Can I ride a moped?

Brallaqueen

:j Just to thank everyone for their help and advice on this subject. I have now passed my CBT and bought a Honda Vity 125cc which I will be picking up on Saturday! Thanks again for your help :beer:



HI all, wondered if I could pick your brains about getting a moped adn whether it would be worth it.

To get to work 3 miles away I'd need to use two roads with 40mph speed limits (one A road, one crossing the river).

Is it possible to use a moped on higher speed roads?

I have taken driving lessons but don't drive (failed three times)
Still have a provisional licence.
I'm in my late 20's

I'd love a moped since public transport is poor and the local bus station is getting more and more dangerous for a lone female, especially at night.

Chimpofdoom

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/RidingMotorcyclesAndMopeds/DG_10016249

All info you need is on there

Dans_Girl

You would need a provisional motorcycle entitlement on your current driving licence and a valid CBT certificate to ride a motorcycle/ scooter on the roads with L plates.

You'll have to check whether your provisional car licence also has the provisional motorcycle element on it; I'm not sure as I had a full car licence when I did my CBT and that automatically gave me provisional motorcycle entitlement.

CBT is a day long 'course' costing around £100 which, once passed, means you can ride a motorcycle/sccoter up to 125cc on the roads, with L plates, for two years. You would either need to pass your test or renew your CBT to carry on riding after that period.

Hope that helps!

Brallaqueen

thank you both. Hoever on the direct gov site it mentions 30mph - so I can't go on an n A road?

Dans_Girl

That's correct if you rode a moped; due to your age however you would be able to ride a larger engined motorcycle or scooter in which case national speed limits apply and you can use all roads except motorways.

Gloomendoom

The speed limit on any road is just that... a speed you must not exceed. You can ride/drive slower if you want to or, as in this case, the law says you must do (30mph.) Minimum speed limits do exist but they are very rare.

As far as I am aware, motorways are the only roads you will definitely not be able to use.

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paddedjohn

Whilst a cbt is normally valid for 2 years, if you are only using a moped you only have to do the test once, although you still have to keep L plates on. If you going to the trouble of doing your cbt anyway then why not get a scooter upto 125cc, this will keep up with the traffic on most roads.

thenudeone

Dans_Girl wrote: »

You would need a provisional motorcycle entitlement on your current driving licence and a valid CBT certificate to ride a motorcycle/ scooter on the roads with L plates.

You do not need a CBT if you have a full car licence issued before 1st Feb 2001 which includes provisional moped entitlement.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/RidingMotorcyclesAndMopeds/DG_4022430

But it would probably be wise to take one anyway, if you are not familiar with riding on two wheels.

Hammyman

Brallaqueen wrote: »

thank you both. Hoever on the direct gov site it mentions 30mph - so I can't go on an n A road?

You can go on an A road. The only road you can't go on is a motorway. Everything else is OK.

Basically, if it is legal for farm tractors to go on, you can too. I've seen plenty of tractors on the dual carriageway A1.

Trebor16

paddedjohn wrote: »

Whilst a cbt is normally valid for 2 years, if you are only using a moped you only have to do the test once, although you still have to keep L plates on. If you going to the trouble of doing your cbt anyway then why not get a scooter upto 125cc, this will keep up with the traffic on most roads.

That is not correct. If you passed your car test after 1st February 2001 then to validate the full moped licence you have to complete the CBT once. But if you only hold a provisional licence then your CBT certificate will only be valid for two years and if you have not passed your driving test for a motorcycle or car within that time then you will have to take he test again.

I would echo the advice of PaddedJohn in respect of a 125. They easily keep up with the flow of traffic and are a better proposition. You could derestrict a moped but it would then have to be registered as a motorcycle with DVLA, and then there could be problems when it comes to selling it.

Billy-no-Money

The only people who should ever consider riding a 50cc / 30mph moped are those who are aged 16, OR passed their car test before Feb 2001 and don't want to use L-plates.

Everybody else should get a 125cc, which is MUCH safer in traffic (40mph is easy), and is less stressed so should last longer. Insurance, fuel etc aren't much different.

If you get decent all-weather gear you'll be fine to ride in any conditions except snow and ice.

If you've failed your car test due to nerves (you don't say why), then don't worry about the CBT - it is NOT a test, and is typically done with a small group of beginners and often led by people who do it because they're passionate about getting people into motorcycling. It should be fun.

You don't say what your scooter / bike budget is - if you can stretch to it, a recent one with anti-lock brakes (ABS) would be a good idea (in my opinion) - personally I think ABS is one of the best safety aids a two-wheeler can have (lock the front wheel and you're off, do the same in a car and you just skid).

Personally for a four-mile commute I'd be cycling, but I can understand why a woman might not want to, especially at night.