Hear that? That buzzing noise like a swarm of wasps stuck in a gas can? That’s the sound of people saving money on gas and looking good doing it. According to the Denver Post, scooter sales throughout the Denver area on the rise. With gas prices creeping towards $4 a gallon and parking spaces in short supply, scooters are an excellent alternative to the eco-chic commuter who wants something a little more bad-ass than a Prius.

The problem with hybrid cars, of course, is that they look funny, don’t actually save all that much on gas, and have a way of turning even the mellowest driver into a smug, self-righteous tool. Scooters, on the other hand, get up to 85 mpg and project an air of sexy, vaguely Italian insouciance. All of a sudden, you’re not some schlub heading home from a day of cubicle drudgery, but Audrey Hepburn or a Milanese gigolo. And you can use the money you save on gas and parking for espresso and cigarettes.