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President’s Day Weekend and Motor Scooters!
This past weekend, we enjoyed a few days visiting family and visiting a few sights in the Washington D.C. area.
Although it was a holiday, the crowds were manageable and the weather was just perfect for touring D.C.
The walkways in many parts of D.C. are wide and usually quite simple to navigate. Though, this weekend we did seem to run into more obstacles than usual.
The large number of scooters and electric bikes that we encountered on our trip was surprising. It was even more surprising to me the number of people that could not quite get their speed and balance under control! A few times, our group simply stepped onto the grass to let the riders pass. That seemed a much safer option than being hit from behind.
I am not sure how insurance works in D.C., but in Massachusetts, your car insurance would not respond to damages you caused by riding one of these things! Your Massachusetts car insurance would not cover you for damage caused by any “vehicle” not subject to MA motor vehicle registration, such as electric bikes, mopeds, ATVs, etc. Massachusetts definitely has its own rules and regulations on what is considered a motor vehicle, and these definitions do impact your insurance protection.
In general, your home insurance policy also does not intend to provide any liability protection for damage or injuries caused by vehicles designed for use on public roads.
If you or your family members intend to ride on one of these modes of transportation, please check in with us on what other insurance options you might want to consider.
Wishing you safe walking and riding out there!