How to ride an electric scooter safely

At 15 mph a scooter covers roughly 22 feet per second before you even start braking, and stopping distance on most electric scooters is longer than on a bicycle with the same brakes, because scooter wheels are smaller and traction is lower. Start braking earlier than instinct suggests, especially the first few weeks, and never wait until you are close to an obstacle to find out how your specific scooter's brakes behave.

Front and rear brakes work together on most models; using only the rear brake at speed can cause a skid, and using only the front brake hard can pitch you forward. Learn how your scooter responds to combined braking at low speed, where a mistake costs you nothing.

Small wheels, especially 8.5 inch solid tires, do not absorb pavement flaws the way a larger wheel or a car tire does. A pothole, expansion joint or storm grate that a car would not notice can stop a scooter's front wheel dead and throw the rider forward. Scan the road 15 to 20 feet ahead, not just directly in front of the wheel, and steer around cracks rather than riding through them at speed. Slow down noticeably on unfamiliar pavement, construction zones and anywhere leaves or debris might be hiding a crack.

Wet pavement cuts tire grip and extends braking distance substantially, more on solid tires than pneumatic ones. If you must ride in light rain, slow down well below your normal speed, brake earlier, and avoid painted road markings and metal grates, which get slippery when wet. Never charge a scooter that is still wet from riding; let it dry fully first, and check the manufacturer's water resistance rating before riding in anything more than light rain.

Keep both hands on the handlebar grips at all times while moving, knees slightly bent, and weight centered over the deck rather than leaning far forward or back. Look ahead at where you are going, not down at your feet. Riding one-handed to hold a phone or bag is a common cause of avoidable falls; carry gear in a bag on the scooter instead.

Wear a certified helmet like the CPSC certified commuter helmet ($31.99) every time you ride, including short trips; most falls happen at low speed close to home, not on a long ride. Add wrist guards such as BOSONER wrist guards ($12.59) if you are new to riding, since a reflex hand-out is one of the most common ways riders get hurt in a fall. Run a rear light like the DARKBEAM tail light ($10.99) any time visibility is reduced, dawn, dusk or overcast.

Part of riding safely is not creating a hazard when you park. Fold the scooter and lock the frame to a fixed rack with something like the Kryptonite Parkview folding lock ($27.06) rather than leaning it against a wall where it can fall into a walkway or trip a pedestrian.

Ride single file on shared paths and leave real following distance behind another rider, since your stopping distance on a scooter is longer than most people expect. At intersections, make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them rather than assuming you have been seen; scooters are smaller and less expected than a bike or a car, and some drivers genuinely do not register them at a glance. Signal turns with a hand when you can do so safely, and never assume a driver will yield just because you have the right of way on paper.

Safe scootering is less a single skill and more a set of habits that compound: checking the latch, scanning the road ahead, braking early, and wearing gear every time. New riders who skip these in the first few weeks because "it feels unnecessary for a short ride" are the ones who tend to have an avoidable fall. Treat the first month as training, even after the scooter itself stops feeling new, and the habits will carry you through years of riding without a serious incident.