Scooter rider pleads with `intolerant' motorists

Darwin scooter rider Aleja Perkins has called for motorists to be
more mindful of sharing the roads.

The 23-year-old cafe manager, from Bayview, is angry at the way she
is treated on the roads and is now scared to use her only form
of transport.

``People sticking their fingers up, being impatient, overtaking on
merging lanes so I have had to brake and telling me I have to ride
on the shoulder is what I deal with,'' she said. ``It makes me
feel angry and scared.''

Ms Perkins said riding her yellow Jive Bug nicknamed ``Bumblebee''
is not only more economical than driving a car but is her way of
contributing to the environment.

``I ride for economical and environmental reasons,'' she said.

``Just this week three people have given me the finger -- I don't
want to start off my day like that.

``To motorists, give us a chance -- I am doing everything legally.

``I'm not going to risk my life so you can get there five minutes
earlier.''

The dangerous behaviour of other motorists is obvious for Ms Perkins
with some of her friends having minor accidents on the roads.

``A couple of my friends have been clipped by people overtaking,''
she said. ``They were knocked off their bikes.''

And she said scooter riders need training before they start the motor.

``A couple of hours of scooter awareness should be mandatory,'' she
said.

``There are a lot of scooter riders who don't know how to behave.

``I see them riding across shoulders and then stopping in the middle
of lanes at lights.

``It makes me angry.''

Copyright 2008 / Sunday Territorian
Source: Northern Territory News (includes Sunday Territorian), MAY 18, 200