Pocket Bike Laws - They're Toughening Up!

It seems to me that not a day goes past when pocket bikes or minimotos don't crop up in the newspapers or online news - and for the most part, their news coverage tends to be on the subject of new pocket bike laws being introduced to prevent their use on public land, and especially roads.

The fact is - and basic common sense really does dictate here - pocket bikes are not road vehicles. Using pocket bikes on the roads is a danger to all, and not just the rider. There have been deaths on the roads due to minimoto misuse. And using them in public places such as parks can pose a danger (and a nuisance) to those Sunday park-goers wanting a quiet walk.

When Protection is No Protection

Wearing leathers, head protection, elbow and knee pads, and other minimoto accessories, is no guarantee of safety if you're riding on the roads. The reason is simple. When you're driving a car, it's hard enough to see a regular cyclist... so add into that equation the fact that a pocket bike rider sits only eighteen or so inches off the floor, and you have a rather deadly cocktail of possibility. Knowing this, it becomes easy to understand why the authorities are introducing regulations to prevent minimoto users from using the roads.

Pocket bike law varies depending on which state you reside in, and indeed between countries. One thing's for sure - the laws are toughening up on this subject.

So, if people are not allowed to use minimotos on the roads and, increasingly, in public places such as parks, where does their future lie? With the enthusiasts, on race tracks dedicated to the sport... for a sport is really what it is.