How to Ride an Electric Scooter Safely

How to Ride an Electric Scooter Safely: 5-Step Beginner’s Guide

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.

• 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!

Before You Start Riding Your Electric Scooter

We will go through some of the things that are essential to know and do before you venture off on your electric vehicle.

Safety first!

This is a topic very close to my heart and honestly, one that can raise my pulse rapidly when I watch other scooter riders.

It is unbelievable to me, how people can ride electric scooters without any protective gear. And especially...the most important one...THE HELMET!

Think about it, the same people, would never ever consider riding a skateboard without a helmet. Or snowboard or ski down a mountain with their head bare and exposed.

Even a modestly powered e scooter will reach a top speed of 15 mph (24 kph). Imagine jumping out of a car at that speed without any protection. Volunteers anyone?

There are simply no excuses for not wearing a helmet.It can be the difference between life and death. Is it really worth not considering? Get a helmet and make sure to never ever ride without one.

Most likely, it will be mandatory by law once the lawmakers catch up as they will. Scooter riding is here to stay and will only ever grow in popularity. With that, laws will most likely follow dictating how and where one can ride.

And safety for the rider will be on the agenda. Get used to the helmet. Elbow pads and knee pads are also recommended. Especially for kids and younger riders. They tend to play around a bit more and the likelihood of falling is quite high. It might be a good idea to also think about some type of protective clothing. Even if you live in a very warm climate. Even a small tumble can scrape you up badly if you are riding in t-shirts and shorts. Long sleeves and trousers, proper shoes (not flip flops) are all a smart choice.

Gloves are also recommended. A pair of MTB gloves will do the trick. Should you have even a small fall, the gloves will be great for protecting your hands from getting all scraped up as we tend to try to protect ourselves with our hands when we lose our balance.

Read more about electric scooter safety

Find an Open and Safe Place

The first time out on your e scooter should be somewhere with no traffic and no cars or other cyclists/pedestrians to consider. An empty parking lot is ideal. This way you can focus on learning about your new friend and how to ride it in a safe environment.

Much like first time riding a bike, or more accurately learning how to drive on the parking lot to get a feel for how the scooter operates. Remember, just like with any vehicle, one electric scooter is not comparable to another. If you have had a chance to try and learn how to ride an electric scooter that's relatively small and lightweight and move to purchase a 2000w model that's 3 times as heavy and much more powerful we still recommend you take it somewhere open and safe to get a feel for the model, even if you are an experienced rider.

Know your scooter

Getting to know your kick scooter and how it behaves is crucial. The first thing will be the acceleration and getting used to it. Some scooters are "kick to start", meaning you have to manually push off before the motor engages.

Each e scooter behaves differently and the acceleration can be smooth or more of a kick. Some almost yank forward, and holding on to the handlebars is crucial.

Throttle sensitivity varies. Index finger trigger style throttle, thumb throttle, or handlebar twist throttle, like on a motorcycle, are the ones in use. Getting used to your specific e scooters version is best done in a controlled environment.

The next thing will be the brakes. They also vary in bite and power and brake levers might need to be adjusted to your preference. Most have a handbrake system and some have a foot brake as well. Either on the rear fender as a step on version or it might even be a mechanical one. If you have a rear fender step on brake, you will probably want to practice a couple of times before commuting to work at full tilt.

Regardless of which, you do want to know your brakes and what they are capable of since being able to stop effectively is more important than anything else.

Getting acquainted with your dashboard and what info you might get from it will make sure you are up to date on your battery life and where to quickly turn on your lights if you need to etc.

How To Ride An Electric Scooter - The Steps

Riding an e scooter is not complicated, but there are some steps to go through.

• Unscrew or unbolt the latch to get the stem up.

• Start it up. It might be a key or a button.

• Make sure it's fully charged.

• Raise the kickstand if it has one.

• Step on it and get a feel for the weight and balance of it. Length of stem and handlebars vary so you will want to find your optimal riding position.

• One foot in front of the other on the deck, snowboard style, not parallel. It gives maximum balance and control. Your strongest foot in front of the other. The same as you would step on a skateboard.

• Easy on the throttle and get to know the power range and how fast it accelerates.

• Easy on the brakes. The first time you brake, get to know your brake levers and where the "bite" is.

• Get to know the wheels and tires' behaviors. And if you have a suspension system. Get a feel for the travel and stiffness of the suspension as well. This will help to know what kind of imperfections in the road you can ride over without getting a wobble.
  
  Tires can be air filled or solid ones. The grip will be better with air filled tires whereas solid ones will tend to slide more. Best to get to know the limits on an empty parking lot instead of in a panicky red light stop situation in mid traffic.

• Try some smaller turns to see what the turning ratio is and how it feels to maneuver at low speeds.

Pro Tip 1: Go Slow First, And Take it Easy

Sure... we get it...it is tempting to go flat out and scoot of as fast as possible. But for the beginner, we recommend another method.

Build up to speed. This is a mantra and advice used by some of the best race car drivers on the planet. If it is good enough for them, it is good enough for us.

What it means is this; they don't throw themselves out on the track and go full tilt all guns blazing from the first second. Getting a feel for the equipment, riding conditions, and track surface to then slowly go faster once comfortable, is the modus operandi of the pros.

If you have bought a more powerful e scooter as your first venture, it might be a good idea to try a less powered rental one before you hop on your own.

If you want to work your way up with your own e scooters, the Cityrider would be a good choice as a first step. Once comfortable with that, the WideWheel is a brilliant option for intermediate riders. And for the more advanced riders, the Mantis will be enough. All these are available on FluidFreeRides website.

Pro Tip 2: Ride with a Partner

A fun way of getting to know what riding an e scooter is all about, is to have a more experienced friend guiding you through the process. Like we said before.

It is not complicated to ride them but...there is always something to be learned that is new and that can save you from a lot of hassle and maybe even pain. Even on such an uncomplicated vehicle.

Read more about the best electric scooters for commuting

Know The General Road Rules

Make sure you find out the traffic laws in your specific area. They vary from state to state and country to country.

If you don't have a driver's license, it is important to understand the general rules or it might be costly. In Sweden for instance, as a bicyclist, running a stop sign can render in a revoked car driver's license.

Imagine the tears if that happens and you didn't know and thought you were safe because you were riding a bike.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

There is no denying that part of the electric scooters overall success has been how easy they are to use and how quickly you can learn to use them properly - especially the rental ones which are limited both when it comes to power, speed, and features.

However, here are some common mistakes you can avoid as a potential electric scooter buyer that will help you manage a more powerful scooter and some tips that will make your scooter last longer and have less wear and tear over time.

Twisting Throttle Too Hard

Twisting or yanking the throttle too hard. A battery driven vehicle has a lot of torque from basically zero. It takes some time to get used to and if you are not careful, you might lose your balance and tip backward. The WideWheel Pro f.e. spins its front wheel easily if you go full power too fast.

It is quite unnerving the first time it happens. Leaning forward and again, knowing your specific e scooters behavior is adamant. Smooth adjustments are the key.

Braking Too Hard

Braking too hard or in a panic. Many e scooters have small wheels but still quite powerful disc brakes. This is an interesting combination. If you don't want to fly over the handlebars, it is a very good idea therefore to be smooth on the brakes.

Apply more pressure gradually as it slows down and lean slightly backward. The small wheels might lock up very quickly and you don't want to drift out onto a busy road with locked up wheels to the tune of Jon Bon Jovi's "Blaze of Glory" in your head.

Leaning The Scooter

Leaning the e scooter in turns will feel natural in the same way as it does on a bike. The same principle for cornering on two wheels applies here, even though the lower center of gravity makes falling less of a risk.

Lean too much though, and you might catch some gravel, or lose overall grip and take a spill.

Turning Handlebars Too Far

Because of the small wheels, it is easy to turn the handlebars. Too quick and violent might result in a dead stop though, as the front wheel will be acting as an instant brake. Careful with violent steering movements.

On a Bad Day...

Motorcycle riders have a saying: "There are two types of motorcycle riders in the world, the ones who have fallen, and the ones who have not fallen yet". If you ride anything on two wheels, be it a bicycle, or an electric scooter, there is a chance you will eventually fall.

The question is how bad it will be and how prepared you are for it. Riding responsibly and using protective gear will minimize the risk, but....even the best ones get caught out. Or maybe someone else will hit you. A pedestrian steps out in your way, or a bike or car, and so on.If the accident happens, make sure you are ok first. Check for damages. Don't worry about your scooter. They can be replaced. Head injuries are the biggest worry. If there are any signs of even the smallest injury to the head, better to get checked out asap.

Wrap up

In short. E scooters are fun and easy to ride. If you follow our "checklist" here, you will be a much safer commuter than if you don't.

Riding with a helmet and other protective gear is the most important factor.

Riding within your limits and knowing your e scooters behavior will make sure you are not unpleasantly surprised and get caught out.Build up to speed.

Resist the temptation to "fly" immediately even if you have a fast one.

Ready to learn more about what type of scooter is best for you?

fluid CityRider

$399

fluid HORIZON

$729

WideWheel PRO

$1,099