MOPED ARMY

Hi Pat:

I live in Ottawa. I covered the <a href="http://www.mopedarmy.com/forums/discuss/read.php?f=1&i=7819&t=7806">legal aspects of mopeding in Ontario</a> a little while ago.

Don't worry about the turn signal not working --you don't legally require them in Ontario. You are supposed use the hand signals if you don't have working turn signals (you know, left arm straight out for "left" and left arm bent a 90 degrees, hand pointing up for "right"). I never do the hand signal thing, though, because if traffic is bad enough to need to signal where I'm going, I want both hands on the handle bars! When I do feel the need to indicate where I'm going, I <b>don't</b> use the "standard" turning gestures --most motorists don't have a clue what they mean! Just point where you plan to go --everyone understands that.

One of the problems with being on a moped is that you can be doing everything right, but it only takes one idiot who doesn't know the rules of the road to cause an accident. In moped vs. car situations, the guy on the moped always loses.

One of my sayings: "Traffic is invisible to the mopeder, but the mopeder is also invisible to traffic."

Chris.

All my mopeds are insured through Wawanesa. It costs about $100/year/moped (make and model don't seem to affect the price). I also have my cars and home insured through them, so I don't know if they'll insure a moped by itself (some companies will only do it if you already have a policy).

Chris.

Hi Jennifer:

There's a store on Preston street that sells new Tomos mopeds. I'm not sure exactly where it is (I've never been), but it's there.

I prefer to buy old "classic" mopeds from the early 70s to early 80s. They're cheaper, more stylish (in my opinion), but less reliable.

I notice from your email address that you work for Industry Canada? I did some contract work for Strategis about a year ago. Do you work at the Sparks Street building?

Feel free to email me directly.

Chris.