BLOOMINGTON - State Farm Insurance Cos. worker Darren Fischer is part of a growing trend in this town: Scooter commuters. | Video | Extra caution needed as more turn to motorbikes

As gas prices climb, some Central Illinois drivers turn to bicycles, city buses or carpools to adapt. Others, like the 38-year-old Bloomington man hop on the two-wheeled driving machines for getting around, saving money and living greener.

"Our scooter customers are getting some looks at the gas pump when their tank is full at $7.50, while next to them an SUV needs close to $80 to fill up," said Robin Juhler, a co-owner of Bloomington-based Sportland, a motorcycle dealership that carries Yamaha, Honda and Polaris scooters.

Fischer laughed a little as he talked of savings since buying his scooter in May. Like most scooter owners, he also has a car.

Gas savings also led Ryan Wilson, 21, of Bloomington to his purchase a few weeks ago. Now, Wilson said, friends and family are inquiring. "I get about 100 miles to a gallon on this. … Now, some of them are thinking about buying one," said the Maguire's Pub worker.

Juhler, as well as Steve Garrel of Garrel's Honda in Pontiac, both say they've sold out of scooters, and hope more will arrive by July. Juhler said that comes despite ordering double the scooter inventory they had last summer.

The average scooter can range in price from $2,000 to $10,000, although higher-priced models are available depending on engine size, a windshield and other extras.

The scooters, most often characterized by a smaller cycle engine, step-through frame and a lack of gear-shifting, indeed are motorcycles, said Juhler, and require a motorcycle license. Scooters long have been long staples in other nations already hit by higher retail fuel prices, and in larger U.S. coastal cities where their maneuverability is a plus in crowded traffic.

For several years, scooters have been popular in such as Heyworth and Minonk as errand tools. But this summer, the bikes are on Twin City streets with increasing frequency.

A Midwestern culture shift may be coming.

"I do think we're going to start seeing more of these. This is probably here to stay," said Fischer.

Tom Nemec of Normal, a Yamaha representative, said every scooter he can get into the Twin Cities is selling. Used scooters are hard to come by, as most people are hanging on to them, and 2009 models won't be available until September, said Nemec.

Since 2002, Yamaha's U.S. scooter sales have jumped by 86 percent, he said.

Motorcycle sales in general started climbing in 2004 at Garrel's Honda in Pontiac. "There used to be a bad-boy biker image from the movies. But I think it's more culturally acceptable now to ride motorcycles: You see all different ages, men and women, riding," said Steve Garrel, the store's co-owner. Scooters really started selling well at his shop in 2006.

Sherrilyn Biller, 35 of Normal, teaches economics at Illinois State University. She bought her Genuine Scooter Co. bike in the Chicago area last summer after a trip to Madison, Wis., where the vehicles already dotted the streets.

She parks her scooter daily near Stevenson Hall on the ISU campus, not far from her home. The thought of lower gas prices certainly didn't hurt, but she mostly made the purchase because she thinks the bikes are fun, said Biller.

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Scooting

- Being seen: Area industry experts say scooters and cycles are gaining a presence on Illinois roads. This year, Illinois State University's motorcycle training program will offer 360 courses in its 30-county region. That's more than double the 150 courses offered in 2003. Area dealers also report being sold out of scooter models, despite ordering larger batches.

- Fuel efficiency: Most of the popular scooter models get between 50 and 120 miles per gallon

- Mopeds or scooters? Mopeds are motor bikes with pedals and smaller motors; they are very rare in Central Illinois, and can be used with any valid Illinois driver's license. Scooters are motorcycles characterized by a no-gearshifting key turn, smaller wheels, and a step-through frame - meaning a rider wouldn't need to lift a leg over the engine. State-issued motorcycle licenses are required.

- Licenses: Between 1 cc and 149 cc motors require a Class L license; 150 cc and higher require a Class M license. Scooters fall in both categories.

- Gear: State law requires eye-protective gear while riding. Helmets and training classes are optional.

- On the Net: The Illinois Cycle Riders' Safety Training Program, www.motorcyclesafety.ilstu.edu; Illinois Department of Transportation, www.dot.il.gov; State Motorcycle Safety Administrators, www.smsa.org; Central Illinois ABATE, www.centralilabate.org; How Scooters Work - www.howitworks.net.

SOURCES: Erik Hanks, ISU Motorcycle Training coordinator; Dave White, Bloomington Police Department; Robin Juhler, co-owner, Sportland