AzMotorNews

By Doug Carroll
The Arizona Republic,1-17-05

CHANDLER - Restricting or eliminating motorized scooters on Chandler's streets will receive the scrutiny of a task force in the wake of a lengthy public forum.

City Manager Mark Pentz was charged by the City Council with assembling a panel to examine the issue, which has inflamed residents complaining of safety and noise problems associated with the scooters. .

About a dozen people spoke before the council last week. Most urged at least tighter limits on the scooters.

Phoenix and Tucson have banned them. Chandler's 7-year-old ordinance requires motorized scooter operators to be at least 13, obey traffic rules and keep the vehicles off sidewalks and major streets.

Greg Dutton, a 12-year resident of west Chandler who has led the opposition to the scooters, said he wishes to ban only those that are gas-powered. Dutton said an expansion chamber, or "pipe," that often is added to gas-powered scooters makes them much faster, louder and more hazardous.

Scooter owner David Romero, 15, disputed Dutton's claim that accessorized gas-powered scooters can hit speeds in excess of 40 mph. Romero suggested that the city build a scooter course, similar to what it has done with skate parks.

"They go about 25 or 30 with a pipe, about 15 without," said Romero, acknowledging that he has such a device on his scooter.

Joseph Kinyon, 14, said he has negotiated with neighbors and waits until he is off the block to start his scooter.

** This article reprinted from the 1-17-05 issue of The Arizona Republic.

***Link to the original article at; http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0117evscooter.html

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