VESPA SEATTLE

Seattle Vespa -- a dealer on Denny Way -- says this could be its busiest season yet.

SEATTLE -- Not since Audrey Hepburn rode a scooter across the big screen in "Roman Holiday" has the motor scooter enjoyed such a spotlight.

High gas prices have sent news media to scooter dealers across the nation to report on increased sales as commuters look for a more fuel-efficient way of getting around.

Workers at Vespa Seattle – a dealer on Denny Way -- say this could be their most profitable season.

But Seattle motor scooter owners say there are more benefits to scootering than being able to smirk at SUV drivers at the gas pump. And Puget Sound has a burgeoning scooter community that's been thriving since the days when gas didn’t cost an arm and a leg.

"I think I used the excuse to my wife about gas mileage," said Vincent Rowley, a Queen Anne resident who owns several scooters. "But if they had three miles to the gallon, we'd probably still be riding them."

Deep roots

The Seattle scooter scene dates back to the 1960s, when the European-brand Vespa began exporting here. In the 80s, the punk scene embraced scooters, said Rowley.

"They kind of carried the torch," he said. "They had this thing for Euro stuff and Vespas."

In the past decade, the local scooter community has grown to include quirky clubs like the Seattle Sirens (an all-girl group), the WUSSYs, The R-Gang (The R stands for Rainier Beer), The Emerald City Flying Monkeys SC and Los Gatos Gordos. Some groups require initiations and sport club tattoos, said Steve Calvo, of Vespa Seattle. You often have to be invited in.

"It is all in fun," Calvo said. "I tell my customers – if you see two guys walk out of club with leathers or tattoos on, nowadays you don’t know if they're gonna get on Vespa or Harley."

He is part of the Vespa Club of Seattle, which was formed to bring together everyone in the scooter community -- regardless of lifestyle or fashion -- for networking, social events and rallies.

Their community is growing, and gas prices are helping.

"It's touching everybody," Calvo said. "It's getting bigger every year."

Good gas mileage

Most scooters get 60 to 80 miles to the gallon and are easy to park.

But other factors have helped bolster the scooter community here, including ferry commuters.

"Two-wheelers have the advantage for cheaper fares, easy-on and easy-off, never miss a boat," Calvo said. "So many more people are moving to Bainbridge and Vashon and the Olympic Peninsula."

Scooters also make navigating downtown traffic a breeze.

"We've been seeing more and more people going down to being a one-car family. Vespa calls it a six-wheel family-- car and scooter," Calvo said. "The scooter is the second car or back-up vehicle"

Summer on a scooter

This summer will mark a busy time for the local scooter community. Production is wrapping up on a movie called "Mondo Scooterama" that was filmed in Seattle, with local scooter owners as stand-ins.

And in July, Seattle will host Amerivespa, a national rally for the Vespa Club of America, that will be held in South Lake Union.

"We're hoping to draw about 1,000 people," Rowley said.

And they won't just be excited to save gas money.

"Everyone forgets the fun factor," Calvo said. "It's just flat fun."