Purchasing a scooter could save you more than few bucks this holiday season.
Averaging 50-70 miles per gallon and costing as little as $5 — yes, $5 — to fill an empty tank, scooters cost less than half the price of driving an automobile, according to vespanomics.com.
The number of scooters sold in the U.S. by major manufacturers has increased at least 19 percent annually from 2001 to 2005. Some scooter dealers saw a 300 percent sales increase in 2004, according to vespanomics.com.
“People think that scooters are bought for fuel mileage,” said Ashton Menefee, sales manager at Vespa of Columbia. “The truth is that they’re bought because they’re so much fun to drive.”
“To me a scooter is the happiest thing on two wheels and no matter what mood I’m in it makes me smile,” said Robyn Smietan, an employee at Vespa of Columbia.
“We’re seeing a resurgence of young professionals from areas like Canton and Fells Point [buying scooters],” said Menefee.
“And people over 50-years-old enjoy scooters for the ease of commuting and simply because of the fun of scootering.”
