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Jun 09, 2008 -- Scooters and bus commuters all the rage

Our senior producer Kim bought her first scooter 8 years ago. Despite her reputation as a bad driver, she's never had a wreck on it. Executive producer Christa, on the other hand, tried to ride Kim's scooter once and crashed it into a bigwig's car at the studio!

Clark's current scooter, a Korean model, ran him $1,499 -- though you can find some for as little as $800. Clark's getting 90 mpg, so even at $4/gallon, the price of gas doesn't matter. Even the most uneconomical of scooters usually gets around 70 mpg.

With speeds of 30-45 mph, scooters are great for running around town. Is it any wonder that sales are up? Just beware of the added safety concerns that go along with riding a scooter.

Meanwhile, ridership on commuter rail and bus lines is also up. Clark recently saw a suburban commuter bus that was standing room only. Typically, those buses are empty in his town. In most metro areas, you can also carpool or vanpool with your fellow commuters to save money.

On the radical side of things, Clark read a Wired report about packs of bicyclists that take to the interstates in California when they hear about a traffic jam. Their aim is to both raise consciousness about commute alternatives and thumb their noses at those stuck in traffic.

What change could you make in your life so that you're not a sitting duck for high gas prices? That's Clark's challenge for you.


Unfortunately, Clark won't be able to answer any questions submitted via commenting. If you have a question, please try posting it to our message boards.

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What others are saying

  • Scooter
    If you are considering a Scooter purchase. Look at the honda Ruckus. At $2150.00 it is more expensive than other 49cc models but is well worth the money. 90-100 mpg. Built solid as a rock and will go 43 miles an hour. I have had mine since april and have not had a single problem. .This is the most reliacle and well built scooter I have ever owned and it is a Blast to ride.
  • Scooter
    I am looking to buy a second scooter in addition to the 1 that I have...the first one is my wife's. I have been looking at online this time vs. a local dealer to save some cash. Anyone work with Scooterdepot.com? Where can I purchase one that won't rip me off? Clark, I know you ride one...please help!
  • saving gas
    well i didn't do it but i got laid off and with what i was paying in gas a week is about the differnce i am getting in my unemployment check what luck
  • Leave the car at home
    I live 18 miles from work and try to keep my car home twice per week. I ride a bike to the MARTA (6 miles), then after work bike all the way home (22+ miles). When I drive to work, I make sure that I run errands, restock food at my desk, and bring home work clothes, and other items. Once my daughter is back in school, my wife and I might be able to bike in 4 days per week or more.
  • Scooters....
    All fun and games until a lady in a Suburban mows over you.
  • oil
    its not the best around but we have a chance to use it to our advantage rep lynn westmoreland has stsrted a pledge
    with other rep I WILL VOTE TO INCREST OIL PRODUCTION TO LOWER GAS PRICES FOR AMERICANS .with the way people are doing hydro car ele cars.it may not matter
    little to late.why is it that political people are always there
    when it affect their pocketbooks?
  • scooters
    In Bristol, CT a woman was killed by a car backing out of its driveway.
  • Scooter Info
    Clark, more info on scooters PLEASE!
  • rate scooters
    I am considering a scooter for around the town errands, etc. I would like to know what kind of scooter Clark has, where he got it and what he would and would not reccommend
    Thanks
  • Scooters
    I got my first scooter about a month ago and love it. It is used for local errands mostly. I live in a low traffic area and feel perfectly safe on it!
  • Unsafe
    For those of you who think scooters are unsafe: please do no ski, ride a bicycle or play most sports. They are all unsafe in many ways. A scooter is actually safer at 25 mph than a bicycle at just about any speed. I do both and feel safer going with the flow of traffic than the traffic passing me.
  • Motorcycles
    I've started leaving business attore in the office and riding my motorcycle to work. I can make my roundtrip commute on 1 gallon of gas on the bike, more than two in the car.
  • Traffic
    Is it my imagination was traffic significantly lighter today?
  • New cars
    I have an old 1980 Porsche 911 in my garage waiting to be re-configured into an electric vehicle. It will cost about $10k to upgrade it.

    My wife's BMW gets 23 mpg. We plan on selling the BMW for $16k and buying a cheap $6k honda or toyota with at least 35mpg.

    We'll use the money we get from the BMW to upgrade the Porsche and we'll both be much better off as far as gas prices go.
  • scooters are great!
    I love my scooter where I live in the country it a blast to ride around on and to go on short trips too long to walk.
  • Scooters
    Remember that close call you had while driving your car? Now imagine what would have happened had you been on a motorcycle/scooter? ...in the rain?
  • Change comes
    I have 3 motorcycles - 250 does 90+mph and gets 60+ mpg, 750 does 100+ gets 50+ mpg, and 1800 does 120+ gets 40+ mpg. Among the 3 bikes I have a combined 60K SAFE miles since 1992. Each of them serves a purpose when I ride - I even go to the grocery store on the 1800 and have carried home $100+ in groceries.
    .
    Riding safely means being aware of ALL of your surroundings - not just the SUVs, there are deer, squirrels, and people. You can't just sit there and look straight forward like many car drivers do, never taking into consideration intersections or passing vehicles. On a motorcycle or scooter or bike means you have to LOOK around and be aware of your surroundings.
    .
    ANYONE who rides a motorcycle or scooter and has neglected to take a MSF safety riding course is robbing themselves of some of the education needed in being a safe, courteous rider. Car/SUV drivers who think a stop sign is just a YIELD sign, racing through an amber light, or making lane changes without looking are the dangers "we" face during our rides and WE have to look out for YOU.
    .
    Next time you get out on the road - take a few moments at that stop sign for a second look, the amber light proceeds the red one - slow down and stop, every car I have ever driven has turn signals - use them when your changing lanes.
    .
    I will be safer, you will be a better driver, and we can share the road together.
  • I agree with the concern for safety and being a single mom, I have to make sure I'm around to care for my kids.

    But I have been considering options of biking or "scooting" to work. I am fortunate enought that I live only four miles but plotting a safe route has it's challenges. Each of my routes has areas that are not safe even in a car!

    But I'm not giving up on the idea. We won't see change if we don't make the effort.
  • I'll give up my nice airconditioned car when they pry my cold dead fingers from the steering wheel. A car is freedom. Just another one the goverment wants to take from us.
  • Gas Prices
    I too am in a position where car pooling and scooters are not a very effective option most of the time. I have to get my son at his day camp every day after work. The best way that I have been able to cope with rising gas prices is something that I did years ago. I bought a car that gets great gas mileage. There are only 2 major criteria I have when buying a new (to me) car. It has to be a standard transmission and it has to get great mileage. Everything else is gravy. I also don't buy cars that I would need to carry a loan on. Yes, I spend more on maintenance than I would with a brand new or later model used car but I don't have $300.00 to $400.00+ dollars in loan and insurance payments due every month, plus license and registration fees are lower too.

    We see gas prices raised every summer. The travel season increases the demand, ergo the prices increase. It boggles my mind when people are somehow surprised by the fluctuation.
  • Innovation drives change
    When we see a scooter with 90 mpg or electric that can do 75 to blend with traffic and has a range of at least 100 miles per tank/charge, *then* we'll see habit change.
  • 1 Mistake on Motorcycle=Death
    Know of any SAFE 90 MPG ways of commuting? Clark, that is MY challenge to you.
  • Scooters are not safe
    I will be more than happy to ride a bike or a scooter... when I am not afraid of being killed by drivers of cars and SUVs.
  • Scooters and bus commuters
    While I agree with Clark on making changes, some of us who live in outlying counties and have to drive over 35 miles one way to another county (not downtown) where there is no bus or Marta train and no one to car pool with are left with no options but to drive.
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