How to Ride an Electric Scooter Safely: 5-Step Beginner&#;s Guide

KingChe supply professional and honest service.

In this riding guide, we&#;ll cover everything you need to know to ride an electric scooter safely, including tips on safety gear, performing pre-flight checks, and practicing before hitting the road. Whether you&#;re a beginner or experienced rider, it&#;s important to prioritize safety when operating an electric scooter. So let's get started and ensure that you can enjoy cruising around without getting hurt!

How to Ride an Electric Scooter

1. Launch by Kicking off the Ground

Power on your scooter. To safely start riding an electric scooter, hold onto the handlebars as you raise the kickstand. After closing the kickstand, kick off with your strong leg and push the scooter forward until it reaches a speed of about 3 mph, then use the throttle to power the scooter motor(s).

Maintain stability while riding an electric scooter by standing with your feet comfortably apart, one in front of the other, like you would on a skateboard or snowboard. Avoid standing with your feet parallel on the deck, which can cause you to lose balance. Shift standing positions while riding to improve stability.

SCOOTER FACT | Most electric scooters have a kick-to-start setting that keeps the motors from engaging unless the scooter is &#;kick-started&#;. Select zero start in the scooter's performance settings (p-settings) to disable the kick-to-start safety feature. The scooter will launch when you press the throttle.

2. Grip Handlebars With Both Hands

When riding an electric scooter, keeping both hands on the handlebars is crucial to maintain balance, stability, and control while in motion. This allows you to have better control of the scooter's steering, acceleration, and braking. Furthermore, you&#;ll be able to react quickly to any obstacles or potential dangers on the road.

SCOOTER FACT | Experienced bike riders can steer without hands, but bicycle tires are much larger and the body position is very different. Do not expect the same response on stand-up scooter tires (8"-12"), which are less than half the size of average bicycle tires (12"-26").

3. Press the Throttle Steadily

It is important to apply even pressure on the throttle for smooth and comfortable acceleration. Abruptly pressing the throttle can cause the scooter to lurch forward suddenly, which can be jarring and potentially dangerous. Additionally, maintaining even pressure on the throttle will help you drive at a steady pace, making it easier to anticipate potential obstacles or hazards on the road. As you become more comfortable riding and ready to go faster, you can gradually increase the pressure on the throttle to achieve higher speeds.

SCOOTER FACT | Some throttle styles, like the EY3 finger trigger on more powerful scooters, take more finesse to control, and gaining riding experience can prevent accidents.

4. Steer by Turning and Leaning

To steer an electric scooter, there are different techniques depending on your speed. At low speeds, you can turn the handlebars to steer, controlling the direction of the front wheel. However, when traveling over 5 mph, it's more effective to lean into turns. This engages your core muscles and shifts your weight to the appropriate side for you to change direction smoothly while maintaining control of the scooter. By leaning into turns, you avoid the risk of losing control that may occur if you turn the handlebars abruptly at higher speeds. Therefore, it's crucial to master the art of leaning and shifting your weight to effectively steer the electric scooter.

SCOOTER FACT | Most electric scooters have a single stem while some have a fork or dual stem. Some single-stem electric scooters have a built-in steering stop, preventing you from overturning at any speed. Dual-stem scooters, like the Wolf King GT, keep the front wheel running straight with less effort than single-stem scooters, but generally have heavier builds. 

5. Pull the Brakes Evenly

When you need to slow down or stop an electric scooter, it's important to shift your body weight back and down and pull the brake lever(s) evenly at a comfortable pace. It's worth noting that some scooters have a single brake while others have dual brakes. Also, most e-scooters have electronic braking built-in, which is often not as powerful as mechanical brakes. If your scooter has dual brakes, it's important to get a feel for using both, but particularly the front brake, as it provides more stopping power. Gain practice applying pressure to both brakes evenly, and learning what braking pattern works best for you. 

SCOOTER FACT | For most modern electric scooters, the left lever controls the rear brake and the right lever controls the front brake. Some lower-speed models have an electronic brake throttle that operates the same way as the accelerator throttle and is usually on the left handlebar.  

Do&#;s and Don&#;ts of Riding an Electric Scooter

Wear Safety Gear

While electric scooters for adults are a convenient mode of transportation, they can be as risky as riding bicycles and motorcycles. To ensure your safety, it's important to wear appropriate protective gear that matches your speed. Scooter gear will help protect against weather, windchill, and potential accidents.

Recommended safety equipment includes:

• A CPSC-certified helmet (

  half-face

  or 

  full-face

  )

• Eye protection (if no shield on helmet)

• Riding gloves

• Sensible footwear

Protect Your Head

If you only wear one piece of safety gear, it should be a certified helmet. Helmets are made with different purposes and with varying levels of protection. For speeds under 20 mph, a bicycle helmet or half-face helmet is sufficient. However, when riding above 25 mph, it's recommended to wear a full-face helmet with chin protection. Some scooter riders wear downhill biking helmets, which provide lots of ventilation and excellent protection for your jawline. Whichever helmet you choose, it should fit snugly and be something you&#;re willing to wear every time you ride. Follow the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) guidelines to select the most suitable helmet and review ASTM standards. 

Protect Your Eyes

At any speed, you should also wear sunglasses or opt for a helmet with a built-in eye shield to protect your eyes from glare, debris and from drying out.

Protect Your Hands

Routinely wearing gloves when riding an electric scooter can prevent you from getting hurt or suffering discomfort. Not only will they keep your hands warm when riding in cool weather, they&#;ll protect your fingers and palms if you need to bail and catch yourself on your hands. Keep in mind that your fingers drive the brakes and throttle and if they get cramped from windchill, you can&#;t maintain control over the scooter. 

Protect Your Feet

You should wear shoes with protected toes and heels, like sneakers, boots, or other full-coverage footwear, when riding an electric scooter. This ensures your feet are safeguarded should you need to bail quickly or if you get into an accident. 

Protect Your Body

For those who plan to ride at higher speeds, wearing knee pads, elbow pads, and/or armored clothing, like what is usually worn by motorcycle riders, offers additional protection. Some riders wear motocross gear, like shin guards and wrist guards, to prevent injury in the case of a fall. If you&#;re taking your electric scooter off-roading or riding in rural areas, it&#;s a good idea to wear extra body protection. 

Practice Makes Perfect 

Unlike toy kick scooters, it takes practice to safely ride an adult electric scooter. It's important to find a private area where you can practice riding your new e-scooter before riding it in public. You should get familiar with your scooter&#;s controls and features, just like you would any vehicle. This will help you feel more confident and comfortable when you are on the road.

Scooter Riding Tips for Beginners 

• Choose a large, flat, and open area such as a parking lot or an empty field to practice.

• Put on all necessary safety gear, such as a helmet and gloves, before starting your practice session.

• Get familiar with the controls and features of the scooter, such as the throttle, brakes, riding settings, and steering.

• Practice mounting and dismounting the scooter, as well as standing on it and maintaining balance.

• Practice braking and turning on the electric scooter.

  The company is the world’s best how electric scooter works supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

• Start with slow and steady speeds, and gradually increase your speed.

• Keep practicing until you feel comfortable before riding on the streets.

Check Your Scooter Pre-Flight

While e-scooters come equipped with easy-to-read displays that indicate riding stats and errors, performing regular maintenance is essential to ensure their proper functioning. Conducting a pre-flight check can help identify any issues before you begin your ride, making it safer for both short- and long-term use. This helps to minimize the risk of an injury.

Before each ride, check the following:

• Check the folding mechanism and ensure the scooter is locked in the upright position.

• Examine the tires for damage and proper inflation.

• Pull the brake levers and observe that they&#;re working properly.

• Turn on the scooter to check the battery charge and for errors.

• Holding both handlebars, press the throttle gently to check response.

Rushing or skipping a pre-flight check on your electric scooter can lead to accidents and situations like the "walk of shame" (aka pushing your scooter solemnly down the street) due to insufficient charge or a flat tire. 

Electric scooter tires and brakes are the most common parts that require maintenance and the leading causes of downtime, particularly for flat tires and brake repair. Maintaining proper air pressure in your tires can help prevent flats, extend range and ensure a smooth ride.

SCOOTER FACT | Electric scooter tires last between 1,500 and 3,000 miles depending on how well they are maintained, how they wear, and how they&#;re ridden. Brakes can last anywhere between 100 miles and 500 miles, depending on the quality and style of brakes, how you maintain them, and how you use them. If you want to learn more about how long electric scooters last, check out this blog. 

Top 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Riding Without Proper Safety Gear

The majority of serious accidents involving electric scooters occur with rental scooters, which are often not equipped with helmets. If you own an electric scooter, wearing safety gear consistently can minimize the severity of injuries resulting from accidents that are likely to occur. It is important to remember that even at relatively low speeds, electric scooters can be dangerous, so investing in safety gear is a critical step in staying safe while riding. Scooter gear is designed to prevent injuries if accidents occur. Unlike when you&#;re inside a vehicle, the only protection that your body has must be worn. Like wearing a seatbelt in a car, you should always wear a helmet when riding an electric scooter.

2. Abrupt Throttle Use

One of the most common mistakes people make when riding electric scooters is pressing the throttle too abruptly. Doing this can cause the scooter to accelerate too quickly, which can be dangerous and lead to accidents. Some e-scooters have such powerful acceleration that the wheels spin until they gain purchase on the ground, and learning how to respond takes practice. For those without much experience, it&#;s very easy to lose control while accelerating, especially on powerful electric scooters. To avoid this mistake, always practice riding in a safe and private environment prior. Apply pressure to the throttle gradually, and get a feel for how quickly you accelerate and slow down. Do not push the limit further than you&#;re capable of handling. 

3. Excessive Braking

If you pull the brake levers too hard or unevenly, the sudden braking can cause the scooter to throw you off or fishtail and potentially cause accidents. Additionally, uneven application of the front and rear brakes can cause a loss of control. Along with practicing general braking skills, learn how to react if you need to stop in an emergency. Jumping or bailing off the scooter and figuring out just how hard you can stomp the brakes without getting thrown can help you avoid accidents on an electric scooter. Also, make sure to regularly check and maintain your brakes to ensure they are working properly and efficiently.

4. Abrupt or Excessive Handlebar Movement

Turning the handlebars suddenly or too far in either direction is another common mistake to avoid when riding an electric scooter. Doing this can cause the scooter to lose balance and tip over. The handlebars are primarily there for you to balance and steer the front wheel straight. Turning the angle of the handlebars too far to the left or right can make you fall. Always turn the handlebars smoothly and gradually, and never make sudden turns. It's also important to check your surroundings and make sure it's safe to turn before doing so. After you have gained some experience, you&#;ll learn to turn by leaning with your body rather than only steering with the front wheel. 

5. Over-Leaning During Turns

Putting forward or backward pressure on the scooter throws off the center of balance, and can cause tumbles. Leaning too far in turns or forward can easily cause you to lose control and potentially fall off the scooter. To prevent this, it's essential to maintain proper posture and keep your center of gravity over the center of the scooter. Avoid leaning too far to one side or the other, and lower your speed when making turns and approaching obstacles. You should also avoid leaning over the handlebars and carrying your weight on the front of the scooter, making it more likely for it to flip forward under hard braking. By following these tips, you can maintain balance and control and reduce the risk of accidents.

Conclusion

Congratulations on acquiring the basic knowledge needed to ride an electric scooter! However, before you start cruising, make sure you have the essential safety gear to protect yourself. Be a responsible rider, ensure that you are physically and mentally prepared for the ride, and just like driving a car, avoid riding under the influence. Additionally, it's crucial to familiarize yourself with e-scooter laws in your area before hitting the streets. 

Now, it's time to choose an adult electric scooter that fits your riding style, environment, and ability. If you're unsure where to begin your search, you can refer to this scooter comparison guide, which allows you to shop based on performance, features, and price.

If you&#;d like more guidance on how to pick the right scooter for you, check out our ultimate beginner&#;s guide. With that, it's time to hop on your scooter and start enjoying the ride!

How to Ride an Electric Scooter

 

Riding an electric scooter is easier than a bicycle and most people can pick it up right away. This guide will help get you started and covers important tips on how to ride plus the most overlooked insights from our team.

Wear protective gear appropriate for your trip and riding style

 

Before you hop on your scooter, you need to be wearing appropriate gear. First and foremost, you should always wear a helmet when you ride, no matter how short the trip or how fast you are riding. An CPSC-certified bike helmet is the minimum, but you may want something more protective for higher speeds. Learn more in our helmet guide . Your gear and clothing should always match the speeds and type of trip you are taking. More speed = more gear. For higher speeds or if riding on the road in traffic, you&#;ll want to add long-leg pants, gloves, long-sleeved shirt, and closed-toe shoes. You can also add in even more protective gear, including elbow and knee pads or possibly a full racing suit . For most riders these will be overkill.

 

 

Make sure you are familiar with your scooter and its controls

 

Before riding, it&#;s important to familiarize yourself with your scooter. Make sure you know where the accelerator, brakes, lights and horn are. If you just received you scooter, it&#;s best to take it to a protected outside area, like a parking lot, and make sure you have a sense of how the throttle feels and brakes work. If you want to be really cautious, you can test out your scooter without even powering it on by using it as a standard kick scooter. This can give you a good sense of the balance, steering and brake feel. Finally, make sure you understand how the folding mechanisms on your scooter work.  Depending on what scooter you own, you will probably have a folding stem and possibly folding handlebars.  Make sure you know how to lock both into place. There are many mechanisms and some have extra safety features that must be engaged to prevent it from folding while riding. Some mechanisms will have an audible click when properly seated while others do not.  Read your instruction manual and make sure you understand how it works.

 

 

 

Do a pre-flight check of your scooter before hopping on

 

The first time and every time you ride, do a pre-flight check to make sure your scooter is good to go. a. Tires are in good condition and inflated to correct pressure b. Folding mechanisms locked into place c. Brakes properly adjusted d. Scooter looks and sounds good (no weird noises, obvious damage, anything changed or unusual) e. Battery charged enough for your trip f. Gear bag for longer rides (tire slime, pump, multi-tool) g. Mobile for emergencies.

 

 

 

Launch your scooter by kicking off from the ground

 

Launching your scooter and starting to ride is as simple as putting one foot on the deck, kicking off and pushing down on the accelerator. You&#;ll typically have to get the scooter up to ~3 mph for the motor to engage, though scooters with zero start don&#;t require kicking off. Before you launch, you&#;ll want to make sure the kickstand is up. If it&#;s your first time on the scooter, you may want to adopt a conventional stance which is having one foot &#; typically the non-dominant &#; in front of the other. If you do it with your dominant in front, this is called goofy stance. Some people prefer to ride with their feet side-by-side &#; and it does work, however you&#;ll be a bit less stable and unable to shift your weight appropriately to balance. If you have an emergency, you won&#;t be able to react as quickly when riding like this.

 

 

Turn by steering at lower speeds and rely on leaning at higher speeds

 

When riding your scooter, use your handlebars to help you balance, but your feet and legs should be doing most the work. If you notice that you&#;re pushing or pulling really hard on the handlebars, this is not a good sign and means you need to work on your balance. The handlebars are on the end of a very long lever arm and even the best built scooter is not designed for the rider to frequently crank on the handlebars. At very, very low speeds, you&#;ll actively use the handlebars to steer your scooter. You will also have to engage your core and adjust your weight to maintain balance. At normal riding speeds >5 mph you should keep the handlebars mostly straight and rely on weight shift and leaning to maneuver and turn.

 

Shift your weight back and down when braking hard

 

When braking hard, bend your knees and shift your weight back over your rear leg &#; as though you are about to sit down. Most of the braking power comes from the front brake, so be sure to use both. Braking hard while turning, is much more likely to cause a crash than braking hard in a straight line, so whenever possible, straighten up before executing an emergency stop. For maximum braking power, you&#;ll want to be right on the verge of skidding the rear tire, without &#;locking&#; the brake. The front wheel is very unlikely to skid, but grabbing way too much front brake does have the potential to send you over the handlebars, especially when riding scooters with more powerful front brakes (such as disc brakes). Spend some time practicing using the front brake, adding more and more front brake as you get comfortable with it.

 

Accelerate using the throttle and position yourself for stability

 

Accelerating by squeezing down on your throttle control. If you are accelerating hard on a more powerful scooter, double check that your feet are in a stable position and bend your knees to lower your center of gravity. Use the handlebars for stability, but avoid over stressing them. Your legs should be providing the majority of your balance. Pro Tip: When accelerating hard, plant your weight on your rear foot and use that foot to help your body lean forward. This will keep you from pulling on the handlebars. If you&#;re riding a dual motor scooter, it will also help keep the front wheel from losing traction while accelerating.

Advanced Riding Techniques

As you are learning how to ride your scooter and venturing onto public roads, there are a few advanced techniques you&#;ll want to have in your back pocket.

Look Ahead to Avoid Obstacles

First and foremost, learn and use obstacle avoidance. Scooters all have relatively small tires and potholes and other road debris present a hazard. Always pay attention to the road surface and be aware of surrounding vehicles. Practice and be confident to make quick but controlled avoidance movements. The most important thing is to not overcorrect or swerve into another vehicle. Sometimes obstacles are unavoidable and you must go through or over them. The biggest concern is having your front wheel stop, which will send you over the handlebars.

Roll over Obstacles Perpendicularly

All roads will have obstacles that can be hazardous to your ride | Credit: Richard S. / RG

To roll over an obstacle, practice shifting your weight over the rear wheel and hopping the front wheel over the obstacle by slightly tugging on the handlebars. You&#;re not trying to gain serious air with the front wheel and when done properly, the front may not leave the ground.  The goal here is to unweight the front wheel and make it as easy as possible for it to clear the obstacle.

Maximize Range with These Tips

How do you maximize your range on your scooter? It&#;s simple &#; use as little energy as possible, by following these tips: 1. Always kick start your scooter. The motor uses the most power when it&#;s putting out the most torque &#; which is when you are first starting the scooter. 2. Accelerate slowly. Faster acceleration = more torque = more energy consumed. 3. Keep your top speed down. Higher top speed = more wind resistance = more torque = more energy consumed. 4. Inflate tires to proper pressure. Make sure to keep your tires inflated to the recommended pressure, which will reduce rolling resistance. Lower pressure will reduce range and increase your risk of flat tires. 5. Ride in warmer weather. You may not be able to control this one, but batteries aren&#;t able to put out their full charge when they are colder. You&#;ll notice a very significant drop (temporary) in capacity when operating your battery below 50 F / 20 C. Will regenerative braking give you more range? No, maybe a 2 to 3% increase based on our analysis. However, it will prolong the life of your brake pads.

After

the

Ride

High quality U-locks afford the best security for your scooter | Richard S. /RG

When you arrive at your destination, it&#;s important to store your scooter securely so that it is there when you get back. Though the safest option is to always bring your scooter with you and there are often creative ways to do this, sometimes this is not possible. For locking your scooter in a public place, we recommend only using very high quality U-lock such as the Kryptonite New York series. These locks are expensive and heavy &#; about and 4.5 lbs but necessary and worth it. Cheaper and lighter locks will not protect your investment. Slip the U-lock through a secure locking and permanent point that can&#;t be easily removed with tools. Some examples are: through/around the frame, a permanent carrying handle, through the folding mechanism. Finally, if your scooter has gotten wet during the ride, give it a quick wipe down (towel or paper towel), and be sure to park it inside, where it has a chance to completely dry off before the next ride. This is especially important if your scooter does not have an IP rating (water/dust resistance rating).

Summary

Learning to ride an electric scooter is relatively easy, though being able to safely commute in traffic is learned through experience. If you&#;re a total beginner, make sure to wear a helmet, practice, and gain confidence before riding in mixed traffic.

For more best electric scooter for adults street legalinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.