source -  http://tinyurl.com/7poqs High gas prices lure buyers to hop onto a scooter Fed up with the $60 price of filling his pickup truck's gas tank, Dan Fuller wanted a cheaper alternative.  So much cheaper that he gave up four wheels recently in favor of a zippy, fuel-efficient motor scooter. Fuller and his wife spent about $2,800 on a Vespa ET2 scooter, which notched about 80 miles to the gallon during a weekend of shopping and visiting relatives.  By the time the pair pulled up to a gas pump for the first time, Fuller paid a whopping $1.28 to top off the Vespa's tank.   It was kind of funny pulling out the debit card for that, he said.  The Fort Worth, Texas, couple's switch reflects a substantial increase in scooter sales in the area as gas prices have climbed in recent months, according to sellers in that area. At University Scooters of Dallas, which sold Fuller his scooter, sales are up 400% over last year, owner Randy Campbell said. Mid-August was a record-breaker for the 2-year-old shop.   A year ago, I bet you one in 10 people asked maybe what kind of gas mileage (a scooter) got. They wanted to know what colors you had and how fast it would go, Campbell said. Now, everybody, the first question they have is: What kind of gas mileage does it get?   Campbell's scooters, from four different manufacturers, get 60 to 100 miles per gallon and reach top speeds of 40 to 95 miles per hour, depending on the model, he said.  Mike Strausser, sales manager at Honda Kawasaki West in Fort Worth, has seen a similar shift among customers in recent weeks.  Strausser said he usually keeps about 20 scooters in stock, in addition to his dealership's inventory of motorcycles. But the scooters have been so popular that he's running out. I'm going to bring some more of them in, because probably some people are going to buy them, he said. It's all about gasoline. It's all about mileage.  The focus on fuel is so great that Strausser's warning to one customer, that her plan to replace a truck with a scooter would expose her to rain and cold during her daily commute, didn't faze her.   She said, 'I have a jacket, I have a raincoat,' he said. People start making different sacrifices.  Motorcycle buyers have become more fuel-conscious, too, he said, and many shoppers are looking for any transportation option that will allow them to park their gas-guzzling vehicles.   The conversation has changed to nothing but fuel in the whole industry in the last four to six weeks, Strausser said.  That's been sparked by a dramatic rise in gasoline prices.  The change appears to be steering more middle-income buyers and students toward scooters - in addition to the fun-seekers who used to be the most common buyers, Campbell said.   I hope it lasts, he said. I just hired a new employee this morning. I need more staffing just because of how busy it is.  In fact, sales are so brisk that Campbell hopes to add a new store.  Fuller, a student at Texas Christian University, said his Vespa is ideal for the short drive to classes and makes parking on campus easier, too. He and his wife, a teacher, plan to leave their pickup under the carport most weekdays while they take turns using the scooter. I think we'll end up maybe getting another one, he said. I think we're going to save a lot.  Craig McDonald of Dallas, who also bought a Vespa from University Scooters in August, said it lets him escape the cost of fueling his LandRover SUV that gets just 15 miles per gallon.   I drive it to and from work and then any errands that we have to run, McDonald said. It's so nice not to have to fire up the SUV that just drinks the gasoline. McDonald, who works about six miles from his home and sells digital photo equipment, said the scooter makes for an easy commute.   Besides, they're a blast to drive, he said. .

  It's all about gasoline. It's all about mileage. It's also about lying dead on the street with your brains dripping out your ear. When do the horror stories about death-by-scooter start to show up in the media?

  It's all about gasoline. It's all about mileage. It's also about lying dead on the street with your brains dripping out your ear. When do the horror stories about death-by-scooter start to show up in the media? Bert,  You sound like my wife!  She said the SAME thing when I came home with a Yamaha Zuma in the back of our truck.  I'm not going to bullshit you about their speed - our scoot goes 65KM PH (around 40MPH) flat out.  But we are treated with nothing but admiration (honks & thumbs up) from other drivers.  As long as you don't pull off stunts like motorcyclists do (going inbetween cars or drive on the shoulder at lights) - people are really cool with it. The ONLY downside is having to talk with people at gas stations about mileage - inital costs - and legalities. BTW - the brains dripping comment isn't relevant - you are required to wear a helmet.

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (Ron Olin) wrote in news:rBV_e.253542$9A2.150327@edtnps89:   It's all about gasoline. It's all about mileage. It's also about lying dead on the street with your brains dripping out your ear. When do the horror stories about death-by-scooter start to show up in the media? Try going to any major city in Europe and you'll see bicycles and scooters chained to everything that doesn't move.  They don't have the problems you mentioned.  Why do you think that is?

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (Ron Olin) wrote in news:rBV_e.253542$9A2.150327@edtnps89:   It's all about gasoline. It's all about mileage. It's also about lying dead on the street with your brains dripping out your ear. When do the horror stories about death-by-scooter start to show up in the media? Try going to any major city in Europe and you'll see bicycles and scooters chained to everything that doesn't move.  They don't have the problems you mentioned.  Why do you think that is? Because the scooters are chained to things that don't move? Seriously, if that's true (is it?) I'd think it's because in the inner city (where you'll find most bikes and scooters), traffic moves at less than 30mph. On the other hand, bicycle drivers in Amsterdam have absolutely no qualms about running down the unwary pedestrian who strays into their bike path.

Seriously, if that's true (is it?) I'd think it's because in the inner city (where you'll find most bikes and scooters), traffic moves at less than 30mph. A 25 mph collision on a scooter will kill you just as dead.  Inner cities are actually more dangerous because they have more intersections. People here think they are invincible inside their 2 ton cages.  The reality is they aren't.  People on scooters and bikes are much more conscience of the dangers.  Motorcyclists in the states have higher death rates, but that's probably because younger, less experienced drivers gravitate to them.