You’ve just purchased your first electric scooter, and you’re excited to take it out for a ride. But because this is your first time using one, you don’t know how to ride an e-scooter safely.
Is it hard to ride an electric scooter? Where can you ride an electric scooter? How do you get started? This guide will cover everything you need to know about riding safely.
Wear Protective Gear
First, you need to make sure that you’re wearing the right gear. Protective gear will help prevent serious injury and protect your body in case of an accident.
Sure, your scooter may have safety features, but your gear is really the only thing that will protect your body.
Your protective gear should include:
- A helmet. Make sure that your helmet is at least CPSC-certified. If you plan to travel at faster speeds, choose a motorcycle helmet for better protection.
- Knee and elbow pads to protect these vulnerable parts if you fall off your scooter.
- Long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
- Gloves.
- Closed-toe shoes.
It may not be necessarily comfortable to wear long pants and long sleeves when riding your scooter, but until you gain some riding experience, it can help protect your body from injury.
As you get more comfortable riding, you may be able to ditch some of these items, but always make sure that you’re wearing a helmet. Even though you’re traveling at slower speeds, you can still suffer serious head injuries that have long-term effects.
Charge-Up the Battery
Before you set out on your adventure, ensure that your scooter battery is charged. The last thing you want is for your battery to die while you’re out in town or on the road. Allow your scooter to charge up overnight before you go out on your first ride.
Most scooter batteries take several hours to recharge. Therefore, charging overnight will ensure that your scooter is ready to go the next day.
Launch Your Scooter by Kicking Off from the Ground
You’ve put on your gear, and you’ve charged up your scooter. Finally, you’re ready to go. But how do you actually ride your scooter?
To get started:
- Make sure the kickstand is up.
- Put one foot on the deck of the scooter.
- Kick off and push the scooter’s accelerator. Once you reach a certain speed, the scooter’s motor will engage.
For beginners, one of the most challenging things is figuring out how to stand on the scooter when riding. Placing one foot in front of the other is the conventional stance, usually the non-dominant foot in front.
You can also ride with your feet side by side, but you’ll have less stability when taking turns, so keep this in mind.
Here are some other tips for riding:
- When turning, steer at lower speeds and lean at higher speeds.
- If you have to brake hard, shift your weight down and back.
- Always look ahead to avoid obstacles, like potholes or road debris.
Keep Your Distance
When riding your scooter, make sure that you’re keeping your distance. Remember that scooters can’t just stop on a dime, so stay far behind people, other scooter riders or obstacles until you get a better understanding of how the braking system works.
Practice braking when you’re out on your first rides. Most scooters companies have thorough user manuals that have detailed information on braking and the scooter’s braking system.
If you come across obstacles, avoid them if you can or ride over them in a perpendicular fashion.
After The Trip
When you’re done riding, take the time to store your scooter properly. If you’re leaving your scooter unattended for any length of time, it’s important to make sure that it’s secured.
A U-lock is ideal for locking your scooter in a public place. While more expensive and heavier than other locks, U-locks are worth it. The cheaper and lighter the lock, the less secure it will be.
If you’ve been riding in wet weather, take a moment to dry off your scooter before you store it away for the night. Then, when you get back home, store the scooter inside to keep it dry and safe.
One other important tip: Keep practicing! The only way to get better at riding your e-scooter is to make sure that you’re riding often. Like anything else in life, practice makes perfect. That’s the only way you will improve your riding skills.
