Tampa Ranked #2 Best City For Motorcyclists in America

Spring is officially upon us, and numerous outdoor adventures are kicking into high gear. And it's a perfect time of year for riding motorcycles. Let's take a look at where Tampa ranked in AutoInsurance.org's recently published best city for motorcyclists report. Of all the major metros across the country, Tampa ranked as the second best city for motorcyclists along with Key West, Florida. Examining the local weather was a key factor in what AutoInsurance.org looked at in order to determine the best cities to ride. They found Tampa typically has 107 annual days of precipitation on per year. The average temperature in Tampa is 70.7 degrees.

Safety was the second most important data point examined in this report. AutoInsurance.org found that there are 26.21 motorcycle related deaths per one million residents. It's important to note that helmet laws are not the same in every state. The state of Florida requires you to wear a helmet if you are under the age of 21.

"Open roads, little traffic, great curves, and inspiring views. They’re all a big part of what makes heading out on two wheels so appealing," AutoInsurance.org states about what they look for physically in each greater city area. "Whether it’s a well-traveled favorite or a brand-new route, finding the best places for motorcycle riders is an ongoing adventure," they conclude.

Statista reports, that their last public compilation showed Florida had 637,448 motorcycle registrations in a year.

So where do they go to ride? Heading out of the city, there are a lot of great motorcycle adventures to embark on. You can head down the south coast or west across state. AutoInsurance.org points out the North Tampa Circuit is a must-ride. It starts just north of Tampa in Land O’ Lakes. It then winds thru the county of north Tampa, going through orange groves and ranches before taking you back west to Land O' Lakes.

If your looking for more hills, pastures, and acres of ranchland Von Hoak Loop is another popular trip out of Tampa. It can be done in a day and consists of a one-lane road that you may share with horseback riders.

Tampa ranked second out of the 51 markets examined to determine the best city for motorcyclists. Much of that has to do with the great year-around weather. Tampa also has designated permit parking areas for motorcycles and scooters within various garages. These spaces are striped and signed as motorcycle and scooter parking only.

The 2023 NFL draft is officially in the books. The seven round event, which is a massive spectacle, wrapped up Saturday afternoon in Kansas City. In total, 10 Florida college players were drafted by NFL teams.

The University of Florida had the most players drafted. Six Gators were selected. Two of them were in the second round. Next, the University of Miami had three players drafted. Finally, the Florida State Seminoles had one player selected, early on the last day.

Although the big three Florida teams typically lead the way in delivering NFL talent each year, there is usually another Sunshine State school that has a player picked. That was not the case this year. Division one programs like the University of South Florida or University of Central Florida did not have anyone selected. It is likely they will have players who are offered a tryout, however.

Quarterback Anthony Richardson from the Florida Gators was the fourth named off the board. It was well-known coming into the draft that Richardson would be a high pick. With his natural size, speed, and athletic ability, Richardson was projected to be a highly sought-after prospect for the past year. He only started 13 games in college. Nonetheless, the Indianapolis Colts clearly loved what they saw and started the run of Florida student-athletes entering the NFL this year.

To break down the draft class further, four of the 10 players are offensive positions, and six of the players are defenders. To start, Richardson was the only quarterback of the group. Furthermore, Richardson's teammate, Ventrell Miller, will be the only one staying in-state. The Jacksonville Jaguars selected him in the fourth round, and subsequently, will only have to move about 75 miles north.

In short, here is a complete rundown of the 10 Florida school players that were drafted by NFL teams in this year's event.