Small, nimble and quick, the rides are seemingly ubiquitous across East Lansing.

Sometimes driven in packs and sometimes alone, mo-peds sales are up this semester following a summer of high gas prices.

Sales at College Bike Shop, 340 N. Larch St., in Lansing, rose 25 percent during Welcome Week and continue to stay above last year's numbers, salesman Jason Evans said.

The hot seller is the Honda Metropolitan 2, getting 100 miles per gallon and traveling less than 30 mph.

Some students say they enjoy riding the mo-peds instead of bikes.

Accounting sophomore Alison Mueller, who lives in Mason Hall, uses her electric mo-ped twice a week to go to class in Wilson Hall.

Mueller's family bought it on sale for $300 for her to use in place of a bike or car.

"Usually when I see other people riding I honk," she said, laughing.

Mueller uses the mo-ped, which can hit a top speed of about 30 mph, three to four times a week for errands.

Michigan law states that mo-peds traveling more than 30 mph are considered motorcycles, and therefore require a helmet.

Mo-peds traveling less than that don't require one.

Evans said scooter buyers are all ages - from MSU students to 50-60 year olds - but share a common goal: saving gas.

"Once gas hit $3 a gallon, there was a huge increase of people starting to think about new transportation," he said.

Other shops selling mo-peds in the area say gas affected their sales in the same way.

Four Seasons Yamaha, 5019 N. Grand River Ave., in Lansing, saw a jump in sales when gas prices rose at the end of summer.

Owner Dewey Weldon said students are the biggest customer for mo-peds.

He also said motorcycle sales in general are up about 100 percent at his store.

Yahama models, priced at $1,800 are the most popular sellers.

Weldon said buyers are looking for basic transportation, and usually go without many extras or frills.

"(It's) easy to take them short commuter distances for those who don't want to drive," he said. "Not looking for long distance."

At Motor Sports Unlimited, 6000 S. Pennsylvania Ave., in Lansing, motorcycle and mo-ped sales are up.

Brandon Scott, assistant sales manager, said the typical model costs between $1,800-$1,900.

Even MSU sports teams are joining the trend.

At media day on Sept. 28, members of MSU's men's hockey team commented about the mobility and ease of their new mo-peds.

Coach Rick Comley said players can drive them to class without worrying about parking.

"That's what they drive," he said. "They can take those right to classes and park them on the sidewalk. (Players) all live off campus and they drive their mo-peds."

Senior forward Colton Fretter said although his mid-80s model is out of commission, mo-peds are "great actually. You don't have to pay for parking and get to where you want to go fast on campus."

Junior defenseman Ethan Graham said he drives a faster model and gets noticed when he's out riding.

"You'll see people in class and they'll be like, 'Don't you have a bunch of scooters that you ride around?'

"It's fun."