Those of you who read Paul Daugherty's blog may have noticed a post he made the other day discussing the possibilty that he might buy a scooter to save money on gas. I was amused to read some of the comments he received about how dangerous they are and one that said they don't really get 90 miles per gallon.

I can tell you that I bought a scooter in the spring of 2006 and I have just passed the 3,000-mile mark. I have never come close to having an accident. Of course, you don't take them on the expressway. You would get killed. Mine tops out at about 50 to 55 mph. But I drive it into the office most mornings, making my way down West Fork Rd. through Mt. Airy Forest through Northside, up the Ludlow Viaduct and down Central Parkway into downtown.

And yes, it does get 90 miles per gallon. I filled the tank last week for a little over $4, which means that I bought about a gallon of gas. It's about a 20-mile ride round trip from my house downtown and backagain. I made that trip five times last week, then put another $4 worth in the tank. Do the math.

Besides that, they're a lot of fun to ride. Of course, not everyone is impressed by them. When my older brother first saw my scooter he ridiculed me and asked me why I didn't go out and buy a real motorcycle, then this summer he went out and bought a real motorcycle himself, perhaps just to make me feel bad. But it didn't work. I'm perfectly happy with my scooter. Besides, I get plenty of those cool, understated waves from real cycle riders when I pass them on the road. And I don't even wear a black leather jacket.

And just for the record, when the weather is bad and I can't ride my scooter, I have a hybrid car that gets 45 miles per gallon.