How hard are electric scooters to ride?

08 Apr.,2024

 

One primary reason electric scooters outperform other forms of transportation is the simple learning curve for beginners. In fact, most new riders can get into the flow within a few hours. However, there are a few neat tips and tricks that experienced e-scooter riders pick up along the way.

If you're an electric scooter beginner, you can ride safely from the start by following these electric scooter safety tips. Doing so will reduce your chances of falling and have you cruising the streets with ease.

Below, we'll break down how to ride an electric scooter step-by-step.

#1 Wear Your Helmet

Before we dive into any riding techniques, it's important to hammer home the necessity of wearing a helmet. Many new riders think they can forgo this essential piece of riding equipment. According to some user reports, over 90% of riders don't wear a helmet at all.

Despite this dangerous trend, wearing a helmet is essential for safety and legally required in some cities. Helmets have been shown to reduce the risk of a critical head injury by up to 88%. Full-face helmets also offer eye protection, which can keep the wind and bugs out of your eyes as you ride.

#2 Review Your Manual

Every electric scooter is a little different. Before you take yours out for a spin, you may want to flip through its manual.

The manual will provide you with detailed information about your electric scooter’s:

  • Assembly
  • Battery
  • Brakes
  • Controller
  • Cruise control
  • Folding mechanism
  • Horn
  • Lights
  • Maintenance
  • Motor
  • Stem
  • Tires

When you know the basic features of how your e-scooter operates, you can embark on your first ride with confidence. You’ll also know what to do if something goes awry on the road.

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#3

 Look up the Laws in Your City

In addition to knowing how your electric scooter works, you should brush up on the e-scooter laws in your city. Like most vehicles, electric scooters are legally required to stop at stop signs and traffic lights, yield to pedestrians, and stick to the speed limit of the street they're riding on.

You should also look up your city's specific laws in regard to the following questions:

  • Do you need a driver's license to ride an electric scooter?

  • Can you ride on sidewalks?

  • Can you ride in bike lanes?

  • What is the e-scooter speed limit?

Knowing the riding rules in your city can help you ride without the risk of incurring a ticket. It will also help you assimilate with the flow of traffic safely.

#4

 Check the Battery

Anytime you want to take your electric scooter out for a ride, you should always ensure that your battery has an adequate charge. The last thing you want is to end up stuck on the side of the road with a dead battery.

#5

 Check Your Tire Pressure

In addition to the battery, it’s also a good idea to check your tire pressure before you hit the road. If it’s low, you can top it up with a portable air pump.

#6

 Find an Open Space to Practice

While riding an electric scooter for the first time isn’t as complicated as other forms of transportation, it’s still helpful to practice somewhere that’s free of obstacles or distractions.

This way, you can focus on getting the hang of riding without the additional pressure of evading motorists, pedestrians, and other roadside obstructions.

An empty parking lot or quiet street are two great places you can go for your first ride.

#7 Time for a ride! -

 Kick Off From the Ground

Once you’ve done all of the preparation mentioned above, you can finally hop on your electric scooter and see how it rides.

As soon as you’re ready to go, all you have to do is push up the kickstand and kick off the ground to launch your electric scooter into motion, just like you would if you were riding a non-electric scooter.

After you’re in motion, you can start revving the throttle gently to engage the motor and get some speed.

#8

 Position Your Feet Comfortably

When you ride your electric scooter, it’s important to choose a foot position that allows you to feel balanced and comfortable. There are three main positions you can place your feet:

  • Conventional

     

    – The most popular position for riding an e-scooter is to place your non-dominant foot in the front of the deck and your dominant foot in the back. You may need to angle both feet slightly to fit them onto the deck as if you were riding a snowboard or skateboard.
  • Goofy

     

    – Goofy stance is the same as conventional, just with your dominant foot in the front instead.
  • Side-by-side

     

    – A side-by-side stance is just what it sounds like—you place both feet side by side, facing forward. While some riders prefer this stance, it’s not as stable as the other two options. It may also make it harder to react to an emergency quickly. For these reasons, you may want to give the conventional or goofy stances a try first.

Once you’ve determined your preferred riding stance, make sure to keep a slight bend in your knees and use your legs to maintain your balance, rather than leaning on the handlebars.

#9

 Accelerate and Decelerate Slowly

During your first few e-scooter trips, you’ll want to ride at a modest pace. However, you can gradually pick up speed as you become more comfortable with your riding skills.

Whenever you accelerate or decelerate, do so slowly and gradually. Every electric scooter’s throttle varies in terms of sensitivity. By going slow, you can get familiar with your model and see how quickly it revs up its speed.

#10 Lean to Turn at Higher Speeds

If you want to turn on your electric scooter, you don’t need to move the handlebars as much as you may think. Since e-scooter wheels are so small, even slight adjustments to your handlebars can result in sharp turns, especially when you ride at fast speeds.

If you’re going five mph (eight kph) or faster, all you need to do is shift your weight slightly to the side that you want to turn, as if you were riding a bike.

As you execute the turn, make sure you look in the direction of where you want to go.

#11 Use Turn Signals

Once you’ve practiced riding and gotten comfortable with the basics, you can venture onto public streets.

At this point, you’ll be sharing the road with other motorists, bikers, and pedestrians. Part of sharing the road with others involves signaling your turning intentions.

Here are the most common turn signals electric scooter riders use:

  • Left turn

     

    – Extend your left arm straight out to the side.
  • Right turn

     

    – Extend your right arm straight out to the side.
  • Stop

     

    – Extend your left arm and bend it down at your elbow.

Remember: When using turn signals, you’ll only have one hand on the scooter. For that reason, you’ll want to slow down or come to a complete stop before signaling. Additionally, you can give the right of way to cars and other vehicles to add an extra layer of safety.

#12

 Don’t Try to Brake and Turn at the Same Time

Braking while turning is a tricky maneuver. If you’re new to riding, you’d be better off sticking to braking in a straight line whenever possible.

If you have to stop suddenly for an emergency, try your best to straighten up first. If you have time, it’s also better to decelerate gradually before you come to a hard stop.

#13 Shift Your Weight Back While Braking

When you brake abruptly on an electric scooter, your body still has a large amount of momentum pushing you forward. To stay safe, the secret is shifting your weight over the back wheel. You can achieve this by bending your knees and squatting slightly as if you were about to sit on a chair.

By moving your weight over the back wheel, you can prevent any awkward movements with your e-scooter.

#14 Ditch Distractions

No matter what type of vehicle you’re operating, it’s important to focus on the road. Multi-tasking and riding an electric scooter don’t mix.

You can stay alert to what’s ahead of you by:

  • Leaving your phone alone

     

    – Texting and riding is not safe. You need to keep both of your hands on the handlebars to maintain your balance and steering abilities. If you have to use your phone for GPS directions, you can secure it to your e-scooter with a mounted phone holder instead.
  • Not wearing headphones or earbuds

     

    – Riding an electric scooter with the wind in your hair and your favorite song blasting from your headphones may sound like a lot of fun. However, it’s safer to ditch the music while you ride. You can save your curated playlists for another time. You need all five senses to map out your surroundings and steer clear of traffic.
  • Keeping a keen eye on the road

     

    – From potholes to pedestrians, there are many obstacles you’ll need to maneuver around as you ride your electric scooter. To do so effectively, you need to spot barriers before they’re in your way. In turn, you should always look in the direction that you’re riding and stay focused on the road.

#15 Avoid Slippery Surfaces

While some electric scooter models are made to ride on rougher terrain, you should always do your best to avoid slippery surfaces. Puddles of water can dramatically reduce the traction between your wheels and the street. Similarly, piles of loose leaves can have a similar effect.

If you have no other choice but to plow over some suboptimal surfaces, go slow and avoid making sharp turns or stops until you’re on more stable land.

#16 Watch Out for Bad Weather

Electric scooters are incredibly versatile vehicles. However, they’re not designed to brave all the elements. Riding in heavy rain or thunderstorms is especially dangerous.

Some electric scooters are water-resistant enough to handle a light drizzle, but a heavy downpour of rain is another story. Throw in thunder and lightning and you could be dealing with a dangerous situation.

It’s always a good idea to check the weather forecast before you head out for a long ride.

#17 Consider Investing in Additional Protective Gear

When you start taking longer, faster journeys on your electric scooter, you may want to wear some extra safety gear. A good rule of thumb is to match your gear to your speed—the faster you plan to ride, the more protection you need.

Some items you can add to your e-scooter riding apparel include:

  • Knee and elbow pads

     

    – If you fall while riding an electric scooter, your knees and elbows are the most vulnerable spots for scrapes and scratches. As a result, you may want to wear some padded protection in these areas.
  • Proper clothing

     

    – Even if you don’t wear any special padding, long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and close-toed shoes can provide a buffer between you and the cold, hard streets.
  • Riding gloves

     

    – Thick riding gloves can protect your hands during a fall. They can also keep them from catching a chill if you ride in cold weather.
  • Sunglasses

     

    – In addition to protecting your eyes from the sun, sunglasses serve as a convenient shield from wind, debris, and bugs. Any of these irritants can cause you to lose your sight temporarily.
  • Reflective clothing

     

    – Lastly, you may want to wear bright, light-reflective clothing during night rides. This type of apparel can help other motorists see you on the road.

A few other things to keep in mind

Forewarned is always forearmed; here are some other useful tips whenever you want to ride on electric scooters! And if you prefer a more action-filled source of information on the same topic, you can click the link below. 

Maintenance and Appearance

Keeping your scooter clean is essential. Regular cleaning ensures proper functioning and extends your range. Plus, a freshly cleaned scooter is sure to bedazzle your friends.

Avoid Tricks and Jumps

Scooters are not built for hardcore jumps like mountain bikes. Their suspension is designed for road bumps, not for stunt-like jumping over buses. Respect the limitations to avoid breaking your scooter or, in the worst-case scenario, yourself.

Mind the Curbs

Even small curbs can be risky, depending on various factors. Such usage might void your warranty, so keeping both wheels on the ground is best.

Battery Management

Lithium-ion batteries in modern scooters offer impressive capabilities, with some reaching up to 50 miles (80 km) of range or 55 mph (88 km/h). However, faster riding reduces efficiency, so always monitor your remaining battery levels. Some scooters, like Apollo's Phantom, provide estimated remaining mileage, and official apps can help you plan efficient routes.

Understand the Differences Between Bicycles and Scooters

Scooters have longer stems and smaller tires, making them less stable than bicycles. It's important to be cautious since scooters can reach higher speeds. And as they're scooters that we associate with the kick scooters of the past, we tend to downplay their present-day capabilities, in which case the risk of injury is higher. 

So, remember that e-scooters are not toys anymore, and you should treat them accordingly. Of course, we don't want to be wet blankets; fun is also a big part of the e-scooter's appeal. We just want you to have a lot of fun for a long time!

Start Your E-Scooter Journey Today with Apollo

As you can see, riding an electric scooter isn’t too complicated. If you adhere to these instructions on how to ride an electric scooter, you should be zipping around town in no time. The more you practice, the more these steps will become second nature.

If you’re looking for a high-quality electric scooter to take for your first spin, Apollo Scooters can deliver. We have models for every type of rider at a variety of price points. We also have several e-scooter accessories, such as phone mounts, super-fast chargers, and much more.

Explore our selection of high-performance e-scooters today.

 

Sources:

Consumer Reports. Electric Scooter Injuries on the Rise as Riders Go Without Helmets. 
https://www.consumerreports.org/product-safety/electric-scooter-injuries-rise-as-riders-go-without-helmets/

 Brainline. Bicycle Safety.
https://www.brainline.org/article/bicycle-safety

Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or first-time user, you should know the most important electric scooter rules and put safety first, always. In this electric scooter safety guide you’ll learn some fundamental safety rules. 

Rule #1. Don’t drink and drive

The number-1 Bolt scooter rule is just like for any vehicle: don’t drink and ride.

Using a scooter under the influence of alcohol or other substances is illegal and strictly prohibited. Doing so will result in a fine and your account being permanently blocked from Bolt services.

If you can’t resist a celebratory drink after a long day at work, we recommend ordering a Bolt ride instead. Let a driver get you home safe and sound while you sit back and enjoy the ride.

Rule #2. 1 scooter, 1 rider

It’s OK to want to share the joy of riding a scooter with a friend or loved one. And with our new Group Rides feature, you can reserve up to 4 scooters from 1 app — rather than riding in tandem, which is highly unsafe.

To ensure safety for all, we introduced the industry-first tandem riding prevention feature that detects when 2 people try riding 1 scooter. The feature sends a notification to users to warn them of the dangers of tandem riding.

Rule #3. Obey traffic lights and follow traffic rules

Traffic lights exist for more than just cars. There are also traffic lights for light vehicles, such as scooters and bicycles, and pedestrians. So when a traffic light turns red, you must come to a complete stop!

Traffic lights aren’t the only tools that regulate traffic. There are traffic signs, pedestrian crossings and markings, and more. And as with traffic lights, you should follow all street signs while riding.

And above all, please respect your fellow commuters while moving around the city — we’re in this together!

Rule #4. Where possible, use a road/cycle path

Just as cars have road lanes, scooters have cycle lanes. Riding in a cycle lane’s safer and prevents danger to others. 

In countries where pavement riding’s allowed, watch out for pedestrians at all times! In countries where local regulations don’t permit riding on pavements, you must use a designated cycle path or lane. 

It’s important always to follow local regulations to ensure everyone stays safe.

Now that we’ve covered electric scooter rules regarding the law and traffic, the exciting part begins — riding! If it’s your first time scooting, go over the ABCs of safe scooting before taking a ride.

Rule #5. Pre-flight scooter check

Before pushing the throttle, it’s essential to do a quick safety check before each ride. Here are the basics:

  • Tyres — check they’re not flat;
  • Brake — make sure it’s working correctly and isn’t loose;
  • Battery — see if there’s enough charge to cover your trip;
  • Throttle — check it responds properly and that you can accelerate;
  • Scooter — confirm it’s in good overall condition and doesn’t produce strange sounds when you ride.

Rule #6. Practice before your first ride

Practice makes perfect, they say. And they’re right! If this is your first time riding, find an empty car park or flat surface and practice scooting with these tips in mind:

  • Accelerate with care

The key to good riding is being smooth. Gently kick off from the ground to start moving and accelerate gradually so you have full control of the scooter. 

You can also turn on Bolt Beginner mode in the Bolt app and limit your maximum scooter speed to 15km/h.

  • Brake gently

What goes up must come down, including your scooter’s speed. As much as we want to feel like we’re flying, braking gradually and gently is important to avoid skidding or losing control.

Remember, be smooth!

  • Use the bell to communicate

Communication’s key whether you’re in a relationship or on a scooter. If you need to pass someone, give them a little ring with your bell to let them know you’re approaching.

This way, they’ll know when to move out of the way. 

  • Keep both hands on the handlebars

Dual handles aren’t just for aesthetics — engineers had a specific purpose when designing scooters with 2 handles.

It only takes a pothole or reckless driver to create an obstacle you can’t handle with only 1 hand on the controls.

So, think of the handlebars as part of your scooter safety gear and always use both!

Rule #7. Wear a helmet

Scooter safety gear and, most importantly, a helmet is like a superhero’s cape — it makes you feel invincible. But unlike a cape, helmets protect you from head injuries in the event of a fall.

Our scooter safety statistics from 2022 show that 99.997% of Bolt scooter rides ended safely without incident. But regardless of how vigilant you are, accidents can happen.

And if they do, a helmet’s the only thing standing between your head and the ground. So please follow Bolt scooter rule #7, and whenever possible, wear a helmet!

Rule #8. Be mindful of your surroundings

This unspoken electric scooter rule isn’t just about following the law — it’s about being considerate of your surroundings. 

Keep in mind that cities typically have 3 designated areas, each with its own rules:

  • Slow zones. These are typically high-traffic areas with many pedestrians. We limit your scooter’s maximum speed to ensure everyone can safely share the space.
  • No-go zones. The adventurer in you might be tempted to take a scooter off the beaten path, but there are areas where riding a scooter is prohibited at all times for your safety.
  • Parking areas. Reward your scooter for being a good sport by parking it in a designated parking spot instead of leaving it in the middle of the pavement. It’s considerate to other road users, keeps the city clean, and is also the law.

Rule #9. Master the art of parking

We touched on it above, but parking’s a topic that deserves its own section. 

Parking a scooter correctly — and in an appropriate location — ensures your and others’ safety. If parked incorrectly, a scooter may be a hazard to others and can block important access routes.

Let’s go over the dos and don’ts of parking.

Do:

  • Use designated parking zones, bike racks, or Bolt charging docks — the Bolt app map shows where you can park;
  • Lower the kickstand fully to ensure the scooter’s stable and can’t fall over;
  • Leave the scooter in a convenient spot for the next user;
  • Find a location that’s out of the way of foot traffic and doesn’t obstruct pavements, wheelchair ramps, or building entrances;
  • Park on a flat surface to ensure your safety and that of the next rider;
  • Pick up scooters that have tipped over and park them properly.

Don’t:

  • Block pathways — this creates obstacles for pedestrians and can present dangers for those with mobility difficulties;
  • Trespass on private property;
  • Park at bus stops — while scooters may form part of the wider city transport network, that shouldn’t mean blocking access to public transport;
  • End a ride near an emergency exit;
  • Leave the scooter tipped over, as it’ll be a tripping hazard.

Rule #10. Be a responsible scooter rider

We’ve come to the end of the article, but not the end of the journey. You now have what it takes to contribute to our safe, responsible scooter community. Congrats!

And if you notice any unsafe behaviour while you’re out and about, please report it to us.

Keep up the good work, and see you out there!

How hard are electric scooters to ride?

A guide for safe scooter rides