I have debated and debated whether to write about Rod’s new scooter, but decided to go ahead. I know he’s extremely excited and has had the riding course, bought proper attire of which is the helmet, gotten his license, knows the rules of the road, will ride in the proper lane, will obey all traffic signals, use his side mirrors, signals etc., but Rod, you can still get hit! I don’t want to doom and gloom on your parade, but caution everyone who rides be extremely careful! You can be extremely careful and it can be someone else who isn’t careful that can take you out! I know from experience what can happen.
I bought a brand new Honda Metropolitan scooter in the fall of 2006. I only got to ride it long enough before winter to realize that for extra safety I needed to buy a scooter than would go a little faster so I could keep up with the “flow” of traffic etc. The town I live in is really small, but I stayed off the highway going through town because ‘Lil red’ could only make it to 38 – sometimes 40 MPH. In AR 50cc and below does not have to be licensed, but I did take the written test anyway. In the late summer of 2007 I sold the little scooter and stepped up to a little more powerful “Buddy” 125cc – up to 70 MPH. I got it the first day of August (had to drive about 150 miles one way to pick it up – none in my area at all). I was so excited; it was the second year for this scooter in the states and it really looked good and had some nice features. Since I am short legged, I had the seat cut down and dressed in soft leather. The guy that did the work was really good but his business is so busy that he couldn’t take it right away. All told, about two weeks went by and I still hadn’t gotten to ride. Finally got it back and started riding some evenings after work. The 23’rd of August I was on my way back home after a long ride around town and this is when it happened. I was on a through street, almost home, three to four blocks away when a woman in an SUV decided to run a stop sign, all the time looking to her left and never to her right, rolling through the stop sign. She admitted to the police that she was rolling through the stop sign looking to her left at a man on a bicycle. I woke up in the Emergency room of the hospital having no memory of the collision. I had had my scooter for 22 days and of course didn’t get to ride it but very few days of the 22. It had 72 actual miles on it. At the hospital they told me my clavicle was not broken, gave me a couple of shots of Demerol and sent me home telling me to see my Primary Care Physician in two days, which was after the weekend – the accident happened on a Thursday evening. Long story short, my clavicle WAS broken, almost in the exact middle and after $40,000.00 + in medical expenses and over 45 days of physical therapy and almost a year of my life taken away because of someone else’s mindless moment, I am finally able to once again start working in my little shop. Actually doing woodwork turned out to be almost better physical therapy than the actual therapy itself. I would say I have probably regained almost 95 percent of my mobility in that shoulder and arm, but I do now sport the latest style in a titanium plates with 7 screws, which were a mere $200.00 apiece holding my clavicle together. I think the plate was $1,500.00. When you’re my age you often times don’t heal or don’t heal very fast – let’s just say I’m a mite older than Rod.
I just want Rod and everyone else to be ever vigilant and extra careful while riding. I do know how to ride, as these were not my first two-wheeled vehicles. Back when I was ‘young’ I had a Honda Passport scooter, and then sold it for a small Kawasaki 250cc motorcycle. I did not replace the scooter. I am not afraid to ride a scooter again, but I just didn’t want to take the risk of being run into. It’s been one long year but I’m lucky because it could have taken my life. My attorney is almost ready to file the claim with the woman’s insurance company and then that part will be over. I’ll always have a plate that sticks up from the top of my shoulder down to my throat though. I wish safe riding for all of you that ride scooters/motorcycles! And I apologize for being long winded, but in this instance I just couldn’t help it! – A woman’s prerogative you know! :-)
Ride Safely All
Lynn
I bought a brand new Honda Metropolitan scooter in the fall of 2006. I only got to ride it long enough before winter to realize that for extra safety I needed to buy a scooter than would go a little faster so I could keep up with the “flow” of traffic etc. The town I live in is really small, but I stayed off the highway going through town because ‘Lil red’ could only make it to 38 – sometimes 40 MPH. In AR 50cc and below does not have to be licensed, but I did take the written test anyway. In the late summer of 2007 I sold the little scooter and stepped up to a little more powerful “Buddy” 125cc – up to 70 MPH. I got it the first day of August (had to drive about 150 miles one way to pick it up – none in my area at all). I was so excited; it was the second year for this scooter in the states and it really looked good and had some nice features. Since I am short legged, I had the seat cut down and dressed in soft leather. The guy that did the work was really good but his business is so busy that he couldn’t take it right away. All told, about two weeks went by and I still hadn’t gotten to ride. Finally got it back and started riding some evenings after work. The 23’rd of August I was on my way back home after a long ride around town and this is when it happened. I was on a through street, almost home, three to four blocks away when a woman in an SUV decided to run a stop sign, all the time looking to her left and never to her right, rolling through the stop sign. She admitted to the police that she was rolling through the stop sign looking to her left at a man on a bicycle. I woke up in the Emergency room of the hospital having no memory of the collision. I had had my scooter for 22 days and of course didn’t get to ride it but very few days of the 22. It had 72 actual miles on it. At the hospital they told me my clavicle was not broken, gave me a couple of shots of Demerol and sent me home telling me to see my Primary Care Physician in two days, which was after the weekend – the accident happened on a Thursday evening. Long story short, my clavicle WAS broken, almost in the exact middle and after $40,000.00 + in medical expenses and over 45 days of physical therapy and almost a year of my life taken away because of someone else’s mindless moment, I am finally able to once again start working in my little shop. Actually doing woodwork turned out to be almost better physical therapy than the actual therapy itself. I would say I have probably regained almost 95 percent of my mobility in that shoulder and arm, but I do now sport the latest style in a titanium plates with 7 screws, which were a mere $200.00 apiece holding my clavicle together. I think the plate was $1,500.00. When you’re my age you often times don’t heal or don’t heal very fast – let’s just say I’m a mite older than Rod.
I just want Rod and everyone else to be ever vigilant and extra careful while riding. I do know how to ride, as these were not my first two-wheeled vehicles. Back when I was ‘young’ I had a Honda Passport scooter, and then sold it for a small Kawasaki 250cc motorcycle. I did not replace the scooter. I am not afraid to ride a scooter again, but I just didn’t want to take the risk of being run into. It’s been one long year but I’m lucky because it could have taken my life. My attorney is almost ready to file the claim with the woman’s insurance company and then that part will be over. I’ll always have a plate that sticks up from the top of my shoulder down to my throat though. I wish safe riding for all of you that ride scooters/motorcycles! And I apologize for being long winded, but in this instance I just couldn’t help it! – A woman’s prerogative you know! :-)
Ride Safely All
Lynn
LCHIEN
Loring in Katy, TX USA
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