Take a trip to moped-town

In 2007, the last options on the list of modes of transportation were mopeds.

Yet when gas prices reached nearly five dollars per gallon, it strangled my primary options for the friendly, yet not-so environmentally friendly, gas guzzling car, truck or SUV. And gas prices are slowly creeping to two dollars per gallon.

Availability of parking spaces on campus is very low. The Wolfline is an alternative form of transportation but it is also frequently filled to capacity and often inconvenient.

Though cheap, buses are slow. Commuters not only have to wait for the bus to pick up and drop off people; they also have to wait for the Wolfline on its schedule. The annual cost of a parking permit costs ranges from about $100 to $300, depending on where you park. Some students have a hard time parking on campus even with a parking permit. By itself, insurance can cost about $100 per month.

I did some research — I own a car, but I figure “what’s the use?” After being sketched out by hundreds of scooters on Craig’s list, I opted to go to Scooterz Inc. on Hillsborough and I purchased a moped.

A brand new moped was $2500. I brought a higher-end moped with a 50cc size engine, which allows it to go up to 50 miles per hour.

With the engine governor installed, my moped goes 30 miles per hour, requires no license, no tags and no liability or insurance. I can park at any bike rack, tree or light post for free. I can ride with another passenger if I so choose.

Yes, it’s true — cars and SUVs can carry loads of people and serve other purposes, but there are other things to consider.

According to Johnny Edwards, general manager of Scooterz Inc., the average scooter is about 200 pounds and is 200 to 300 times more fuel efficient. Because mopeds run on less gas and more efficiency, their environmental footprint is minimal. I have never had enough money to purchase a ‘smart car’ but I’d say I am coming close with a moped.

My scooter will go 40 miles with one half of a gallon of gas in its tank.

“[America] is finally realizing what Europe realized years ago,” Edwards said. “Scooters are a viable means of transportation…You don’t need a four to six thousand pound car to get one person five miles down the road.”

Even when gas was nearly five dollars per gallon I was spending two dollars and 50 cents at the pump to fill up my half gallon tank. I still have my scooter and I am pretty psyched because two dollars and 50 cents worth of gas will last for an entire week.

A lot of people talk about ‘the dangers of a motor bike’ but if you ask me there are dangers to being broke. After all, I have had a few close encounters with negligent drivers, but who hasn’t?

I would pick a loaded bank account and a moped over a dry bank account and a car or SUV any day.