
However cars will try to pass you and leave you no room and the dangerous of broken shoulders, pot holes, rocks etc exist.
It fun and a great way to view the city, however if possible I would get more than 49cc engine for your safety.
Look into the Kawasaki ninja 250. When you hear ninja you probably think crazy fast death bike, but it is really a good cheap starter bike. You can get it brand new for about $3000.
Scooter sounds like a brilliant idea. Especially for getting around Durham and Duke areas, particularly if you live near campus. The ease of parking it will definitely come in handy. Hope you bundle-up in the cold months!
If it's a low-speed model, it may take a while to get to UNC campus from Duke though....also consider buses for that trip.
Punch Line: "Until your friends see you on them" I think this joke applied more toward mopeds rather than scooters though. Aren't vespa's around $7000? That seems like a lot for a vehicle with questionable highway capabilities. But then again, I sold ninja when I moved here because I knew I'd be mainly on highways, and I would have to keep it at 11k RPM to keep up.
You'll really want to investigate the backroad routes between UNC and Duke, the 2 main routes, 15-501 and Erwin Rd, I wouldn't advise traveling either by scooter....
I have a scooter, also get about 70-80mpg (although I am cheap and bought an import off craigslist for about $800).
Not sure about Durham, but I have no problem going anywhere in Raleigh, Garner and Cary... the key is to stay off the high use roads (if it has more than 4 lanes, it is probably not for you). Absolutely stay off the highways.
It is much better for the environment than a big car, easier to park and is nice on those days before payday to fill up for about $3.50...
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