More people are riding mopeds to save money on gas, but they face confusing laws on where they can park. Now city and state lawmakers have written bills to clarify the law and allow mopeds to park on public sidewalks.

There are more than 15,000 mopeds registered on O'ahu.

City Councilman Charles Djou last week introduced a bill that would allow mopeds, but not motorcycles or motor scooters, to lock up to city bicycle racks on sidewalks. The bill prohibits riding mopeds on sidewalks.

State Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland, D-13th (Kalihi, Nu'uanu), has drafted a bill that was distributed at the Downtown Neighborhood Board meeting last week. Her bill would revise state law to allow mopeds to park on sidewalks where there are no designated on-street moped stalls. That bill does not limit moped parking to areas with bicycle racks. State law supercedes city ordinance.

Downtown Neighborhood Board member Dolores Mollring supports both bills because there are so many mopeds in the downtown area with nowhere to park.

"I'm pleased this is going through," Mollring said. "All in all, with the price of gasoline, which is not going to come down, more people will be riding mo-peds. There is definitely a need."

The issue came to a head last month when police issued $35 tickets to mopeds parked on sidewalks downtown and near Hawai'i Pacific University. Police have said the laws are open to interpretation, and issuing tickets is at the discretion of the officer.

"I hoped I could just talk with HPD and the city Corporation Council could just write an opinion," said Djou. "Unfortunately, we need a law. I'm just tweaking it. It's a very simple change to the existing law, which specifically says mopeds can park at bike racks and HPD is not supposed to ticket them."

Mopeds are a particular problem at HPU's downtown campus on Fort Street Mall. Students park their mopeds in bike racks, on sidewalks and sometimes on the mall. Last year, the fire department reported that it couldn't use the fire lane on the mall because mopeds blocked the way. As a result, police have been ticketing mopeds parked on the mall.

Djou said his bill will go through the normal process with City Council readings and public hearings. He does not expect any opposition in the council.

If the mayor signs it, the bill could become law by January or February.

Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com.