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Electric scooters are super fun vehicles to use outdoors. Because they are based on the already great-to-use kick scooters but add a convenient motorized element, electric scooters give us the best of both worlds. They can be moved by both the power of their batteries and by using your feet just like on a regular scooter. But as electric vehicles become more and more complex there are always new things to be learned about their operation and maintenance.
If you haven’t tried one because you simply don’t know how to ride and your reluctance is stopping you from purchasing one for yourself then believe us when we say that you have nothing to worry about. Riding an electric scooter is like riding a bicycle – we all have to learn the basics at first but once that’s done it becomes second nature to use. Check out our valuable tips below so that you can physically and mentally prepare yourself for riding an electric scooter.
Learning how to perform any task isn’t just preparation by getting the right tools or being in the right environment. There is very much a mental element at play which is very likely what is really going on when someone feels too anxious about riding an electric scooter. That’s why we feel it is important to address this first.
If you are feeling intimidated about hopping on an electric scooter then please don’t be. Operating these vehicles is much easier than it looks and learning how to use them takes very little time. Many people easily master their controls during the first day of usage so you have no reason to think that your experience will be any different.
Just think back and try to remember all the different and new things that you have learned that seemed intimidating at first. If you’ve ever learned how to use a bicycle or a hoverboard successfully then you’ve already proven to yourself that you are capable of using an electric scooter, even if you are a beginner. Now, you wouldn’t want to miss out on a great piece of technology just because of some second thoughts now, would you?
If you are riding an electric scooter for the very first time then you will need to take a couple of precautions that you may not necessarily have to do once you get the hang of things. For example, you may wish to bring along some protective equipment if you feel that you could end up falling off a couple of times. Some knee pads and a helmet are a good idea, but it would also be helpful to wear appropriate clothing. Running shoes and pants that aren’t too tight will be best so that your body will not be constricted while riding.
Another thing you should do is make sure you have already fully charged your electric scooter. If you plan on using your electric scooter very often then you will need to plug it in every day, so it’s best to get in the habit of making sure it’s fully charged before leaving as soon as you can. If the battery runs out while you are outside then you’ll be left with a regular scooter that you’ll have to manually wheel back home.
It is also very important to choose the right kind of electric scooter to match your experience and your skill level. Since you’re a beginner you probably don’t want to go for the fastest models on the market that can go at speeds exceeding 20 miles per hour. Pick something with a relatively low maximum speed like 10mph or less.
After all of the above, you should be ready to head outside and start practicing your riding technique.
First things first: find a relatively secluded location with as much flat ground as possible. You don’t want to be practicing on grass as this will provide a less stable foundation that makes turning and balancing a little trickier.
Turn on your electric scooter and hop on. Go easy on the handlebars and gently pull the throttle to bring yourself to cruising speed. You want to be at a rate of around 2-4mph and keep it there until you’re comfortable increasing the speed.
The most important thing to get familiar with is how to balance yourself while turning. Start slowly if necessary but the idea is to gradually build up your confidence in how fast you can swerve. Make sure to practice turning in both left and right directions.
If you think that your scooter can’t properly carry your weight, you might want to consider getting an electric scooter for heavy adults.
It is also very important to get accustomed to your electric scooter’s brakes. You will want to get a feel for how fast or responsive they are. The easiest way to do that is to simply build up a bit of speed in a straight line and then pull your brake lever. Do this a few times so you can figure out what to expect each time you stop your vehicle.
Always remember that if you happen to fall off your scooter, that’s okay! Any rider is capable of making a little mistake every now and then, especially when they are still starting out and learning how to ride. As long as it was a minor setback and you didn’t hurt yourself feel free to jump right back into it and continue where you left off.
Everyone learns different things at different rates. Some people will instantly grasp how to use an electric scooter like they were born for it, while others will take longer to get used to keeping themselves balanced. No matter what kind of beginner you are, you should always remember to pace yourself and go at the speed that feels most comfortable to you. Electric scooter riding isn’t just about fun but about safety as well so you should never sacrifice the latter for the former.
We hope you have learned a lot about the basics of riding electric scooters and we especially hope that you give yourself a chance to experience one of the most fun ways to traverse the outdoors.
Last update on 2023-11-18 at 02:36 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.