Riding Scooters to Save Money on Gas

The national average price for a gallon of regular gas has jumped 36 cents over the last month to $3.97. But more and more people are getting a lot more mileage for their gallons. They're riding scooters to work, to run errands, you name it. And what may surprise you is that many of these new riders are women.

They slide on their gloves, slip into a helmet, and rev their engines. Cheryl Elder and Vivian Stevens are rebels with a cause. They ride scooters to work to save money on gas.

Said Vivian Stevens, "It's a camaraderie thing. Cheryl was like 'let's ride scooters and you've got to ride with me.'"

Listen to how much their saving. Said Cheryl Elder, "I can go about 4 days on $8 dollars... I'm saving about $70 a week."

Riding a bike in traffic can be a little risky, so they've taken safety classes. Explained Vivian, "Be really careful of traffic and be aware of your surroundings and be careful of how you drive."

And the commute takes them an extra 15 minutes each way. But when the weather is nice, and the wind is in their hair, described Cheryl, "It's you with your thoughts. You don't have the radio. You don't have somebody in the back seat getting your attention."

At Roadrunner Unlimited in Wellford, Russell Wilken says he's selling 50% more scooters, and quite often to women. Said Wilken, "Believe it or not, we have them coming all the way from Union."

He says some scooters get up to 100 miles per gallon. Said Wilken, "You have to maintain it by changing the oil every 600 miles and putting gas in it. Most women like it because it is automatic, you twist and you go."

Cheryl and Vivian had some incentive. They work for Kymco, a scooter distributor. But now they'd encourage anyone to get their motors running. Said Vivian, "Once you feel comfortable riding, what do you have to lose? You can save in gas. It's a fun way to get around. By all means give it a shot."

Whether you're born to be wild, or just born to save money on gas.

Scooters range in speed and price. Lighter, smaller engine scooters that travel up to 50 miles per hour will cost you $1000 to $2500. Heavier, larger engine scooters are made for highway speeds up to 85 miles per hour. They can range from $2000 to $6000 dollars.

In South Carolina, you'll need to register the vehicle. And for some scooters, you'll need a Class 'M' Motorcycle license. A helmet will cost you about $60. Insurance on expensive bikes will cost about $100 a year.

Spartanburg Community College, Greenville Technical College, and Tri-County Technical College all offer courses in motorcycle safety.