Riding an electric scooter is within everyone's reach. Whether it is a shared electric scooter or one you have chosen yourself, riding this electric vehicle is child's play.
You have surely already ridden a classic scooter when you were a child. Riding an electric scooter is similar with a few differences. An electric scooter means a motor system, accelerators, and also a braking system.
In our article, Weebot explains how to ride an electric scooter for the first time in a few steps. From equipment to riding, Weebot tells you more!
Reflexes to adopt before you start riding
Before you start riding, you must prepare your journey properly. For this, you need to adopt a number of reflexes before riding your electric scooter. Here are our tips:
Think about your safety!
When you ride an electric vehicle, whatever it is, it is important to protect yourself. Indeed, you are not safe from an accident or a possible fall when you ride an electric scooter. That is why safety must come before everything else.
To achieve this, you must first equip yourself with a helmet. Although wearing a helmet is not mandatory, it is still recommended to wear one to protect your skull in case of a fall. Regarding clothing style, we recommend wearing comfortable clothes covering your arms and legs. Furthermore, you can equip yourself with elbow pads and knee pads for even more safety. You can also wear gloves to protect your hands while ensuring a good grip on the handlebar.
Check that your scooter is in order
Before riding an electric scooter, you must carry out a complete check of your vehicle. This will allow you to make sure everything works as it should for more safety. Here are the components to check when you ride an electric scooter:
- Check your battery level.
- Check that your wheels are properly inflated and in good condition.
- Check that the braking, acceleration, and lighting systems work as they should.
- Check that your scooter makes no unusual noise when starting.
- Check the height of your handlebar so that it is at the right level.
- Once everything is in order, you can start riding without fear!
Choose the place to ride your electric vehicle
For your first trip, it is important to choose a suitable place to practice properly. We recommend favoring a smooth area or a paved road without obstacles. It is better not to start riding in very crowded places.
Note that the place is as important as the time of riding. You must therefore make sure to ride during off-peak hours when there are few pedestrians or cyclists around.
In other words, favor spacious and empty places to enjoy a pleasant journey.
How do I use my electric scooter?
You should know that it will take a few minutes to get used to the machine. For beginners, it is recommended to practice on your own before making regular trips. After starting your vehicle, here are some tips to follow for the first use of your electric scooter:
- To start, make sure your scooter stays balanced then place your hands on the handlebar.
- Put your feet on the board and keep your balance.
- Then push yourself with the foot that was on the ground. This will help you gain speed.
- You can keep using your foot to start moving but also to start your motor.
- Once the motor is running, turn your handlebar to steer.
- If you want to stop, use the brakes located on the handlebar or at the rear of your vehicle.
How do I maintain my electric scooter?
A scooter does not require excessive maintenance. Regularly maintaining your scooter will allow you to enjoy your vehicle longer. Here are some tips to maintain your vehicle properly:
- Do not let your scooter run out of charge. Take the time to charge your electric scooter before each trip. Adopting this reflex will help you preserve your battery longer, and thus your vehicle.
- Inflate your tires properly. Tires are fragile parts that wear out very easily. To ensure your tires are properly inflated, you must check their pressure.
- Do not overload your scooter. Each electric scooter has a weight limit, so it is important not to overload it to avoid harming its proper functioning.
- Use your scooter on terrains suited to its model. Indeed, an all-terrain electric scooter cannot ride on the same types of terrain as a city electric scooter without risking damage.
Errors to avoid when riding an electric scooter
When you ride an electric scooter for the first time, it is not uncommon to make mistakes. Weebot has therefore listed the most common mistakes not to make when riding your electric assisted machine:
- Pressing too hard on your accelerator: this can cause your scooter to swerve, make you lose balance, and fall. It is better to press lightly on the accelerator continuously to keep control of your vehicle.
- Braking too hard: this can make you lose control of your vehicle and, by extension, make you fall. To brake properly, increase pressure on the brakes gradually.
- Leaning too much when taking turns: leaning too much when approaching a turn can make you fall very quickly.
- Turning the handlebar abruptly: turning your handlebar too sharply can damage it over time but also make you fall. It is better to slow down then turn your handlebar slightly.
FAQ
What age must you be to ride an electric scooter?
The law is clear on the subject: you must be at least 12 years old to ride electric scooters in city centers. Below this age, it is better to choose children's toys to use only on private grounds.
Can you ride an electric scooter when it rains?
It depends on the model of scooter you have chosen. It is better to choose an electric vehicle subject to a waterproofing standard. This indicates that your vehicle is both water-resistant and resistant to dust buildup.
Conclusion
Electric scooters are a pleasant and environmentally friendly means of transport. They are also a good alternative to popular means of travel such as the car, for example. Starting to ride an electric scooter is within everyone's reach; you just need to take courage in both hands and take the plunge by following the advice set out in this article.