Recently I have been seeing more and more scooters on the road due to gas being so expensive. It had me wondering why a machine made in the scooter style will attract people not normally associated with motorcycles; conservative looking, and especially older women. Why if the same engine size and fuel economy were styled as a traditional motorcycle you would not see as many of this demographic. I wonder if they are fooling themselves that a scooter is somehow safer?

Where I live, you don't need a special license to drive a scooter like you would with a motorcycle (I think the scooter has to be under a certain size). Plus, motorcycles here are very much a status symbol, so to speak - I doubt anyone with it in mind to be riding one would choose one that has the specs of a scooter . That coupled with how easy a scooter is to ride, I think are the reasons people choose them over bikes - simple convenience. I highly doubt it's because they think they are safer in traffic because of them.

On the topic, funny story...
There's an old guy here (looks like he's 80 if he's a day) that dresses ALL in Harley leathers head to toe - then jets around on a Vespa He Rocks!!

The electric mopeds are a hit here in Toronto.
You don't need a driver's license, nor you need a license for the moped. You can park same as bicycles, and since it uses no gas, it's cheap to maintain. and you have peals, just in case the battery is low.

You only need a license if it has a certain size engine.
One that goes over 45, reaches 60 mph.

That is a good point about the legality of riding in some areas. Here in Maine though once you get past 50cc and can go faster than 35 mph you still need a special license. It just had me wondering when I see 150 and 200cc scooters what the point was.