Are you going to let the big oil companies punch you in the gut, or are you gonna do something about it?

I decided that I needed to do something to fight high gas prices mainly out of necessity rather than good ol' fashioned youthful angst. It was getting to the point where I couldn't afford to get to work.

But then I had an idea.... I'm not the only one facing this problem. Why don't I document my journey to gas freedom!?

So, here I am, telling you about what I'm doing to win this war we're all fighting.

Alright, I'm a country girl and there is absolutely no way I am gonna get rid of my large gas-guzzling Dodge Ram pickup. So, what options did I have? I could...

• Ride my awesome road bike to work everyday. I'd save gas and exercise at the same time! But I live in Washington and work in Idaho, and crossing the bridges over the rivers leaves little or no place for cyclists to coexist with cars.
• Walk to work everyday. That could work because of the fabulous sidewalk system we have around here, but like I said, I live and work in 2 different states, and the commute is a little far for walking.
• Buy a sport bike! My husband's crotch-rocket was great on gas, but riding on the back of it hurt my ass something fierce. He suggested that I buy my own motorcycle and I thought it was a great idea until something happened last Monday. I walked into work and got a call to go to the hospital morgue. Opening the cooler, I saw a very young, very handsome, very dead man lying on the tray. I soon learned that he was about my age and he died in a sport bike accident during rush hour the evening before. That's when I decided to veto the crotch-rocket idea.
• Buy a scooter. Holy cow, I can't believe that thought even entered my mind!! I make fun of those people putt-putting around on little mopeds. For some reason, I always thought I was superior in my big pickup truck, but my, my how the tables have turned. I seriously began to consider the idea of buying a scooter because they seemed to be extremely easy to operate and they get crazy good gas mileage.

I didn't really think he'd actually go for it. That's why I asked the question in a half-joking manner, but I think the fact that he had a few beers in him helped my cause.

"Honey, why don't we get matching scooters! We'd look so awesome cruisin' around together and we'd save a lot on gas."

His response really surprised me. My husband must have read my mind when he said, "Hey, yeah! I can sell my motorcycle and we can get two scooters!"

Rather than pushing the subject out of fear that he might take it all back, I left it at that and prepared to do lots of scooter research the next day.

The next day, I took my lunch break from morticianing to look at some local scooter sellers in town with my husband. Dressed in a black suit, I showed up at a local shoe shop with my husband in tow. The shoe shop has a sideline business in scooter sales. Seeing the price tags was quite a shock. $1600 for a scooter! I thought they were way more expensive than that! But the one I wanted was more of a vintage Vespa style and was more then $2500. A little too expensive for me.

But by looking at the scooters and talking to an actual person about them, we were able to see the storage compartments, hear the chirp of the alarm system, try out the remote start feature, and actually feel how light and comfortable they are. Deciding to look around some more, we took some brochures and kept looking.

So we went to an outdoor sports shop downtown. They had a classy pink scooter in the window that I had been eyeballing for awhile. I love pink. But when I saw the price I hightailed it outta there. More than $3000 for that one!!!!! Ouch. Obviously not right for me.

That's when we decided to hit the internet for more information.

There is a lot more to decide on than just the color when it comes to scooters. In order to ensure that you find the right one to fit your needs, you need to shop around keeping the different features in mind. Here are some things to consider:

Style - Do you want one of the newer-looking sporty styles, or do you want you scooter to look like the classy vintage Vespas? My husband opted for the sporty style and I stuck with my dream for a vintage-looking one.

Color - Scooters come in many different colors, so do some shopping around to find the best color / style for you. Beware that all scooter makes and models do not come in all of the colors, so be sure to ask the dealer if they have the color scheme you want. As I said before, I adore pink. My husband is a fool for anything yellow.

Engine Size - What are you going to use your scooter for? If you are like me, you will need it to commute back and forth to work or to ride around town. The size of the engine is measured in "cc"s. I highly recommend that you stay away from the 50cc scooters. They aren't really powerful enough to do what you need them to do, and if you live in a mountainous or hilly area, forget it. On the flip side, a 250cc scooter will go pretty fast, but they are obviously more expensive. I have been advised to opt for a 150cc scooter. It will go fast enough, get great gas mileage, and navigate the hills of our town with ease.

Storage - If you've ever seen a scooter, you probably know that there isn't a lot of room for storage. Most models have a storage compartment underneath the seat cushion. For added room, many scooters come with a trunk attachment (others require that the trunk be an additional purchase). And there are even a few scooters that have storage in the front (Tank scooters have this option).

Seating - What is your seating situation? Scooters with room for only the driver are not difficult to find. If you want a back seat, look for a scooter with a comfy seat, foot rests for both the driver and the passenger, and a padded sissy bar for you passenger's comfort. Just keep in mind that carrying a passenger will lower your top speed, lower your gas mileage, and even create a distraction for the driver which could lead to an accident. Novice riders shouldn't carry passengers. Stay Safe!

Accessories - I told you about the trunk attachment, but there are some other neat accessories you might want to consider getting. My favorite is the remote ignition starter feature. You could start your scooter from the front door and let it warm up for a few minutes until you are ready to leave. Some scooters even come with AM/FM radio and some have aluminum floor mats. I found a very interesting scooter accessory online for you pet! It's called a Road Hound Pet Carrier and can be attached to the back of your scooter so you beloved pet can ride with you!! I've gotta have one!

Once you've decided on the kind of scooter you want, start looking around for the best prices, best warranty, and best accessories package you can find.

Speaking from my own experience, you are not going to find the best price at a scooter dealer. The pink, vintage style scooter I wanted was $1000-$2500 more at a scooter sales place! Instead, my husband and I went online to find our scooters. Believe it or not, you can find many 150cc scooters online for less than $1000! The prices are simply unbeatable when you shop online.

Here are some of the best sites (all links open in a new window):

SaferWholesale.com - They have lots of different scooters. Maybe they have the one you are looking for!

ExpressATVs.com - You can't beat these prices on scooters!

eBay - Never underestimate the incredible buying power you have on eBay. There are some great deals on scooters in this online auction site. I purchased my vintage-style pink scooter on eBay for $1800 less than the local scooter salesman wanted!!

When you are shopping for a scooter online, be sure to look for the best warranty, free shipping, and the best "free stuff included" package available!

Our idea was to sell the crotch-rocket and use the money to pay for 2 scooters. I, however, am a typical female and I wanted my scooter ASAP. I didn't want to wait. So, I went down to our Credit Union and got a loan to cover the purchase of 2 scooters and registration / sales tax / licensing for both. We'll pay it off when the motorcycle sells.

If you have followed my advice and decided to purchase a scooter from an online source, you next step is actually purchasing the machine.

I suggest that you call the seller at the number provided on their website. When you are able to talk to an actual person about your scooter purchase, you will get all of your questions answered and rest easy knowing that the company is legit. Be sure to confirm the included accessories, warranty, ordering process, etc.

If you buy your scooter from an online dealer (like we did for my husband's scooter), it will be easiest to use a credit or debit card to complete the transaction. If you buy your scooter from eBay like I did, you will either buy it at online auction or use a buy it now feature. I recommend that you opt for the online auction style because that's how you're gonna get the best deal. Have an idea what your maximum bid will be, and watch the auction. I'm an eBay fanatic, and it's my opinion that you should wait until the very end to bid. I usually throw my max bid out there 7-8 minutes before the auction closes. This reduces the risk of someone bidding against you at the very last minute. With the eBay scooter purchase, I was able to use my secure PayPal account to buy my scooter. It was easy, safe, and convenient. Beside that, it ensured that my order was processed right away.

Now that you've purchased your scooter at an awesome price (and hopefully got free shipping out of the deal), you have to wait for your scooter to be shipped to you.

The seller will probably hire a freight company, and depending on where you bought it, your scooter will be sent to your home or business. It's safe to assume that some assembly will be required, but don't worry. You'll probably only have to secure the handlebars, position the battery, add the fluids, and adjust the mirrors to fit your needs. I opted to have our scooters sent to the funeral home where I work because we have a fabulous garage for scooter assembly.

As you are waiting for your scooter to arrive, you might want to look into the state laws concerning motorcycles / mopeds / scooters. Look into these topics:

Licensing and Registration - Check into the costs for licensing and registering a scooter. Beware that you'll probably have to pay state sales tax on your scooter if you bought it online.

Insurance - Be sure to get your scooter insured. If you took out a loan to get the scooter, the bank will probably require you to have full coverage anyway.

Helmet - You can use this time to shop for your DOT approved helmet! The helmet will not only keep you legal, it might even save your life!

Motorcycle Endorsement - Your state laws will probably require you to have a motorcycle endorsement to ride your scooter down public roads. You will probably have to take the written and skills tests to get it. Check with you local DMV about this. In Washington, I will be able to actually ride my own scooter to get the skills test done (some state require you to use a motorcycle they provide! ...... I can't ride a motorcycle...scooter only!).

When you finally get your scooter and get it assembled, you will need to learn how to ride your scooter safely.

State laws might require you to have a helmet (you should have one anyway), but there are other articles of clothing that can protect you as well. Consider purchasing some goggles / face shield to protect your eyes. A long sleeved jacket made of durable material will protect your arms from bugs, flying rocks, potential road burn, and rabid badgers (made that one up...not yet scientifically tested).

Read your scooter's instruction manual and become familiar with all of the controls (lights, turn signals, kick stands, ignition, alarm, etc.). You want to be able to use your controls without having to look down for them. When you ride your scooter, be sure that you are prepared for anything to happen. Do not drive on public roads until you are comfortable with your machine. Try it out in a parking lot first, and have fun learning to ride your new scooter!

UPDATE:

Well, the scooters arrived, but they sent me the completely wrong scooter!!!! Rather than wait another month for shipping, I opted to just stick with the scooter I was sent. Besides, I can personalize it however I want!

My husband's scooter arrived with a little bit of freight damage (scuffs) but nothing too bad. The company will replace the parts. Now we are ready to commute efficiently and save on gas!

Armed with a brand new scooter and a learner's permit, I have started the Clearwater Scoot Crew. It's a scooter club in Lewiston, Idaho and Clarkston, Washington. The scooter popularity has increased ten-fold in our area and we can't wait to meet other local scooter enthusiasts!