I’ve been thinking about alternatives to my 20ish MPG car for a while now. While I’ve been using my bike for short trips, I end up making several 8 to 12 mile (one way) trips a week that just aren’t safe or practical on my bike. And mass transit in my area is virtually non-existent. I’m not quite ready to upgrade to a new car yet (we can’t quite afford one) and I’m hoping that by holding out for a few years, I’ll be able to get a much more fuel efficient car than anything available today.

Yesterday, Joe and I drove by a couple on scooters, and since than, I’ve been wondering, “could I be a scooter girl?” I’ve never given them much thought before, but there are several things about scooters that are quite appealing. First, there’s the 70 MPG. Then, there’s the fact that most of my weekday trips are made by myself, so there’s no need for a full-size car anyway. (And it will be a few more years before we think about kids.) And a scooter fits into our budget much better that a new car. Plus, on a scooter, I can pretend I’m Audrey Hepburn zipping around Rome.

But there are also a few turn-offs. Joe’s been wanting a motorcycle for years now, and I’ve always told him no, because I think they’re dangerous. If I got a scooter, I’d have no argument for not letting Joe have a motorcycle. Plus, I’m not convinced I’d be totally comfortable riding a scooter. I don’t have the best balance or coordination in the world. (Though arguably, riding my bike more often will probably help with that.) And I’m not sure I’d feel any safer than I do on my bike.

What do you think, do the pros outweigh the cons? Could I be a scooter girl?

(image via Vespa USA)