MADISON, Wis. -- Cars sales may be down right now due to gas prices and a poor economy, but scooters are in big demand.

Engelhart Center in Madison said scooter sales are up 50 percent.

A typical gas-powered scooter retails for around $2,000 and can get 100 miles a gallon.

Store manager Robert Hintz said scooter buyers are also buying all of the accessories including rain gear, because they plan on using them as a main mode of transportation, WISC-TV reported.

"A few years ago it was just students buying them (scooters); now it's adults," Hintz. "We've got retired people buying them and using them to get back and forth to the grocery store."

A motorcycle license is not needed to operate a scooter, which can go up to 30 mph on city streets. But scooters are not allowed on bike paths, because they have no pedals, WISC-TV reported.