6 mistakes everyone makes when riding an e-scooter

ActiveElectric Scooters6 mistakes everyone makes when riding an e-scooterElectric scooters are a great way to get around a city, but it’s easy to make these really common mistakesWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

Electric scooters are a great way to get around a city, but it’s easy to make these really common mistakes

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Pure Electric)

Pure Air Pro LR

(Image credit: Pure Electric)

I’m a big fan of electric scooters and think they’re a convenient and eco-friendly way of getting around a city. I’ve clocked up many miles on them while reviewing various models for T3’sbest electric scooterguide, so I have a pretty good idea of how you should and shouldn’t be using an e-scooter.

Despite electric scooters being fairly common nowadays, I still see a lot of mistakes being made, some of which simply make the rider look amateurish, but also some more serious errors that give all electric scooter riders a bad name. I’m guessing most people have made at least some of these mistakes at least once or twice, and if you haven’t then feel free to gloat on Twitter.

As such, here are the mistakes you can easily avoid in order to make your electric scooter experience so much better. We also have an exciting guide tomistakes everyone makes about ebikes, which are also relevant to e-scooter riders.

1. Riding on the pavements

Electric scooters cannot legally be used on the pavement. Private e-scooters can only be used on private land, while e-scooters that are rented as part of government-backed trials can be used on public roads and cycle lanes (but still not pavements).

Using electric scooters on pavements, especially in busy areas, is dangerous to pedestrians and gives electric scooters a bad reputation.

(Image credit: Getty)

Electric scooter

(Image credit: Getty)

2. Not wearing a helmet

Okay, I’ll admit, even I’ve made this mistake a few times. Whether you are riding a rented electric scooter or your personal e-scooter, you should always wear a helmet.

With their small wheels, it’s pretty easy to fall off an electric scooter, and as they’re capable of travelling at pretty fast speeds, this could result in serious accidents and injuries. So, make sure you’re wearing one of thebest helmets.

Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts

As well as a helmet, if you’re riding an electric scooter at night I’d recommend wearing a reflective vest or extra lights as well, so other vehicles on the road can spot you easily.

3. Driving recklessly around pedestrians

This is like a ‘part two’ to the first point on this list – if you’re riding an electric scooter near pedestrians, then slow down and be courteous. This applies at crossings and on pavements (because, yes, sometimes it’s safer and necessary to ride on a pavement).

As a pedestrian, it’s pretty intimidating having an electric scooter rider silently speed past you at 15 miles per hour, especially if the pedestrian is visually impaired or vulnerable in some way.

4. Wearing earphones while riding

I always have to double-take when I see someone riding an electric scooter with headphones on – it’s unbelievably dangerous and takes away your environmental awareness.

If you really must listen to music, or use your phone forsat navdirections, then mount your phone to the scooter’s handlebar and use your phone’s speaker. This allows you to hear both the navigation directions as well as what’s happening around you.

(Image credit: Pure Electric)

Pure Air Pro (2nd Gen)

(Image credit: Pure Electric)

5. Incorrect foot placement on the board

This allows you to balance easier, shift your weight forward when accelerating, shift backwards when braking, and brace when going over bumps. Ultimately, it’s a lot more stable.

6. Riding with a flat tyre or dirty scooter

It’s important to look after your electric scooter – they’re certainly not as robust as bikes – they require maintenance and cleaning to keep them in perfect working order.

Cleanliness is especially important if you have a cheap electric scooter that might not be fully water and dirt resistant – you wouldn’t want dirt and grime working its way into the delicate motor.

If you don’t look after your electric scooter it’s more likely to fail while you’re riding it, causing an accident.

For more tips on this read our guide toelectric scooter maintenance.

Today’s best electric scooters dealsNinebot Segway ES4$19.95ViewSee all pricesHover-1 Eagle Electric Scooter$249.99$141.99ViewSee all pricesDeal endsSun, Jan 19, 2025Gotrax GKS Electric Scooter$149.99ViewSee all pricesSegway Ninebot eKickScooter C2 Lite$169.99$149.98ViewSee all pricesLow StockRazor E100 Electric Scooter$159.99$121.49ViewSee all pricesRazor Power Core E90$180.09ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices

Today’s best electric scooters deals

Ninebot Segway ES4$19.95ViewSee all pricesHover-1 Eagle Electric Scooter$249.99$141.99ViewSee all pricesDeal endsSun, Jan 19, 2025Gotrax GKS Electric Scooter$149.99ViewSee all pricesSegway Ninebot eKickScooter C2 Lite$169.99$149.98ViewSee all pricesLow StockRazor E100 Electric Scooter$159.99$121.49ViewSee all pricesRazor Power Core E90$180.09ViewSee all prices

Ninebot Segway ES4$19.95ViewSee all prices

Ninebot Segway Rear Fender…

Ninebot Segway ES4

Walmart

$19.95View

$19.95

See all prices

Hover-1 Eagle Electric Scooter$249.99$141.99ViewSee all pricesDeal endsSun, Jan 19, 2025

Hover-1 Eagle Electric Scooter$249.99$141.99ViewSee all prices

Save on Toys this Holiday…

Hover-1 Eagle Electric Scooter

Amazon

$249.99$141.99View

$249.99$141.99

$141.99

See all prices

Deal endsSun, Jan 19, 2025

Gotrax GKS Electric Scooter$149.99ViewSee all prices

Gotrax GKS Electric Scooter,…

Gotrax GKS Electric Scooter

Amazon

$149.99View

$149.99

See all prices

Segway Ninebot eKickScooter C2 Lite$169.99$149.98ViewSee all prices

Segway Ninebot eKickScooter…

Segway Ninebot eKickScooter C2 Lite

Amazon

$169.99$149.98View

$169.99$149.98

$149.98

See all prices

Low StockRazor E100 Electric Scooter$159.99$121.49ViewSee all prices

Low Stock

Razor E100 Electric Scooter$159.99$121.49ViewSee all prices

Open Box Razor Power E100…

Razor E100 Electric Scooter

Walmart

$159.99$121.49View

$159.99$121.49

$121.49

See all prices

Razor Power Core E90$180.09ViewSee all prices

Razor 13111463 Power Core E90…

Razor Power Core E90

Amazon

$180.09View

$180.09

See all prices

We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices

A man doing concentration bicep curls in the gym

Build bigger arms in just 30 minutes with this 5-move dumbbell-only workoutIt’ll leave the biceps and triceps popping!

It’ll leave the biceps and triceps popping!

OMEGA Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite

OMEGA puts the moon on your wrist with its new Speedmaster Moonphase MeteoriteOMEGA adds two new Moonphase Meteorite watches to its Speedmaster line-up

OMEGA adds two new Moonphase Meteorite watches to its Speedmaster line-up

1. Riding on the pavements#

2. Not wearing a helmet#

Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox#

3. Driving recklessly around pedestrians#

4. Wearing earphones while riding#

5. Incorrect foot placement on the board#

6. Riding with a flat tyre or dirty scooter#

1. Riding on the pavements

2. Not wearing a helmet

Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox

3. Driving recklessly around pedestrians

4. Wearing earphones while riding

5. Incorrect foot placement on the board

6. Riding with a flat tyre or dirty scooter