Cindy Davies says the expense of driving two young children, Gage (7) and Thor (5), from Mosgiel to their Catholic school in Dunedin each day made the family "think hard about alternatives".
"The only sensible option was to enroll them in an [integrated Catholic] school in Mosgiel," she says. The family had been spending more than $80 a week on fuel.
"The costs just kept getting higher and higher, and when insurance, registration and road user charges were added in it was a bit of a reality check."
The family bought a car in May 2007, and Ms Davies said "a big tick on the list" was that it was diesel powered.
Diesel prices and RUC charges have since increased, so costs "work out about the same as a petrol vehicle".
"It just seems like we were being stung by other costs. Now we are fighting over the small [petrol] Toyota Corolla if we are going in to Dunedin," she joked.
Small change
Dunedin chef Sherman Simpson says holiday experiences using scooters in Asia and Europe left a lasting impression.
"We needed a second vehicle, and having a car is handy on bad weather days, but we didn't want the expense which went with it. We had enjoyed using [hired] scooters overseas, and it just seemed like a fun, economical alternative," Mr Simpson said.
Mr Simpson commutes from St Clair to a harbour-side restaurant each day. He averages about 150km on his 125cc Piaggio scooter each week.
"I have to top up the (7.2l) tank every ten days or so, and with the increased petrol prices this now is about $10 or $11. My partner filled our Suzuki (four-wheel-drive) the other day, and it was about $100 - I thought 'if we go on a trip we'd have to get a loan'."
Licensing and insurance for the scooter costs about $450 a year. Start-up costs included serveral hundred dollars on a helmet, gloves and safety gear, including a reflective jacket. Mr Simpson had a motorcycle licence when he bought the scooter, so did not need to pay for a licence.
Since buying the scooter in April, bad weather has only kept him off the scooter "a handful of times".
It is powerful enough "that negotiating hills is not an issue," and it can carry a pillion passenger on excursions around the peninsula.
Cycle way
For several months Dunedin fitness instructor and pool lifeguard Chris Bisley has been leaving the car at home to bicycle about 60km to work each week He estimates his leg-toning efforts are saving him at least $30 a week.
"You soon change your idea of what you can tolerate with weather. You might gain another five minutes by taking the car, but really the biggest hassle is carrying gear," he said.
Mr Bisley says more cycle lanes make it easier to commute on a bicycle, but he is "always extra vigilant early at the morning and at twiglight".
"Maybe the Government should think about subsidising reflective gear."
Mr Bisley estimates he spends between $200 and $300 a year on batteries for lights, bicycle tyres and additional safety gear or wet-weather clothing.
"But that's only about two months running in a car," he says.
Pooling resources
Relief-teacher Katrina McAra started car-pooling with other Waikouaiti residents two months ago.
"More people in the area are thinking about it. I was lucky to get in with an existing car-pooling group who all work at the [Dunedin Public] Hospital. I still take my car in two or three days a week, but it does bring costs down."
Ms McAra estimates she spends about $22 on petrol for a return journey to Dunedin, and previously made the trip up to six times a week for work and sport.
"The only downside is sometimes people work different hours. But that's not too bad," she says.
All aboard
Otago Regional Council transportation manager Bruce Ramsay says "anecdotally and observationally," more people are using buses in Dunedin.
"Services like the Mosgiel 8.20am express had a slow start when launched last year, and there were only four or five people on each bus, now they are near full some mornings."
A single-zone fare around the inner city costs $1.30 on Citibus commercial services (contract services are $1.20), travelling between two zones costs about $1.60, but discounts on all fares are now available to "Go Card" users.
A fare increase on July 28 will be the first adjustment since 2003, and reflects higher Road User Charges and fuel costs.
"In the original passenger transport plan, fares were supposed to be cheaper than running a car, and this has remained in the current plan. But we are responding to pressure."
Going for a scoot
Dunedin motorcycle store owner Ric Jamieson says demand for small scooters, which can be operated by owners holding only a car licence has reached unprecedented levels.
"There is competition in the sales team to see who can presell the most scooters before an order arrives. Five years ago you'd be lucky to sell one or two a year, now we are selling about 12 a fortnight. We can't meet the demand and this is the coldest time of year - what's it going to be like in summer?"
Mr Jamieson says newer 49cc scooters, particularly two-stroke fuel models, are increasingly powerful and pass the "council bus" test of keeping ahead of heavy traffic.
There is increasing consumer interest in larger scooters, which go for $4500 or more.
"Hopefully it will go like Italy or France, where people who live five minutes away from work just hop on a scooter," he says.
Sales of 250cc motorbikes suitable for riders holding a learners licence are also increasing.
Apart from being easy to ride, the small-capacity motorcycles achieve fuel efficiency of about 40km/litre. Small-capacity scooters cost just under $2000. New 250cc motorcycles retailed for about $4000. Learner motorcyclists can spend up to $1500 on safety equipment.
