How to ride an electric scooter safely
As someone who has been riding and testing electric scooters since the beginning, I’m honestly sick of people blaming these eco-friendly modes of transport for e-scooter related incidents and accidents on the road. It’s like blaming computers for data theft or the internet for spreading misinformation.
Even a traditional bike can be dangerous in the hands of a reckless rider. Not the technology itself, but the people who use it irresponsibly should be held accountable.
If you’re considering a greener, more sustainable form of transportation, you’ll find that the best electric scooters – and even some cheap e-scooters – are actually a fantastic and safe proposition. In fact, I’ve had more (minor) accidents on bikes and mopeds than ever on an electric scooter, which has never been the case.
Much like the best e-bikes, not only are they great for commuting and short trips around town, they also help reduce congestion and CO2 emissions (opens in new tab). Because they use rechargeable batteries and don’t take up much space, they also help you save on gas and parking fees.
But they can’t do all the work. As commuters, we also have a job to do, which is to practice responsible and defensive driving. Here are five basic things you should know to ride an electric scooter safely.
How to safely ride an electric scooter
- Perform practice runs to become familiar with the controls
- Check your tire pressure
- Always keep an eye on the road
- There is a right way and a wrong way to brake
- Slower
Step by step guide
- Familiarize yourself with the controls
That sounds obvious and is just common sense, but I’ve seen people rent these ride-along e-scooters and hit the streets without really knowing how to operate. And if you want to practice driving safely, that’s not exactly wise.
Not only do you need to know where the throttle, brakes, and corresponding knobs are, you also need to know how sensitive the controls are. Just like electric bikes, not all electric scooters are the same. Some have super-sensitive brakes that need to be pressed more gently, others have throttle bodies that require a hard push to get going.
Knowing these things can actually save your life. Let’s say you’re going downhill on a 15-climb road, and you’re going downhill pretty fast. If for any reason you need to brake unexpectedly, hard pressing of a highly sensitive brake can cause you to be thrown off the e-scooter due to this sudden and unexpected change in force. And if you don’t wear a helmet – always wear a helmet! – You could end up with a serious injury.
There are two main types of electric scooter tires: solid tires and pneumatic tires. Solid rubber tires are made entirely of rubber or have solid polyurethane foam inside as a filling, while pneumatic tires are air-filled.
Pneumatic tires are generally considered superior to solid tires as they offer better shock absorption and more traction. However, they also require a bit more maintenance as they lose some air and deflate with use. And driving with a flat tire causes even more damage. Worse, it could explode while you’re driving, which of course isn’t good news for you.
If the e-scooter you are riding has pneumatic tires, make sure it meets the recommended tire pressure of 40 to 50 PSI (pounds per square inch), similar to your car’s tires. You can use a tire pressure gauge to do this. No tire pressure gauge at hand? Kick it lightly to make sure you don’t get flat feet.
- The street always in view
Here’s some tough love for you: stop showing off like you’re some kind of e-scooter expert with crazy skills. You are not. Not if you’re looking for basic safe driving tips here.
You never know when you’re going to be riding on a bike lane and someone parked next to it slams their door open because they didn’t see you speeding down the lane. Or you might completely miss the huge pothole ahead because you’re sightseeing instead of paying attention to where you’re going. Commuter e-scooters aren’t exactly made for potholes, and a deep one can do serious damage.
Whether you are a beginner or not, just keep your eyes on the road at all times. It’s not that difficult and it could save your life. And, for heaven’s sake, follow the road signs and traffic lights. They are not suggestions for electric scooter riders. They are subject to the same basic road rules as the larger vehicles.
- There is a right way and a wrong way to brake
We will not go into the different types of braking systems that electric scooters have. This is too big a topic to cover in a beginner’s tips guide. What you need to know, and more for safety than anything else, is that the best electric scooters have impressive braking systems that can help save your life.
Regardless of the quality of your electric scooter’s braking system, you should still know and follow proper braking techniques. Remember: you don’t have a seat belt and airbag to save you if you get into an accident.
While beginners tend to lean forward when braking, that’s actually the complete opposite of what you should be doing. When braking, you have to lean and shift your body weight backwards, bend your knees and pull the handlebars a little. By doing this, you will counteract the natural forward motion when braking and help the vehicle come to a quicker stop.
Most importantly, this minimizes the chance of you being thrown over the handlebars and hitting the pavement.
Yes, it’s more fun to drive fast. I get it. However, if you want to minimize the chance of an electric scooter-related accident, you must always practice defensive driving. And a big part of that is just knowing when to slow down.
The first thing you need to know before you start driving is to find out what the speed limit is for e-scooters on public roads in your city and actually stick to that limit. It exists for several reasons including to save your life and protect others.
You should also know when to slow down. When you turn onto a different street, drive down a steep hill, and approach a red light, stop sign, or pedestrian crossing, you must slow down progressively. Even if you have become an experienced driver, there is no point in putting others’ lives at risk just to show off.
Final Thoughts
Riding an electric scooter is easy. Their top speeds are typically under 30 mph, which prevents drivers from hurtling down the streets at dangerous speeds, their brakes are surprisingly effective, and they’re easier to jump off when danger is imminent.
Precisely because they do not offer the same protection as a car, for example, you still have to practice defensive driving. There are of course more advanced ways to do this, but the above should get you off to a good, safe start.
Don’t be one of those irresponsible drivers who give electric scooters a bad name. Follow these security tips.