Newbie questions on safety

[lazulia]

Hi there!

I’m thinking of getting a Vespa, mainly because I like them more than because it would be extremely useful. (Although it will eventually be useful). Anyway, I have quite a weird question…what is particularily dangerous about driving them? (Car drivers I suspect!) I just need advice on this before I continue dreaming ! The main issue is that I’m particularily clumsy and, since I’m canadian (moving to Edinburgh to live with my boyfriend), I have the bad reflex of looking the wrong when I cross roads. My boyfriend is particularily worried about my safety. (probably justified considering what I presented so far..!)

I also don’t drive. I had started to learn but hate it, because of visibility, but for lots of other reasons. How different is riding a scooter compared to a car? I’m thinking of getting a new LX 50cc, would this be a good choice (in the occasion that I’m not totally freaked out after CBT) ?

Thanks for your precious advice! Don’t be scared to say if I should be sticking to taking the bus

Gen

[mrsm]

Hey there Gen!

Welcome to the UK. If you really do look the wrong way when you cross the road, then blimey, maybe your boyfriend has a point ;D

Seriously, you ask what's dangerous? You're spot on, it's the car drivers but also just traffic (and cyclists and pedestrians) in general. There's bound to be statistics somewhere that show that xx% of scooter accidents involve other vehicles, and of course we'd say they're caused by other vehicles!

The trick is to watch out at junctions (I've been riding for about 20 years and it's the best bit of advice I've ever been given). Look for people pulling out of side roads. LOOK INTO THEIR EYES and, even then, assume they haven't seen you!!! I could go on but don't want to scare you off cos I think passing my bike test was the best thing I EVER did

So i'll finish by saying, why don't you try a CBT with a training school (borrow/rent a bike) and see how you get on? Us 2 wheel-riders with full licences are amongst the most highly trained UK road users and the training is good.

Aside from that, remember to ride on the left

Good luck,

Mrs M

PS The actual riding bit is easy, like falling off a log!

[Lucia]

Good answer Mrs M - I can only agree with everything you've said. It's just like riding a bicycle (sorry Spence, beat you to it ;D).

Seriously though, I don't think you'll know until you do a CBT - might even be worth asking the school for an individual course, if they'll do it - I sort of got forgotten about on mine because I was the only one on a scooter and all their instructions were different to the bikers on the course because of the controls being in different places. You might find yourself better learning on a geared bike, rather than a twist and go - it's easier to keep under control at lower speeds, and it's worth learning a geared bike in the long term if you want the flexibility of buying different kinds of bikes in the future.

My only advice is to keep concentrating ALL the time, it's tiring at first, but it's safe!

Stick with it, give it a go and don't be put off by that boyfriend of yours! If it's not for you, you could always get a quad bike!!!

[Feed Your Head]

agree with all the above....in addition, i think that it makes one aware far more of dangers and therefore more observant. It certainly made my car driving observations more acute too.
always think "never trust another driver: be prepared for all idiots and dodgy road surfaces etc."

[bryno]

All good advice, I'd certainly suggest see how you get on with the CBT first AND book some lessons to get your confidence up..

[mrsm]

Bryno, you've hit the nail on the head with the confidence thing Gen, the training school will give you confidence in bucket loads and teach you all the riding skills you need (speaking as an ex-CBT trainer in the early 90s!).

When I first started as a learner (before the CBT was introduced), I hated slow speed riding in traffic (I was all wobbly LOL!) and I was scared of being squashed by lorries and buses. I felt tiny, invisible and vulnerable. But once you're trained (and they teach you how to ride slowly, yes there are techniques LOL!), your confidence goes right up, you get the road positioning right (ie not in the gutter!) to make you and your scoot take up more room on the road and you just physically feel errrr BIGGER and so no longer invisible Lorry drivers are lovely to 2-wheelers anyway and always give you loads of room and make gaps for you to squeeze through in traffic.

Then all you have to do is develop the sixth sense! Assume no-one has seen you, grow eyes in the back of your head and learn to predict what's gonna happen next. There's software you can buy to help with the theory test (a simulator of a road experience and you have to pick out the hazards) which might give you an idea of what it's like to be a road user, see cgi.ebay.co.uk/DSA-CD-DRIVING-THEORY-TEST-HAZARD-PERCEPTION-DVD-2007_W0QQitemZ300097819247

Oh and as for your car versus scooter question (which I forgot to answer before sorry), you've still got the same "gear, speed, direction, brake" thing to consider but your road positioning is so much easier, balancing on the bike is easy, riding very much point and go, and of course visibility is improved as you dont have any window pillars in the way But you are wearing a crash helmet so you'll need to turn your head and it might take some getting used to. Have you tried on a few helmets?

I'm probably going off on one now so feel free not to read on! But I think it's important, seeing as you said you didn't like the restricted visibility in a car. Just wander into any motorbike shop and ask to try one, they'll be happy to help. It might feel odd at first (mine seemed really heavy!) but you soon get used to it.

Will you be riding in all weathers? If so, I'd say get one with a flip-fown visor (not just a peak) to keep the rain off (otherwise the rain's in your face or you wear goggles!). Scooterists tend to stick with open face helmets and this has a visor cgi.ebay.co.uk/TAKACHI-AVIATOR-OPEN-FACE-HELMET-VESPA-MOD-LAMBRETTA_W0QQitemZ190101306487

this has a peak cgi.ebay.co.uk/Matt-Black-Open-Face-Motorcycle-Helmet-Size-58-M_W0QQitemZ190101173474

and this is just lovely! LOL cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-OSBE-AERO-MOTORCYCLE-SCOOTER-PINK-OPEN-FACE-HELMET_W0QQitemZ110110791495

HTH!!!! Mrs M

[Lucia]

I think you've just sold that last pink helmet to me

[mrsm]

It's lovely isn't it!!!! I can't buy another, already got 3

[lazulia]

Hi all! thanks so much for all your advice, it's been truely helpful in making my mind up! As you all said, I just should try the CBT and then I'll have a better idea. I'll let you know how I get on, I'll probably have other questions!!

That pink helmet is really nice! I was thinking of googles but not as useful considering I wear glasses Anyway, since yesterday, the Vespa idea is even more probable, I finally got a positive response last night for my research funding application!!

Anyway, thanks again, let me know if you have more suggestions!!
cheers
Gen

[tdipower]

i did my CBT, 125 and DAS with Bikesafe in Sheffield. They were great, I went and chatted to them, had a 30min ride round on the land. I had told them i wasnt sure if i wanted to get onto two wheels. At the end of 30mins I sat down and chatted going from there. Booked in on the CBT never looed back (well lifesavers )
Doing it with them meant everything was in the price, the bike, insurance the tests booked etc. I would go for doing a 125 licence that gives you big bike after 2 years, At least then you are covered if you want to move up the Scooter size. It also means you get the licence without picking up bad habits...

Pete

[Spence]

Anyone that rides a bike, no matter what type or size, will tell you the biggest danger is from the other party that isn't paying attention. In a car it's possible to lose concentration and get away with it. On 2 wheels it isn't, so you're always second guessing what the next dickhead on four wheels is about to do to endanger your life.

Confidence is the key, and as a wise man once told me, knowledge breeds confidence. The best way to begin to learn is by doing a CBT at a scooter-friendly academy. Riding cautiously isn't the same as riding nervously. There's nothing worse than someone who rides nervously, expecting to crash at any minute, because they are the ones that will crash any minute.

A CBT is compulsory for anything 125cc or larger, but even if you go for a 50cc I'd still strongly advise it, because it will do one of two things: it'll either show you that you are totally unsuited to 2 wheel riding and you should forget it (which does happen and is nothing to be ashamed of) or, more likely, it'll give you the best grounding for 2 wheel riding and give you the confidence and skills to ride cautiously.