Miami's scooter boom fizzles amid Trump's immigration crusade: 'If you're on a moped, they assume you don't have papers'

[Demovictory9]

Miami’s scooter boom fizzles amid Trump’s immigration crusade: ‘If you’re on a moped, they assume you don’t have papers’ | U.S. | EL PAÍS English https://share.google/pLDwAredRiibkgKcj



A few years ago, they were the preferred transportation mode for recently arrived immigrants — today, they have all but disappeared from the city

The avalanche of scooters and mopeds that flooded Miami was as fleeting as Joe Biden’s temporary protective immigration programs. The small vehicles were trending after the arrival of hundreds of thousands of foreigners from Latin American countries, where in large metropolitan areas like Caracas, Bogotá and Mexico City, mopeds are a popular form of transportation. Many of those individuals settled in southern Florida. In Miami, where public transportation is not up to the task of transporting all residents, these new arrivals saw in the scooters an economic and familiar option.

But now, it’s rare to spot a scooter. The boom went up in smoke at the beginning of the year following the crackdown on immigrants led by Donald Trump, who has promised mass deportations and a quota of 3,000 arrests per day.

-------

Driving a moped in Miami “is like having a tattoo on your face. Authorities say, ‘Hey stop, if you’re driving a moped, you probably don’t have papers,’” says Yonathan Rodríguez, a 40-year-old Venezuelan who has sold parts for the vehicles to local shops for 20 years. “You can see the fear of deportation in the street. You saw so many more mopeds before than you do now.”

[democratsruletheday]

1. So one more cottage industry TSF has ruined...

add it to the list I guess

[Initech]

2. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes!

Voting for this stupid dumb fuck and all of his evil shit is the absolute stupidest game you can play. Fascism isn't nothing to fuck with under any circumstances.

[mucholderthandirt]

3. Around here they were the preferred method for people with DUIs and no license.

Now that I read this thread, I realize I haven't seen a moped (likker cikkle, in our dialect) in a long time. It used to be a hazard out on the roads between towns, where the speed limit is 50 MPH and there's basically no shoulder to ride on.

[indusurb]

4. Depends on the scooter

i've got a 2004 Bajaj Chetack that I still use to get to neighboring small towns. At first it was stock 150cc, did 55 max, then eight years ago I bored it out to 200cc, increasing it to 70 mph max. Still, even though I'm traveling on roads with a max of 55mph, I get lots of people riding my ass, seemingly wanting to run me over. It seems as though a small, fuel efficient vehicle is somehow an affront to their senses. Big cities, forget it, too many people aren't paying attention, on their phones, have perpetual road rage, etc. I just don't ride in them. A shame really, a great way to get around when bicycling is no longer an option. And yes, I need a license and insurance, and I ride with full gear, because crazy and inattentive drivers are everywhere.