People riding electric scooters

Rent and Ride Electric Scooter Safely: Top Things to Know Before Your First Scooter Rental

Are you planning to rent an electric scooter soon? Good decision! Electric scooters are easy to use, eco-friendly, and quite convenient. They are a great alternative to commuting by bus or by car. But how do you rent one? What should you know before renting? We will answer these questions to calm your worries.

How to rent an electric scooter

Usually, you only need a driver’s license and a valid credit card to rent. You might also have to be 18 years old to rent a scooter. Also, in most states, you must be 16 to drive scooters. But you usually do not need a license to ride a scooter.

There is more than one way to rent a scooter. Many people use apps, such as Bird or Lime. You have to add your credit card, find a scooter on the map, check its battery, go to the scooter. You might have to start the ride in the app or take a picture of the QR code. To begin riding the scooter, step on it, kick the ground and push the throttle button. Then, enjoy your ride!

What to do before riding away on your rental scooter

Just like with any other transportation device, scooter accidents happen. To minimize the risk, here are some things you should do before riding your rental scooter:

Check the tires. They must be in good condition to ride safely. Rental companies usually check and maintain their scooters, but it never hurts to be sure.

Check the brakes. Brakes must always function well: otherwise, you can drive into someone or something, unable to stop on time. Once again, a malfunction is not likely, but you should still try them out. It’s good to try out the scooter a bit, so you know how to ride it.

Finally, take photos of the electric scooter you rent before you leave so that you do not get blamed for damages you did not cause. Make sure you can also see the date of taking the photo to prove it was just when you rented it out. 

How to keep yourself safe on electric scooter

Scooter laws are not very clear yet, and riders often disobey them, anyway. They are also quite fast, not so easily seen, and very open. This is how they sometimes create hazards for themselves, other drivers, and pedestrians. Let’s talk about minimizing risks to yourself first. Besides well-functioning tires and brakes, some gear can also be helpful.

Wear a helmet. Although only a few states require wearing helmets when riding scooters or might only require helmets for riders under 18, we always recommend wearing one. Helmets protect your head and your brain, and we can’t function without them, can we? With a helmet, you decrease your risk of a bad head injury in case of an accident.

Wear gloves. When people fall from their scooters, they usually hit the pavement with their palms. Although it would hardly be a fatal injury, scraped palms can be both painful and uncomfortable. Gloves will minimize the risk of hurting hands. A jacket, long pants, and shoes with closed toes also decrease the risk of hurting yourself. 

Riding safely and not injuring others 

Think about riding a bike. Similar safety rules apply to riding electric scooters. Do not ride on sidewalks: this is illegal in most states. Most states allow riding electric scooters on the streets, although some states do not allow them on highways and expressways. The best places to ride scooters are bike lanes. The speed limit might be from 15 to 30mph. Learn about California scooter laws here and about other states laws here.

Do not ride drunk. You increase the chance of injuring not only yourself but also others. You might also get a fine.

Do not take your friends on one scooter. It might seem like fun, but scooters are only designed for one person. Riding with more makes it harder to operate and thus increases the likelihood of an accident.

Do not speed too much. Electric scooters usually have several speed modes: begin with the first one. You can always speed up when you feel comfortable with the scooter. Many accidents occur because someone speeds too much and cannot notice a hazard or stop the scooter in time.

Finally, be careful. Do not get distracted and observe your surroundings. Try to avoid areas with lots of traffic. Keep both hands on the handles unless indicating a turn. And when you finish the ride, park your scooter nicely, so no one trips over it! Bike racks are a good place for parking scooters.

Perhaps you are interested in other types of scooters? Check out our article on it!

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