Riding scooter to Cal - do you? Where to park?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
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<p>I'm a transfer student who is going to be living off-campus, but hopefully in Berkeley. I want to be able to ride my scooter to school most days, unless I find a place to live really close, of course. I can't find much info on the P&T website regarding motorcycle/scooter parking other than where the parking is located (by looking on the map).</p>

<p>P&T says that all parking permit holders must live outside of a 2-mile radius, but does that include motorcycle/scooter riders? Does the permit cost the same for a motorcycle as it does for a car? Is it a sticker?</p>

<p>I've seen scooters & motorcycles parked along Bancroft, but since I'm going to be a geography major, I figure I'll park on the Northside as often as possible, and I haven't seen any motorcycle parking over there.</p>

<p>There is no way I'm giving up my scooter since I'm going to use it not just for commuting to school, but to get around the East Bay - I don't own nor want a car. So if anyone out there owns and rides a scooter or motorcycle to Cal and can give me some parking tips, I greatly appreciate it!</p>

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<p>sorry, i don't have an answer...but i was wondering if you have some answers for me haha</p>

<p>ive been thinking about getting a scooter for awhile and want to know:
1) what is a good one to get and around how much does it cost (and how often do you need to get gas)?
2) do you need a license to drive one? if so...
a) how, when you take your scooter to the dmv to take the license test, do you not illegally drive w/o a license at the same time (put it in a car perhaps?) ?
b) do you need to take lessons to learn how to ride one or is it fairly easy to learn on my own?
3) is it mandatory to wear a helmet while riding one? is it difficult to maneuver one in the rain?
4) are you ever worried that it'll get stolen since technically someone could literally pick it up and take it where they please? is there any extra safeguards to prevent it from getting stolen?
5) is there such a thing as scooter insurance and if there is how much is it?</p>

<p>thanks! i think i have a few more questions but i can't think of them right now...</p>

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<p>nychic: </p>

<p>1) I own a vintage scooter, so I don't know much about new, modern twist-n-go scooters, but friends of mine have both Vespa and Buddy scooters. I am a customer of SF Scooter Center which sells the Buddy 125 and Buddy 150, and both seem like good scooters. They are cheaper than a new Vespa, but look a bit better (in my opinion), and have a great warranty. All new scooters get fantastic gas mileage. I think they are better than mine, which gets about 80 miles per gallon and has a 2.25 gallon tank. When I was riding every day to and from work, I put gas in it about every week & a half. New scooters probably get closer to 90 miles per gallon.</p>

<p>2) YES you need a license to drive on, unless it is a 50cc moped. It is called an M class license. If you've never ridden a scooter before, I think that taking a motorcycle class would be an excellent idea. Riding in the Bay Area can be stressful. A class will teach you defensive driving skills and passing it will basically allow you to skip the DMV test. There is a class offered at City College of San Francisco every Saturday, but I'm sure you can find other classes near you. (You don't need a car drivers license, by the way, the DMV offers motorcycle-only licenses if you don't have a car one.) I think you can get a learners permit to use the scooter during the day until you have a license.</p>

<ol>
<li>Yes, helmets are mandatory, and I recommend a full-face helmet. I rode in the rain in Seattle almost every day. It is not difficult to drive a scooter in the rain, but I tend to leave mine at home when it rains here. It isn't my scooter or my abilities that I worry about, but car drivers who for some reason cannot remember how to drive in the rain.</li>
</ol>

<p>4) Yes, I worry about it being stolen, but mainly because mine is rare and not easily replaceable. I use a big lock and chain most of the time, but it really depends on where I am. Sometimes it just isn't possible to park it close to something I can lock it to. (Parking on the sidewalk can garner a $100 ticket in SF.) I also worry about it being knocked over by car drivers when they are trying to park. </p>

<p>5) Yes. I pay ~$35/month for full coverage insurance through Allstate. Only liability is required in CA, but I recommend getting the full deal and <em>especially</em> uninsured drivers insurance (too many of my friends have been hit by uninsured drivers for me to not have this insurance).</p>

<p>In general, I highly recommend scooters, whether new or vintage, but for new riders, I also recommend the motorcycle classes. I taught myself how to ride a 3 speed bicycle at age 5 and rode a 350cc dirt bike when I was 13 so I didn't take a class when I got my first scooter. If you are a strong, frequent, urban bicycle rider, it might be good enough to take the test at the DMV.</p>

<p>PM me if you have any additional questions.</p>

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<p>Cal is a great campus for walking around on. Not too big and sterile like stanford . Plus the gritty urban environment is a disincentive to using a bike, scooter, car, etc. public transportation is pretty awesome, too. I can get to the airport using bart, all the way to san jose using bart and light rail, etc etc etc</p>

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<p>wow thatgirltoo thank you so much for taking the time to write all that out for me! it was extremely useful =)</p>

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<p>You're welcome! Let me know if you decide to get a scooter, and what kind.</p>

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<p>hey! since this thread is about alt. modes of transportation, i was wondering if anyone could tell me if bringing my longboard to cal would be a dumb idea. i'm not bringing my bicycle or my car this fall.</p>

<p>i know the campus itself is kind of hilly, so i probably won't be skating around there much, but i need -something- besides just my 2 feet for, say, the weekends, right??</p>

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<p>Son's main transportation at Cal is a scooter. He has a motorcycle parking permit and never seems to have a problem finding parking anywhere. His ex-roomies also had scooters. Lots of kids park their scooters and leave them unlocked in the parking areas. Depends on the scooter I guess. Fills it up once a month for under 5.00. He also has a bike, but since his other one was stolen (both locks were cut off), I think he is reluctant to park the bike on campus too often.</p>

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<p>thatgirl, I used to own a motorcycle at cal, a 250cc Honda XRL dual purpose, which was perfect for living on top of the hills one mile out on Northside. There are free parking areas along Hearst on NSide and Piedmont on Southside.</p>

<p>If you don't live way up in the hills and within a mile or two of campus, a cheap bicycle would do the job and give you a good workout to boot. A scooter won't get you there faster, although a vintage Vespa will definitely get you there in style... ;)</p>

<p>The other great benefit of having a big enough scooter/motorcycle is the ability to take advantage of the fantastic open roads east of campus, some great drives through Tilden, Redwood, Briones and the other regional parks that make up much of the 510/925 border. You're basically ten minutes away from cow pastures and places with breathtaking vistas where you can have a break from it all, do some reading under a tree or enjoy a great picnic with a friend. This is one of the many great things that make Berkeley such a special place to go to school.</p>