What moped parking problem?

By The Gazette Editorial Board

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What gives, Iowa City? Why the flurry of ordinances banning or restricting public activities that don't seem to bother the majority of city residents?

First, it was panhandlers, then it was non-profits. Now some Iowa City officials are picking on mopeds.

A proposal on the table would ban the fuel-efficient alternatives from sidewalks and bike racks and require moped drivers to purchase a permit to park in designated areas.

It looks to us like another solution in search of a problem.

By all accounts, moped use is on the rise in Iowa City - a good thing. They are more environmentally friendly, less expensive for users and free up valuable parking space downtown.

We've not seen evidence that the city's current practice of allowing moped parking alongside bicycles at racks is causing many headaches or hazards to other drivers or pedestrians.

City leaders say they don't want to discourage moped traffic. They insist the permit idea is not about collecting revenue. The fee they've discussed is $25 for six months.

“It's more safety and putting them into one place,” as council member Terry Dickens was recently quoted.

But a permit-based parking system, we believe, would likely discourage moped traffic.

Iowa City residents, especially University of Iowa students, are increasingly choosing mopeds to get around.

Sales and rentals of mopeds have skyrocketed this year, in part, because of big bumps in gas prices. Owners of a downtown rental business, MopedU, say nearly their entire fleet of 50 is on long-term summer lease.

Not surprising, with fuel efficiency as high as 85 miles per gallon and low price tags. The vehicles are inexpensive to buy and run and easy to park in the congested downtown area.

Council members should reject a moped parking permit system and focus their attention on weightier concerns.

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