Go-Ped Owners Seek Path to Ride

Pity the poor Go-Ped. Or rather, pity the poor Go-Ped owners. The world, it seems, isn’t quite ready for the lowly, but popular contraptions. The law enforcement world, anyway.

Just ask Chris and Joe Lundergan of Costa Mesa. They’re among an estimated 2,000 Orange County residents who have plunked down close to $600 for the head-turning inventions, only to find out that there doesn’t seem to be any place where they can ride these motorized phenomena.

A hit throughout Southern California, Go-Peds bring back the nostalgia of the old-fashioned scooter--but with the juice, in the form of a gasoline-powered motor, to get you where you need to go. But police can’t decide what traffic laws, if any, apply.

Is it a skateboard that goes on gas? Or is it a bona fide motor vehicle? And if it is, do you let 10-year-olds operate them?

“Everyone is telling us different things, that they’re legal, that they’re illegal, that you need a helmet, that you can ride them only on private property,” said Chris Lundergan, 24, who has been stopped for riding on the sidewalk, in the street, at a nearby park and even on private property. “We’ve only had the Go-Peds for one week, and I’ve already been pulled over four or five times. I just want to ride it.”

Local law enforcement officials admit that Go-Peds pose a conundrum. There are no laws on the books that specifically regulate them. But police say they still stop Go-Peds in public places because the scooters are downright dangerous, able to hit speeds of up to 25 mph. Not to mention that they don’t have turn signals.

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There’s no question that they are a menace, Costa Mesa Police Lt. Dale Birney said as he sternly ticked off the list of Go-Ped hazards:

“No. 1, they have no safety features. No. 2, you can’t see them if you’re driving a car. No. 3, they’re mostly in the hands of kids that don’t have driver’s licenses. It’s like a pedestrian going 20 miles an hour.”

The Santa Ana Police Department joins many other local agencies in labeling the high-tech gadgets “motorized skateboards,” which are illegal except on private property.

“They don’t belong on the streets,” declared Santa Ana Police Department Cpl. Don Bray.

Guidelines for Go-Peds vary from city to city. In Newport Beach, for example, police won’t put Go-Peds in the same category as motorized skateboards, but they require Go-Ped operators to have a standard driver’s license, meaning youngsters cannot use them.

“In Newport Beach, Go-Peds are generally considered to be vehicles,” Newport Beach Police Sgt. Mike McDermott said.

But Samuel Townsend, owner of Myron’s Mopeds and Go-Peds in Fullerton, insists that there’s no reason to treat Go-Peds as if they’re Public Enemy No. 1. There’s plenty of good to be found in Go-Peds, he said.

“I had a retired couple in their 60s come in and buy two of them. They packed them in their motor home and that’s how they get around all the places they visit,” Townsend said.

That said, most Go-Ped riders are young kids.

“The bulk of Go-Ped riders are between 10 and 14 years old. It’s the first thing that gives these kids that mobile freedom, that sense of independence,” Townsend said.

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First introduced in 1985, Go-Peds “transcend all ages,” he said, estimating that he sells at least 10 Go-Peds a week and more during the holiday season.

They are especially popular in warm, sunny places, where walking and cycling can seem like so much hard work.

California is one of the few states where Go-Ped riders run into strict regulations, he said. In other places, such as Florida and Arizona, they’re kinder and gentler to Go-Peds and their owners.

While Townsend believes people should be allowed to use them on private property, he urges everyone to follow the law and stresses caution and safety.

Townsend said he will only sell Go-Peds to minors when they are accompanied by their parents. In addition, they must sign an agreement acknowledging they shouldn’t ride them on streets or sidewalks and understand protective gear is recommended at all times.

“The owners have to be responsible. If not, they ruin it for other Go-Ped owners,” he said.

The Lundergans bought their Go-Peds more than a week ago. After being told not to ride on streets or sidewalks, they sought permission to ride in a local church parking lot and were doing just that when the police arrived.

Each time, they said, it was the same story.

“[The police] stood there looking in the books and couldn’t find a law that said it was illegal,” Chris Lundergan said.

So he hasn’t been ticketed. At least, not yet.

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Scooter Specs

Go-Peds, motorized skateboards with a tall handlebar for steering, cost between $500 and $600. Other details:

Handlebar: Folds for portability

Weight: 20 pounds

Speed: Up to 25 mph

Miles per gallon: 100

Models available: Gas-powered, electric (available this summer) and off-road

Source: Myron’s Mopeds and Go-Peds; Researched by ERIKA CHAVEZ / For The Times