By Carol McCracken

Just last week Hill resident Ron Weton bought a gas powered scooter. He did it for the same reason that everyone else does he said – “to save money on gas and also to have a pleasant ride around the area.” Weton lives on the Eastern Promenade.

Although Ron did not purchase his scooter on the Hill, he could have. 3Gs’ Tire & Automotive Service sells scooters that range in price from $1,200. to $3,000. and get 100 miles to the gallon says “Mr. H.” long-time owner of the business. He began buying the scooters last fall from a distributor in Georgia who distributes all over the country. The distributor recently told Mr. H. that he can’t keep enough in stock to satisfy all his customers.  Scooters are everywhere!

The scooters are built in China by four different companies. So far the Georgia distributor has been unable to identify just which company is building which scooter. So all four scooters are considered “generic.” As to his automotive repair business, Mr. H. said it is “recession proof” because car parts are relatively inexpensive. 3Gs’ Tire is located at 52 Fox Street and the phone number is 772-1255 if you want to check out the scooters.

There is another scooter model to consider; that is the electric powered model, d/b/a Scoot USA. The price of these runs from $1,550. to $2,500. They are all uniform in size with a range of between 20 to 25 miles. (Battery packages are available to double that mileage figure). According to Jeff Cooper, “Director of Fun,” who owns this franchise, the scooters are made on the Island of Taiwan. Cooper is working with a local company in hopes of setting up a solar recharging station in the area. Scooters may be rented or purchased. Scoot by Scoot USA on Commerical Street next to Sapporo’s restaurant or call (800) 205-2925 to learn more.

Of course, the search for alternative forms of transportation has been intensified by the high price of gasoline at the pump with no indication of any relief any time soon. The Maine Turnpike Authority reported recently that fewer people drove the Maine Turnpike in June this year than did last year for the same month. That means that tax revenues for our highways are also down. How will that be made up or compensated for, one wonders?

Ron Weton is the owner and teacher of ProDrive, a professional truck driving business. “Isn’t it ironic that I just bought a scooter,” he says laughing. When winter comes, “I guess I’ll have to consider snow tires for my scooter. I know I won’t want to take it off the road. I like it that much,” he adds.