Scooters: Factual Advantages and Disadvantages

The biggest concern on everyone's mind these days is gasoline prices. There are many proposals out there on how to save at the pump, from carpools to hybrids. I have found my own way to survive, by driving a scooter. But, are they for everyone? Here are the raw facts.

Disadvantages:

WEATHER. Weather is the most obvious challenge. During the sunny summer days, driving my scooter is both comfortable and enjoyable. But, if it's raining, I usually don't take it out of the carport. I have had to drive in the rain before. The scooter can handle pretty well if you are careful and alert. But the rain will sting your face and make it harder to see.

STORAGE. I have a pop-open compartment under my scooter seat that's big enough to store my helmet or purse. Most scooters have it and they come in various sizes. Besides that, a backpack works great for me when I run to the grocery store or something (saves on plastic bags too). Or you can always buy a nifty little attachment for the back. But, in general, scooters don't have lots of storage.

SPEED. My scooter gets up to 55 mph on level ground. But what most people don't realize is that a scooter has such a small engine that it slows down a substantial amount when you go up a hill. If you live in a big city with impatient drivers, consider this when you're looking at scooters and get one with more horsepower. Most scooters have the capability to keep up with mainstream traffic and speed limits, which is really all I need. Patience is the key.

Advantages:

INSURANCE. Insurance is a beast to pay for these days. Especially for someone my age living in a big city. But with scooters at or under 50cc, you do not need any special insurance. This can really add up to a lot of savings when you calculate how much you usually spend on car insurance in a year.

GAS. This is the big one. My scooter gets anywhere from 60-70 miles to the gallon, depending on what kind of roads I travel on. I costs me about $4 to fill up at the tank, which never fails to make me happy. You'll be doing your wallet and the environment a big favor if you decide to make the switch to a scooter.

PARKING. This is another great advantage for me especially at school. Parking spots at my University are limited and expensive. But I can park my scooter right next to a tree by my dorm and it's perfectly legal. You can park a scooter whereever you can park a bicycle. Very convenient.

So, this is where you do some self-realization. Is most of your car time by yourself in a gas-guzzling car? Could you survive by switching to a scooter? Perhaps you would like to switch, but you're not sure if it's convenient enough. "What if it rains and I need to get to work?" Make arrangements with a co-worker or neighbor to carpool on days you can't take a scooter. Any day, any trip that you leave your car at home and brave the wind on a scooter, you are saving money and gas. Scooters truly are an investment if you can work with it.

For those of you who are unable or unwilling to switch to a scooter--I ask just one thing: patience. When you get stuck behind one of us trudging up a hill, just remember we're just like you, trying to cope with gas prices and save the environment.