The 5 most scooter-friendly US cities ranked by actual riders

How we scored this

We looked at four things: infrastructure (bike lanes, scooter-legal roads), cost of ownership (insurance, parking, registration), weather (riding days per year), and safety (accident rates, theft rates). We surveyed 200 riders who own scooters in 15 US cities. The results surprised us.

1. Portland, Oregon — the undisputed king

Portland has 385 miles of bike lanes, a moped registration fee of $22, average insurance of $180/year, and 145 rideable days per year. The city actively encourages two-wheeled transportation with dedicated scooter parking zones, reduced registration fees for sub-150cc vehicles, and a police force that actually knows the difference between a moped and a motorcycle.

The riding culture is real. You will see Vespa clubs on Tuesday nights, delivery scooters on every block, and commuters on 125cc Hondas treating Burnside like a freeway on-ramp. The infrastructure supports it. The city doesn't punish you for choosing two wheels.

2. Austin, Texas — the sunshine play

Austin scored high on weather (230 rideable days), cost of ownership (no state income tax means cheaper everything), and culture. The city has a growing scooter scene centered around East Austin and the South Congress corridor. Texas registration for a 125cc scooter is $30/year. Insurance averages $220/year.

The downside: summer heat is brutal. Riding in August means arriving everywhere drenched in sweat. But from October through May, Austin is prime scooter territory. The city recently added scooter-specific parking in the downtown core, which is a bigger deal than it sounds when every other parking spot is taken by a Tesla.

3. San Francisco, California — the hill climber's test

San Francisco is polarizing. The hills are real — some streets hit 30% grade, which means your 50cc will struggle and your 125cc will work. The fog keeps summers mild (65-70°F year-round), and the city has 400+ miles of bike lanes. But parking is a nightmare, theft rates are the highest on this list, and the wind off the Bay can push a light scooter into the next lane.

The move: live in the Richmond or Sunset districts where the streets are flatter and the parking is less competitive. Avoid anything near Fisherman's Wharf unless you want your scooter tourist-baited.

4. Miami, Florida — the year-round option

Miami has 248 rideable days per year, no state income tax, and a culture that treats scooters as fashion accessories. The city is flat, the speed limits are low (30-35 mph on most surface streets), and the beach towns (South Beach, Key Biscayne) are perfect 50cc territory. Registration is $5/year for mopeds. Insurance runs $150-250/year.

The catch: summer rain is daily and violent. A 15-minute downpour at 3pm is not unusual. You need rain gear, and you need to park under cover. Also, the drivers are objectively the worst on this list. Stay alert.

5. Washington, DC — the commuter's choice

DC scored high on infrastructure (protected bike lanes on Connecticut Ave, Pennsylvania Ave, and the Cycletrack network), cost (registration $30/year, insurance $200/year), and weather (155 rideable days). The city has a growing scooter community centered around Capitol Hill and Dupont Circle.

The unique advantage: DC's traffic is so bad that a scooter cuts your commute time in half during rush hour. A 20-minute car ride becomes 8 minutes on a scooter. The parking is free in many areas for two-wheeled vehicles. The downside: winters are cold enough to make riding unpleasant from December through February.

The cities that almost made it

Nashville, Tennessee scored well on cost and culture but the lack of bike lanes makes it dangerous. Denver, Colorado has great weather but the altitude hurts small-displacement engine performance above 5,000 feet. New Orleans is perfect for scooters except for the potholes, which are genuinely dangerous on small wheels.