Pocket bikes, or pocket rockets, those tiny versions of hot street bikes that have teenagers riding with their knees to their chins, are no longer allowed on Virginia’s public roads. Though they are really gangsta, at less than 24" tall the bikes are, um…kind of dangerous.
The law, (Virginia Code 46.2-100), which took effect on July 1, defines the bikes as “motor-driven cycles.” This means any vehicle with a gasoline engine under 150 ccs (cubic centimeters), with a seat less than 24 inches up from the ground and which lacks a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The bikes also usually don’t meet safety standards for distance between turn signals and candle power ratings, and can lack mirrors and brake lights.
Charlottesville Police Sgt. Mike Faruggio lists numerous problems with the bikes. Among them, riders can’t be seen by other drivers, the brakes work poorly, they overheat easily, they’re unstable on rough surfaces, the de-acceleration is sluggish, and the loud noises they create is a neighborhood nuisance.
The bikes, which cost about $180 to $3,000, weigh around 60 to 80 pounds. But they can carry several times their weight, and are usually sturdy enough for the toughest 14-year-old rough rider.
“The intention of that bike is not to be ridden as a form of transportation. Those bikes are meant for the parking lots away from traffic, they’re not meant for getting out on 29,” says Dave Munn of Moto Virginia, a scooter and motor-cycle dealership.
Thanks to the law, bad-ass tykes and teens will have to be satisfied with riding the bikes in their own driveways, where parents can keep an eye on them.
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