New Scooter Store In Tulsa Keeping Busy

At $3 a gallon, lots of drivers are looking for ways to save money on gas. For some, that means trading in their vehicles for something smaller, speedier and more gas savvy. <br/><br/>News on 6 anchor

Friday, August 4th 2006, 1:49 pm

By: News On 6

At $3 a gallon, lots of drivers are looking for ways to save money on gas. For some, that means trading in their vehicles for something smaller, speedier and more gas savvy.

News on 6 anchor Scott Thompson says across the country, scooters are becoming a hot commodity.

Jan Tupps just opened a Vespa dealership near 37th and Peoria. She has another shop in Oklahoma City. She had lots of customers from Tulsa driving down to her Oklahoma City store, so Jan decided to open a second location in Tulsa. She says sales have been soaring in the seven weeks they've been open.

One of the big selling points is the gas mileage. These scooters get 75 miles to the gallon, without sacrificing performance. Jim Ridgway takes his Vespa from midtown to Broken Arrow every day for work. He says he's already seen the savings. "Most days I'll ride 15 miles each way to work, and so in 4 days I'll spend the same amount of gas I spend in one day if I drive my car."

Jim's wife also drives a Vespa, but they have a car too.