Portland Has the Scooter User Survey Data Everyone Wants

The city of Portland has released the survey results enabled by the Portland Bureau of Transportation's ongoing electric scooter pilot project.

1 minute read

October 23, 2018, 2:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Scooter and Bike Share

Alexander Oganezov / Shutterstock

"As the city heads into the final month of its pilot project to see how much everyone loves and/or loathes e-scooters, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) has released some findings—namely, those gleaned from a survey sent to Portlanders who rode a Bird, Lime, or Skip e-scooter," reports Erik Henriksen.

The results of the survey are overwhelmingly supportive [pdf] of the new mode of transportation, according to Henriksen. A press release from PBOT says the survey results "suggest scooters are a popular new transit option for Portlanders and visitors alike." Still, the survey results sample a relatively small number of respondents: 5,000 respondents out of 75,000 users contacted for the survey.

More details from the study reveal a relative distaste for public transit among scooter riders, even with the benefit of the first-last mile benefit of the scooter rides. Most of survey respondent live in Northwest Portland. A very small number of respondents work or attend school in 'historically underserved neighborhoods.'

Portland isn't the first to reveal the results of a scooter user survey, though it's probably the first city. A study released in July surveyed users in ten cities and also reported the overwhelming popularity of the new mode among users.

Monday, October 22, 2018 in The Portland Mercury

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight