Ellen Patrick, a pianist employed by The University, was just one of many Tennesseans who opted to buy a cheaper and more fuel-efficient motorcycle.
Patrick bought her Yamaha scooter for $2,300. Although the scooter's speedometer only goes up to 60 mph, Patrick said the money she saves offsets any inconvenience.
"I get anywhere between 80 and 90 mpg," she said. "I've gotten 96, but most of the time it's between 80 and 90. The appeal of getting 80 miles to the gallon was a big draw. It's more than three times the gas mileage I was getting in my old car."
Eric Gamble, a senior anthropology major with a concentration in archaeology, said he recently bought his motorcycle off eBay.
"I get 75 miles to the gallon," Gamble said. He said he was motivated to make his purchase by his motorcycle-riding uncle, the book "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Repair" and the television show "Renegade."
However, because more people are riding motorcycles nationwide, motorcycle fatalities throughout the nation and in Tennessee are shooting upward.
Highway fatalities as a whole are down nation-wide, but motorcycle fatalities in Tennessee are still rising, said Kendell Poole, director of the Governor's Highway Safety Office.
"As everyone knows, Tennessee has seen a spike in motorcycle fatalities," Poole said. "Quite frankly, there are just more bikes on the road. Motorcycles are becoming more popular, and with the increase in gas prices, you're going to see more motorcycles on the road."
Shelby County has the sixth highest motorcycle crash rate among Tennessee counties, according to a Tennessee Department of Safety report released earlier this year.
Motorcycle fatalities have increased statewide from 69 incidents in 2000 to 148 in 2007. As of January 2008, there are approximately 290,000 license holders authorized to operate a motorcycle in Tennessee.
"I will say this," Poole said. "Tennessee is not immune to a nationwide problem. It's a nationwide trend and a great concern to people across the U.S."
However, Poole said, the numbers of fatalities in Tennessee are "seeing a slight decrease" from 2007. He attributed this decrease to the success of Tennessee safety programs.
"We think a lot of that had to do with our programs," Poole said, but the challenge to the department will be in finding a way to offset the motorcycle fatalities. To do this, Poole said the department needs more federal dollars for driver education as well as stiffer state laws.
