An electric scooter is a fun and green way to get around. They are light, compact, easy to use, and even go pretty fast! E-scooters serve as a brilliant medium between walking and cycling that make cruising fun. While they’re incredibly fun, there are a few things you should know before buying your first E-Scooter. Our first piece of advice is to check local laws to ensure it is legal for you to ride an e-scooter on public roads. Once you're sure, read on to find out the five things I wish I knew before taking the plunge and investing in an E-Scooter.
If you are an urban cyclist like I am, you’ve surely noticed an increase in cities trying to accommodate bikers, with increased bike paths, bike lanes, and bikeshare programs. All of these programs are designed to create more opportunities for the modern cyclist; however, the unfortunate reality is that these opportunities do not yet exist for e-scooter riders. Very few cities are accommodating to these riders, with bike lanes being too large and sidewalks being too narrow/crowded. If you are planning on buying an E-Scooter, make sure you’re aware of how you plan on moving around- because it's highly unlikely your town will plan for you.
If you live in a large city, such as New York or Los Angeles, you may have seen an assortment of scooters labeled “Bird” all over town. Bird is a rideshare company that offers rental e-scooters for about $0.35 per minute. You rent the scooter, take it where you need to go, and then drop it off when you’re done. While the price of renting an e-scooter time and time again can add up, if you only plan on e-scootering sporadically, a rental option may be much more fiscally rational than investing in your own personal scooter. Make sure you plan on using your scooter lots before purchasing, and do your best to make sure what other e-scooter rideshare programs exist in your city!
E-Scooters are like you and me- we’re nothing without a few accessories! If you buy an e-scooter, investing in a few accessories can make your new ride safer and more fun. If you’re looking to make your scooter safer, I’d go with a pair of CYCL Winglights 360, which act as turn signals for your scooter if you’re a more urban commuter. If you’re trying to make scootering a more fun experience, I would invest in some LED strips! These stick on to any part of your scooter that you desire and can be any color you desire at the push of a button- great for riding at night!
If you ever take your scooter anywhere that requires a lock, having the right technique is essential. Unlike a bicycle, there is no easy place to lock up your scooter- the wheels are incredibly small and many e-scooters don’t have a frame that can be used. When locking up your e-scooter, make sure you are locking it to a secure place that has little room for thieves to work their way in, and try to find a lock that can wrap around multiple parts of the scooter if possible!
Since e-scooters are relatively new to the roads, many other road users may not be looking for you when they are out walking, riding or driving. So being a cautious rider is imperative to the safety of both you and those around you. Make sure you know your local area's road rules for e-scooters and stick to them. If you’re in a bike lane, make sure bikers around you have space to pass. If you’re on the sidewalk, make sure to go a bit slower in case any sudden pedestrians pop out. E-Scootering is very fun- but needs to be done with caution for both yourself and those around you!
Kit your electric scooter out with WingLights 360 - indicators and position lights that fit into the hollows of your handlebars. Their 360º visibility will highlight your position in the road and the bright amber indicating function will ensure your direction intentions are clear to other road users.