Jackie Warren-Moore, a poet, playwright, theatrical director and freelance writer, writes regularly for syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Her most recent book is "Where I Come From" (Nine Mile Press, 2016).



It has become an all too frequent, unwelcome sound of summer in the city. The roar of a scooter makes my pulse jump every time it flies by me. I once witnessed the aftermath of a motorcycle accident. It was a sight I'm not likely to forget. The rider, though helmeted, was severely injured. That's what frightens me the most, the young people who zoom down the street speeding and popping wheelies are not wearing helmets. Their reckless actions indicate they don't really know the skill necessary to properly ride these machines.



It is an issue that has blossomed and surfaced throughout the city that needs to be addressed. I've spoken with people from all sides of the city.



A new friend, Frank Cetera, is attempting to start a conversation at a community level to begin talking about it. Recently Cetera and his wife, who live on the West Side, were within a foot or two from being hit on the sidewalk by a rider on a scooter. A South Side mother of four children talked about an ATV flipping over into her yard while on the sidewalk; the rider failed to navigate the turn.



I see and hear at least six scooters a day barreling barrelling down the busy street I live on. Tonight, as I write this, I saw two smiling, unhelmeted young people zoom side by side through a red light. Stories of "near misses" are everywhere. People are expressing concern about safety of both riders and pedestrians.



Cetera recently spoke with several young riders in his neighborhood. He said it was a friendly talk but resulted in no answers. He posed the question: What if there was somewhere that could be delegated as a safe place for riders? He says: "We don't want to criminalize young people. Policing is a last resort. We need more community engagement. Calling the police should be the last resort as opposed to the first option."



This is an issue he is working on both as a city resident and a Green Party candidate for the Syracuse Common Council. Cetera says: "We have to live together with tolerance while looking for alternatives and options for us all."



In our conversation, we hit upon a few of those options. Perhaps there is a community group or business willing to invest time and money to secure proper equipment and helmets. Perhaps there is a group of knowledgeable cyclists who are willing to dedicate time and energy to, as Cetera says, "provide education or some other solution."



It is clearly a neighborhood issue that begs for a conversation. Cetera is willing to brainstorm with anyone interested in lending their time or energy. He may be reached at (315) 308-1372.



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