Bill Bays has parked his SUV in exchange for a small Schwinn scooter he recently bought in Wichita as a way to deal with rising gas prices.
"I was probably using about $40 a week (in fuel)," he said. "Now I'm maybe using $4 a week."
Motorcycle and motorized bike registrations are on the rise in Kansas, and dealers say it is likely due in part to gas prices, which set records again Wednesday.
Motorcycle registration increased Motor Bike Insurance about 17 percent from 2005 to 2007, and registration of motorized bikes went up about 20 percent during that period, according to the Kansas Department of Revenue.
Meanwhile, registrations of trucks, trailers and recreational vehicles are down.
The numbers are not surprising to Dave McCurdy, general manager at Mid America Powersports.
"The forecast was that motorcycles were supposed to be down this year, and we're not seeing that, and part of that is that I think people are looking for cheaper transportation," he said.
Motorcycle makers are touting fuel efficiency, he said.
"In the past, motorcycle manufacturers were not required to put out MPG ratings," McCurdy said. Although still not required to do so, "this year we're seeing tags by the manufacturers. We have scooters that will get clear up to 100 miles a gallon and motorcycles that get 70 miles a gallon."
