Clark Howard's Tips

Scooters and bus commuters all the rage

June 9, 2008

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.

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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.

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