Moped - a cure for traffic jams?

The recent 'Car Free Day "has shown that Moscow is a long way to cope with traffic congestion. There is no magic pill that will relieve people from many kilometers tubes. On bikes of all non-transplant: no special training to go to work more than 10 km for a long time, and not every office has a shower. Ground public transport is also standing in traffic jams and the walks on the refractory explain the schedule, but about the Moscow subway, even wrote two mystical books. And what if the change seats on a moped? My journey from the garage to the incomplete work is 13 km. And if the summer in a car I cover this distance in an average of 30 minutes, the "mirror" the time it takes at least a half hour. After talking with the guys from the bike taxi, I thought, why should not I join the number of those measures the distance in kilometers, not hours. So in my garage has a new tenant - an old Japanese scooters Honda Lead. Even before purchasing a scooter, I he studied topics for beginners on websites and forums skuteristov. There I found out that he still had to fork out at least the minimum equipment - a helmet. Rest on the ability and desire newfound biker. In my beginner set also includes: gloves, which is convenient to adjust the throttle, in addition, they save your hands from the cold headwind, a reflective vest to be more visible in the road flow; hardened chain with a sturdy lock for parking, raincoat, waterproof cover for scooters and work gloves. Riding through the city is very dangerous because skuterist located in close proximity to the machines. Go between the rows in the tube is easier than with the flow velocity. In the first case to be looked after, not whether someone is going to be reconstructed without turn signals, not seeing you, do not throw out a window in the calf of cigarettes and not too close to two cars close to each other. A second need to constantly monitor the situation on the rear-view mirrors and watch riding at the side and front. Often, motorists are trying to oust two-wheeled vehicle with the band, slowly being reconstructed in its place. At the traffic lights should not stand in front of the car - they are accelerated much faster than scooters. Generally, the complex intersections better to go in the flow and keep to the right, especially in places where there is a turn to the left: those who do not need to turn, have a habit of sharply tuned in the second row. But overall, I noticed that the attitude to bikers respect, in a traffic jam open spaces between the rows, in a stream gently go round to the left. Most importantly do not forget about traffic rules and respect the "colleagues" on four wheels. On the road should be wary of manholes, joints and other irregularities. Particularly dangerous areas with removed asphalt - on the small wheel is difficult to maintain balance on narrow strips. Before the speed bumps have almost completely stop - the clearance of small scooters. A tramway and do best to avoid - track very slippery, and often broken bricks, have greatly reduce speed to avoid falling into the hole and the longitudinal grooves. Ride in the rain or on wet roads should be cautious: asphalt and markings are very slippery. If you feel that you can not cope with the management in such difficult conditions, it is better to travel by car or public transportation - the scooter is not very forgiving of uncertain control. And if you decide to go on a cloudy day, prepare a raincoat, not just to the cold wind. In contrast, sitting in the car people, the biker is not protected by an iron shell. Its safety depends on the ability to stay on the road and equipment. The helmet is better to buy their own, and not to ask friends, as they vary in size. Someone else's hat may be small, while the inner lining will compress much whiskey. Too big hat will hang on the head: while driving, he may wind or turning the head to move laterally and close review, or fly off the head during a fall. To be fully packed in equipment, in addition to the helmet to get "Bug" (jacket protecting her shoulders, chest, back, tailbone and elbow), knee pads, gloves and motorboats. It is worth all that much, so the main sales fall on gloves and kneepads. In addition, full protection - disposable, and such spending is not everybody can afford. In accordance with Russian law, a scooter with an engine displacement of less than 50 cubic meters. cm is equivalent to the bike, it needed only a contract of sale, which proves that the vehicle is not stolen. More powerful bikes must be placed on the account in GAI, arrange for them to get insurance and inspection. Also, you need to attend to the opening of the category A driver's license. Sorry to go on "automatic" scooter has a platform to take on the full bike with "mechanical" switching gears and clutch. Because of this skuteristy prefer or do not bother getting the rights to drive a motorcycle or fly exams. But on the side "without rights" drive minimum fines for any traffic violations - 200 p., Plus support for sellers who do not like messing with the deregistration of Motor Vehicles. They simply write a sales contract that the volume of motor scooter less than 50 cubic meters. cm, and both will continue to develop relationships with the biker and motobatalonom GAI officers, they do not care. Intriguing question - whether the troublesome contain a scooter? Frankly, not much. Himself a scooter would cost 30-60 thousand rubles. Its value should be added to the price of a helmet: the "shell" will have to spend from 3 to 30 thousand rubles and more, depending on the strength of the material and ease of use. Gloves would cost about 2 - 6000 rubles, based on the quality of protection and material. Prices start at Turtle 4 thousand rubles, and on the knee - from 1500. I advise beginners to buy a reflective vest - about 200 rubles a clothing store. And to "horse" was more difficult to steal, is to get a "parking" chain (Cullen, elevator) cost about 300 rubles per square meter and a good lock - not less than 50 rubles. Scooter store better in the garage - do not drag him home, and on the street it's easy to steal. If you do not have a garage, you can clear space in the garage with friends - depending on the relationship with them it would cost from 300 to 500 rubles a month. Consumption of gasoline is not much different from the car - my 90-cubes Honda Lead 100 km consumes nearly 10 liters of gasoline. And not the fact that the 50 cc scooters will "eat" less. Although the voracity largely depends on the configuration of the engine, good condition units, the state of rubber and other details. Text: Olga Zabelkina.