Everyone sees mopeds whiz past them day after day, but it is important, as it appears more and more mopeders are roaming MSU’s campus, they understand the rules of the road to keep themselves and other students safe.

As long as moped riders follow the laws and regulations for riding mopeds, they should be safe, MSU Police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said.

According to the Secretary of State, mopeds must be registered properly, unless they are being operated solely on public property.

Other laws moped drivers must obey include wearing a helmet if the rider is under the age of 19, keeping both hands on the handle grips and only carrying one passenger at a time.

Journalism junior TJ Morris said he always feels safe when riding his moped around campus.

“I feel safe (when riding) because I know what I am doing,” Morris said. “I am respected on the road because mine can go as fast as a car, but the (mopeds) that are slower are not respected. I do ride on the sidewalk, but only when I am going to the bike rack.”

Mopeds must be properly registered in order to park on campus, which students can do by taking their ID and registration to the MSU parking office.

Kinesiology sophomore Jordan Stross said he views mopeds as being the same as motorcycles, even though he said he feels other cars and motorcycles on the road do not adequately respect mopeds.

“I feel like an equal to a motorcycle,” Stross said. “I definitely stretch the laws of mopeds. I don’t feel like I am respected as I should be.”

McGlothian-Taylor stressed the most important laws to remember when riding a moped.

“Moped riders are not allowed to ride on bike paths or sidewalks,” McGlothian-Taylor said. “We have had a number of complaints about people riding on the sidewalks and bike paths around the Brody and Wilson area.”

McGlothian-Taylor said to combat the issues of students riding their mopeds on the sidewalks, police officers have been going out to patrol the Brody and Wilson areas. She said students who are caught riding their moped on the sidewalk will receive a citation.

According to a representative from the 54B District Court, the citation for riding a moped on the sidewalk is $155.

Human biology sophomore Eric Glass said he feels you can get away with a lot when it comes to moped laws.

“It’s basically like an upgraded bike,” Glass said. “I don’t feel like an equal, cars pass me right up. When you ride a moped, I feel like you can get away with a lot. I don’t feel respected on the road, cars will ride really close to you.”