Editorial: Beware the teensy rider

Monday, Aug. 2, 2004 | 8:48 a.m.

After Sun reporter Lynn Doan two weeks ago wrote about a hot new trend -- pocket bikes -- hitting Las Vegas, the story exploded nationally. The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and USA Today are among the papers that have since written about these miniature motorcycles wildly popular with adults and children alike.

We don't mean to be killjoys, but it's important to note that many of the stories, including ours, noted the safety hazards of these tiny bikes, which can reach speeds of 70 mph. We also noted that they are illegal on streets and sidewalks for that very reason -- safety. Nevertheless, we're beginning to see these "buzzing gnats," as The New York Times called them, weaving in and around pedestrians and traffic.

Our story noted one rider who was ticketed by Metro Police for riding on a sidewalk, and who then began riding in events legally organized in an abandoned parking lot. As this trend grows, we hope Metro continues its vigilance. The bikes are barely visible from a car's windshield. A fun outing could turn tragic in a hurry if pocket bikes are ridden illegally.

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