Troy Starr | Staff Writer

Chris Corcoran hangs out with fellow moped enthusiasts. || Photo by Troy Starr

A confusing contraption with pedals weaves in and out of a line of cars bottle-necked in the City College parking lot. The baffled stares of onlookers follow the rumbling bicycle as it zooms past them to a prime parking spot.

According to 22-year-old City College student Chris Corcoran, “A moped could be described as small motorcycle. The frame is similar to a bicycle, mixed with a small displacement engine.

Mopeds are lighter than scooters but Corcoran rides a moped because it gets great gas mileage—the average gas mileage of a moped is around 100 mpg—and if it breaks, it’s cheap and easy to fix.

When asked his favorite part about riding mopeds, he notes, “Mopeds are something different. It feels good to stand out in the crowd—these things are always catching peoples’ eyes.”

Mopeds became popular in the United States during the 1970s largely due to the energy crisis the nation was facing. Corcoran noted that most mopeds were sold at small dealerships around the country, and a lot of them have been brought over from other countries.

“Eventually many of these bikes found their way into storage sheds or junkyards as people lost interest,” he says.

Most of the mopeds on the road today are older models. Many enthusiasts say they enjoy the fact that they are taking and using something most people don’t want and are giving it a new life.

“Some people may say that mopeds aren’t that good for the environment since they are two-stroke vehicles as opposed to the more modern four-stroke-type engines,” Corcoran says. “The fact that you are getting a hundred miles to the gallon balances out the emissions. Not to mention, you are recycling something and not consuming new materials.“

So what makes an engine-propelled bicycle riding a good option for a City College student?

“SCC is pretty easy to get to,” Corcorcan explains. “Since mopeds can’t go on the highway you have to take city streets. Still, there are lots of moped-friendly routes that lead to SCC. Riding a moped also helps with parking because you can just lock it to the bike rack. A moped is cheaper and more practical for the average student since a lot of people can’t afford to buy a car.

Another aspect that riders enjoy is that the vehicles can become something of a hobby. “Taking long rides along the river or out in the fields north of Natomas is a blast.” These vehicles could be a good choice for people who want a motorized hobby and transportation but are on a student-sized budget.

“Mopeds sound fun and all, but how can you get your hands on one? Classic models can be found on Craigslist, at yard sales or neglected in someone’s garage. The rider must have an M1 or an M2 driver’s license from the DMV, register the bike, have it insured and strap on a helmet. As of now, Sacramento doesn’t have a moped shop, but to find information about mopeds, learn about how they work and potentially meet local moped riders. Visit http://mopedarmy.com for a wealth of knowledge and access to people excited about helping other moped enthusiasts.