Scooter Purchases on the Rise as Gas Prices Rise
 
While it is not uncommon to see scooters on the streets of Europe or Asia, they have been largely invisible in the United States where their popularity declined during the 1990s. This trend, however, has ended as gas prices soar over 3 USD/gallon. With scooters easily getting 60 miles per gallon, scooter sales in the US have increased an incredible 555 percent between 1997 and 2006. A popular model among the fashionable set is the retro-styled Vespa scooter by Piaggio. Other scooters increasingly visible in urban centers like NYC and Chicago, as well as in college towns, include Asian models from Yamaha, Honda, SYM and KYMCO. Industry experts forecast this trend will continue, with double digit percent growth of scooter, scooter spare parts, and scooter accessories in 2008. |