Communities Express Concerns Over "Pocket Bikes"

Missouri cities and towns have, in the past, expressed concerns about the big rigs that use their streets. Many of these communities have now shifted their concerns to the pint-size rigs. To some they’re “pocket bikes.” To others – “half-pint haulers.” They’re midget motorcycles that are, in most cases, about three feet long and a foot-and-a-half off the ground. Stuart Haynes with the Missouri Municipal League says the concern from cities and towns is that a lack of rules regarding these vehicles could compromise safety. Haynes says that while the Highway Patrol enforces regulations on the state highways, municipalities are allowed to come up with their own rules on local streets. Haynes says many municipalities are considering ordinances that include age restrictions and mandatory use of helmets for riders … as well as headlight and turn signal requirements for the bikes.