SEATTLE -- Step aside, youngsters. There's a new breed of scooter riders in town.

With gas prices on the rise, scooter sales are booming and more than half of the buyers are between 40 and 60 years old.

"Dense city, high price of gas - a scooter makes sense," said Steve Calvo, dealer with Vespa Seattle. "We're up 225 percent over last year."

The gas mileage explains the hype. You can fill up a 50cc scooter for around $4 and travel 75 miles before filling up again.

Patti West, who commutes by scooter year-round, says she saves money and time with her choice of wheels.

"I show up at events sooner than my friends because I can find parking right away," she said.

But parking takes precedence over power. On a flat street, a scooter with a 50cc engine can reach up to 45 mph, but on a hill, you're lucky if you can hit 20 mph.

And there are safety worries, including wipe outs, lack of scooter driving experience and car drivers who fail to see scooters coming.

"I was hit three times over the course of one year," said Leigh Dawson, former scooter rider.

Dawson finally gave up her mangled scooter.

"I ride a bike now and got hit the other day on my bike," she said.

Scooter prices range from $800 to $8,000. Riders do not need a special license to operate a scooter with up to a 50cc engine as long as the rider is at least 16 years old and carries a valid driver's license.

More information:

Evergreen Safety Council's safety training