Tips for Riding a Scooter as a Beginner
Riding around on a scooter is a great way to see the sights, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy the day. However, if you are reluctant to rent one because you don’t know how, you will be excited to learn that it’s easy to learn. Today we have a few tips for you to keep in mind for your first-time riding a scooter:
- Remember, safety first.
Before you even get on the scooter, you will want to wear the correct safety gear. Wear a well-fitting helmet so you are protected from any injuries if you have an accident. If you choose to not wear a helmet, you risk seriously injuring yourself. Also, make sure you a sober and not under the influence in any way. In addition, make sure you are familiar with your local laws regarding using scooters and other motorized bikes.
- Starting your scooter.
First, make sure you are in an empty area to practice for the first time. To start up your automatic scooter, hold down the ignition switch to start the engine, and keep both hands near your brakes. Just like riding a bicycle, it’s all about balance. As you get used to riding your scooter, remember to use your feet as much as you can to maintain balance. Drive around back and forth around an empty parking lot or open road until you get comfortable.
- Get comfortable with accelerating.
The slower your speed, the more wobbly the bike. Initially, your instinct will be to go slow to stay as safe as possible. However, once you gain momentum, you will realize how well the bike stabilizes. Make sure you stay away from heavily trafficked areas if you are riding for the first time. Our scooters have a speed of up to 20 mph, but you can also transition to beach mode, golf mode, or bike mode to adjust your speed accordingly.
- Turning the scooter.
If you want to turn your scooter, all you do push the handlebar in the direction you want to go. If you want to go left, push and lean left and you’ll turn left. The same goes if you want to turn right. It’s just like riding a bike! So, if you know how to ride a bike, learning to ride a scooter will be a piece of cake.
- Learn to brake.
Learning how to stop is very important. When you are learning to brake for the first time, you may find yourself accidentally accelerating. So become familiar with pressing the brakes. Keep in mind that you will want to brake when you see any sand or gravel so that you can approach at a slower speed.
As with anything else you are new at, practice makes perfect. Make sure you get familiar with your scooter before you go out onto the road. Ready to ride? Contact us at iRide San Diego and rent one of our scooters.