TAIPEI -- The drone of scooter engines reaches near-deafening levels on the streets of the Taiwanese capital during the morning rush hour. The island's roughly 23 million people own some 13.6 million scooters, the highest number per person in the world.
In a city infamous for its gridlock, scooters are an indispensable means of transportation for Taiwanese of all ages, from busy working mothers to pensioners. "It's very convenient and, more than anything, you don't get stuck in traffic jams," said Helen-Cheng, a 28-year-old woman who commutes by scooter.
