Gas prices spur interest in cheaper rides

Scooter sales are up in Lawrence. The bicycle shops are busier than usual. And hybrid car sales are brisk.

Outrageously expensive gasoline is prompting some local drivers to get out of their cars and sport utility vehicles and seek out other, less expensive forms of transportation.

“I think we’re seeing a little bit more of new bike sales, and we’re seeing a lot more of people dragging their bikes out of the garage and getting them fixed,” said Dan Hughes, owner of Sunflower Outdoor and Bike Shop.

He said he had hired extra mechanics to keep up with the flood of repair and maintenance jobs.

Dalton Paley, a salesman at Cycle Works in west Lawrence, reported a similar phenomenon.

“We’ve probably had a few people coming in today that (the price of gas) has made a bit of a difference, that’s for sure,” he said. “People have been coming in looking for commuter-style bikes all summer. Gas is one factor, but I think seeing Lance (Armstrong) cruise around helps as well.”

He added: “Everyone’s worried about gas mileage. You don’t put gas in your bike, obviously.”

Sunflower Outdoor and Bike Shop service mechanic Jackson Morley, 21, works to replace the wheels of a mountain bike Wednesday afternoon. The store, 802 Mass., is about nine days behind on repairs because of recent heavy demand.

You do put gasoline into motor scooters and hybrid cars – but not nearly as often as in most family vehicles. A Vespa scooter, for example, can get around 50 mpg, while a Toyota Prius hybrid gasoline-electrical car isn’t far behind.

“We sold six scooters in the last two days. That’s pretty good,” said Tom Dierker, manager at Subsonic Scooters in North Lawrence. “I don’t know if that’s the whole reason they’re buying them, but gas is definitely a factor.”

Ron Gannaway, a salesman at Crown Toyota, said he hadn’t noticed an uptick in inquiries about the Prius since gasoline hit $3 a gallon in Lawrence on Tuesday. The real surge, he said, started back at $2.50 a gallon.

“We are definitely receiving five to 10 inquiries a day and have been a long time,” Gannaway said.

But John Ellena said that hybrid sales at Jack Ellena Honda were sizzling.

“We have had, all month long, a surge in our hybrid sales. This has been our best month for hybrids ever,” he said. “As gas prices rise, people are going to consider their options. They can’t afford to have cars that get 10, 12, 15 mph.”

Gannaway said some SUV owners were trading in their older vehicles for smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. Other drivers, he said, were sticking with the bigger vehicles.

“I think a lot of people who can afford a $45,000-$50,000 truck, the difference of a dollar in the price of gas doesn’t bother them that much,” Gannaway said.