is it worth renting a scooter in chiang mai?

A Cost-Effective Alternative to Taxis and Tuk-Tuks

After 16 years of riding and driving in Chiang Mai and decades of experience across everything from bicycles,  to tuk-tuks and songtaews, we have tried it all. 

Bicycles are too dangerous on Chiang Mai roads, tuk-tuks cost an arm and a leg, cars are too slow and impossible to park, especially around Nimman and the Old City, taxis and things like grab (uber) become expensive fast and by the time you have waited for them to turn up, you could have been at your destination already.  Songtaews, the pick-up truck buses, are also incredibly difficult to use without speaking Thai.  

So, as you can see, Chiang Mai suffers from a lack of public transport and only has private taxis, tuktuks and songtaews. A unique situation for a major city. This is why a scooter is so important.

Why Locals Choose a Scooter Over a Car

We can honestly say a scooter is the easiest way to get around. The city just works better on two wheels. There is a reason most of the locals choose their scooter instead of their car for day to day use. It is not uncommon to see guys with multiple expensive luxury cars potting about on an old scooter! The traffic around the Old City and Nimmanhaemin is horrendously slow. There is nothing I hate more than sitting in a taxi staring at the time and watching the meter keep going up! A scooter can effortlessly glide by, skipping all the traffic annoyances. 

Parking is simple and you will reach places cars and taxis cannot. Try parking a car around the Thapae Gate on a Sunday! It's impossible. A scooter however can squeeze in to any little space, easy.

That said, it is not something to take lightly. Every day we see first-time riders struggle with balance and awareness in real traffic. If you are confident on a scooter, you will surely love it. If you are not, Chiang Mai is not the place to learn.

A popular time of year to travel to Chiang Mai is for the Son Kran water festival. Riding during this time requires even more caution. Below is a video of us riding a scooter through the chaotic traffic during Son Kran on the big tree road in Saraphi, Chiang Mai.