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

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

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.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up of white panel at top of school bus with "100% electric" black text.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation

California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

April 30 - California Air Resources Board

Aerial view of Freeway Park cap park over I-5 interstate freeway in Seattle, Washington at night.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

April 30 - Streetsblog USA

"No Thru Traffic - Open Streets Restaurants" sign in New York City during Covid-19 pandemic.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street

How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.

April 30 - Next City