Sophomore Ethan Gillespie commutes to school on his bicycle – motor bicycle, that is – and saves money on gas, as well as a lot of physical exertion.

The motor bicycle gets 35 miles to the quart of gas. For now, it travels 20 miles per hour, but once the engine is broken in, it will go 25 miles per hour.

“It’s like a moped,” he said.

In his hometown of Valdosta, gas prices were nearly $4. The price was not sitting well with Gillespie or his dad. Gillespie decided to take action in a cost- efficient, environmentally friendly way. He purchased the motor and its accompanying parts on the Internet and transformed his bicycle into a motor bicycle in June.

To start it, the rider has to pedal four or five times, Gillespie said. Then, the rider releases the clutch, starting the engine. For flat roads, the rider can coast on the bike. Only when riding up a steep hill does the rider need to pedal continuously and exert energy.

“I burn through half a gallon a week going back and forth to school,” Gillespie said.

He said he spends about $1.45 a week on gas. Not only is saving money on gas a concern for the environmental engineering major, but the motor bicycle also releases fewer emissions into the air than driving his truck to school would.

Unfortunately, the motor bicycle has a lot of mechanical problems.

“Things break on it all the time,” Gillespie said. “…at least once a week.”

Still, Gillespie is willing to work on it as long as it takes.

“I hope it’ll last through senior year.”

Though Gillespie has two more years, he said he’ll continue to think of ways to improve his travel.