Riding a scooter saves more than just on gas
Corey Mood has no qualms about having his fiancee take a back seat in his life more often these days.
That's because he's driving a motorized scooter around the city, saving money in gas. And she's often literally behind him, arms wrapped around his waist.
(John J. Kim/Sun-Times)
The 30-year-old physician's assistant bought the Vespa last month for $1,500.
Now, the Logan Square resident leaves his Audi parked whenever he can. He still drives his car to and from his Morton Grove job.
"For pretty much everything else, I plan on using the scooter -- trips to the grocery store, around town, going to the beach on weekends. ..," he said.
The Audi gets about 20 mpg, he said. The scooter gets 60 to 70 mpg.
Aaron Aggio has seen the rationale behind scooter purchases undergo significant change since he opened his Windy City Scooter & Bicycle Rental Co., 2151 W. Division, four years ago.
"Four years ago, it was thought of as more of a luxury item. Now, it's more a 'I'm sick of paying four dollars and change for a gallon of gas' alternative," Aggio said.
The store, which sells new and used scooters, has seen sales triple over the last year, he said.
Scooter users also enjoy another type of savings, Mood said: time spent looking for parking spots in the city.
"I had tickets to the Cubs game on Friday, and I rode from my house and parked about a block away and walked right to the game. There's no chance I would have been able to do that with my car," Mood said.
He'll marry Brynn Wyler in September.
"She is learning how to ride," he said.
How are you saving money? Write to us at psmith@suntimes.com or comment at suntimes.com.