Many students are discovering they can glide past high gas prices with the purchase of a scooter.

Utah gas prices are among the highest in the nation, according to a press release from AAA. Utah is ranked sixth behind Alaska, Hawaii, California, Montana and Idaho. Nationally, prices are on the decline but Utah is still one of the most expensive places to purchase fuel. The average price of gasoline in Utah is currently $3.87.

According to the United States Department of Energy Web site, prices are higher in Utah because it is an intermountain state and it's farther away from supply sources that are most often located near the Gulf Coast. Less populated states tend to suffer from a lack of competition due to fewer gas stations.

These high gas prices are anything but welcoming to students arriving back in Utah for school. Front end costs of tuition, books and rent due at the semester's beginning are leaving students strapped for gas money. Alyssa Larrabee, a senior from Hillsboro, Ore., is feeling the sting.

"I'm literally facing the decision between buying a textbook or putting gas in my car," Larrabee said.

Many students are combating the financial strain with alternative transportation like scooters and motorcycles. Pat Koelling, a senior from Littleton, Colo., is a prime example: he owns both a scooter and a motorcycle.

"Not only does it save me money on gas, but the insurance on my scooter is only 8 dollars a month," Koelling said. "That's a huge difference from what I pay on my car."

While individual models vary, an average scooter gas tank can be filled for under 10 dollars and can travel up to a hundred miles per gallon.

Lee Sands from The Scooter Lounge in Orem agrees the cost of scooter ownership is cheaper when compared to other vehicles, aside from gasoline savings.

"With a scooter you save money on gas, as well as insurance and maintenance costs," Sands said. "A transmission on a car can be $1000 while a scooter transmission would be around $150." Sands also counsels students to use caution when purchasing a scooter and suggests sticking with reputable brands offering more longevity, instead of buying the cheapest scooter available.



Copyright Brigham Young University 10 Sep 2008