Last Updated on May 17, 2023 by Matt
The first time I saw an electric scooter, I wondered “isn’t that thing hard to ride?”. It seemed almost weird that it didn’t tip over to the side.
And from the many conversations I’ve had with other people, it seems that I wasn’t the only one with that question. People that see electric scooters for the first time often wonder the exact same thing.
The answer is very simple.
Is It Hard To Ride An Electric Scooter?
Riding an electric scooter is not hard at all. It only takes a few minutes to learn the basics, and then riding is almost effortless. For most people, it’s even easier than riding a bike.
Why does riding an electric scooter look more difficult than it really is? How is it actually done, and what do you need to know before riding?
These are all common beginner questions. Let’s briefly address them all.
Why does riding an electric scooter look so hard?
To beginners, riding may seem hard because they are still thinking about old-school, classical kick-scooters.
Riding them was very different from riding an electric one. But they really do look alike a lot.
Many electric scooters actually do require a kick to start. They can accelerate without one, but they will be expending much more battery power that way.
What to know before riding an electric scooter?
If you plan on riding in the streets of your city, you will need to make sure that:
- electric scooters are allowed in your area (yes in the vast majority of places)
- your electric scooter is road legal
- you fulfill the age requirements for riding an electric scooter in your area (often none, sometimes 16+)
- you have all the proper documentation required to riding it (could be none, but could also be license, registration, or insurance)
- you are familiar with the local laws that apply for riding a scooter, like areas where you should ride and speed limits
Every time before you ride, go through the following checklist to ensure your comfort and safety:
- respect your local traffic laws
- wear a proper helmet for your electric scooter
- put on all the safety gear you have
- don’t ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- never ride with great speeds, especially if you are a beginner
- check your tires, make sure they are inflated
- check your battery, make sure it has enough power left in it to get you where you’re going
- check your brakes and make sure that all mechanisms work
- avoid riding in the rain, snow, wet weather, or on slippery surfaces
- turn on your lights at night
These are the essential safety tips you must always follow. For a more in-depth look, check out my electric scooter safety guide, and the guide on how electric scooters can affect your health.
Finally, if you want to become a more proficient user, you will have to get familiar with your scooter.
Make sure to go through our detailed guide about how electric scooters work.
Then, if you wish to further deepen your knowledge, go through our guide for all the most important performance aspects of your electric scooter. Among other things, these include concepts like:
- motor power, real vs peak power
- wattage
- energy storage capacity
- voltage and current
- top speed
- range
- load capacity
- climbing angle
- IP rating
How to ride an electric scooter for beginners
Even though it’s easy itself, riding an electric scooter is not that easy to explain in words.
You will probably get a hang of it in less than a minute.
In simple terms, all you need to do is:
- make sure the scooter is turned on and it has battery power
- preferably, have it in its slowest mode
- if you need to practice, find a flat, clear patch of empty space
- your scooter may require a kick to start, if yes, use a kick-start, as you would with a regular scooter
- hit and hold the acceleration button
- place both feet on the deck
- maintain balance
Congratulations, you’re on your first electric scooter ride!
Riding is simple and easy, but you shouldn’t get too comfortable at the beginning.
Gather some experience under your belt first. Ride with full alertness for some time. Riding an electric scooter really puts you in the zone, and for beginners that can still be somewhat tricky, since you’re not accustomed to minding the road and your surroundings.
So just spend some time riding slowly and carefully before you dare for the long drives through the more busy parts of the city.
Any time you wish to stop, release the acceleration, and activate one of the braking mechanisms. Slightly lean over to one side and bring your foot from that side on the ground.
Are electric scooters safe?
In general, electric scooters are pretty safe. Some people do get hurt sometimes, and a small number even suffer more serious injuries, but the vast majority of rides end without any injury.
That said, you should follow all the guidelines specified in this article, especially wearing a helmet and respecting the traffic laws, as those are the most common mistakes that end up with an accident or an injury.
