A while ago now I read an article, found here at Pop Sugar's LilSugar site, about Vespas for children. I didn't react to it right away because I wasn't sure I had an opinion on the subject. Still not sure that I do!

A Vespa, for those of you unfamiliar, is like a motorized bike. They run on gas and come with helmets and are in the same vein as motorcycles, only not as fast. They also tend to come in pastel colors and aren't ridden around on by Hell's Angels clad in black leather (most of the time). Vespas are great for city driving where they can get through narrow, crowded streets and the like. They are not designed for the highway.

Now the Vespa folks have come out with a mini-version for kids. At $450, the mini-Vespa ain't cheap. Sure, it's less expensive than a regular, adult-sized Vespa, but I don't think you could pull buying one for your kids and then riding it yourself. The minis really are smaller, designed for kids ages three to seven (not the kid in you).

Would you buy one of these for your child? Are they no harm, no foul and all in fun or are they unsafe and do they promote the possibility of them riding around on motorcycles when they're older (black leather optional)?

Hysterical pic of God creating a Vespa by giopuo.