How to... save with a scooter (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

How to... save with a scooter

9:26am Monday 18th August 2008 in

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Why have four wheels when you can have two? It’s not practical for everyone to use a scooter or a motorbike for work, but, for those who can downsize, a scooter is certainly worth considering. With petrol costs soaring, increasing numbers of people are making the switch from four wheels to two and women, it seems, are leading this two-wheeled revolution.

1 Scooters are cheap to run and maintain and are easier to park than cars. Compared with the cost of car ownership and maintenance, scooters are far more cost-effective, not to mention safe. Filtering through traffic on two wheels can drastically reduce your journey times too. If you passed your driving test before February 1, 2001, you have a full moped entitlement, shown as category P on your licence. This means you’re legally allowed to ride a bike, not exceeding 50cc with a maximum speed of 30mph, on the road. A training course is recommended, however, to get you used to riding on two wheels.

2 You can pack quite a bit into the panniers and baskets on scooters and there are some clever storage compartments for things like your mobile phone. You can put shopping in the box on the back and the under-seat storage, or hide away your helmet when you’re not riding.

3 If driving a scooter or motorbike isn’t your thing, how about the humble bicycle? There are several benefits to cycling to work, not least the boost to health and fitness and the cost-cutting. Not only do you save on transport and parking costs, you’re improving your stamina and keeping trim through exercise and you’re also cutting down your carbon footprint.