How to Ride a Motorized Scooter
Tired of walking, and feel like driving is too much of a chore? Check out the vast array of motorized scooters that can make that 15-minute walk a breezy 3-minute ride. They come in electric and gas varieties, and with a little practice, they are easy to master.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Electric Motorized Scooters
- Gas Motorized Scooters
- In-line Skating Helmets
- Scooter Carry Bags
- Skateboard Pads
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1
Start your engine. Many gas engines are started as you would start a lawn mower - by yanking on a cord attached to the engine. Many electric engines must be push-started, by first riding the scooter as you would a kick scooter (see "Ride a Kick Scooter" under Related eHows).
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2
Grab the handlebars and place one foot on the deck (board) of the scooter, leaving your other foot on the ground until you are comfortable and balanced.
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3
Hit the throttle to accelerate if you have a gas engine, then bring your foot off the ground as you pick up speed. Start slowly and accelerate gradually so that the scooter doesn't take off without you.
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4
Pay attention to your stance on the scooter and avoid keeping your feet and body up front near the handlebars. This is dangerous because of the lack of weight distribution over the length of the deck. One bump and you might be in for it. When riding, you want to have one foot slightly ahead of the other, both facing forward.
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5
Steer your scooter just as you would a bicycle: by turning the handlebars (which turn the front wheel) in the direction you want to go, and by leaning slightly into the turn.
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6
Become familiar with the brake handles; they'll become your best friends. Don't grip them violently or you may end up in the street. Instead, use a slow and steady squeeze to slow or stop the scooter. If you just want to slightly decrease your speed, simply take your hand off the throttle and allow yourself to slow naturally.
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7
Practice in big empty spaces until you can master turning and braking. You want to get the feel of your new vehicle without wrapping yourself around a tree.
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8
Watch for fellow travelers. Cars are bigger and meaner than your scooter will ever be, so ride as far to the right as you safely can. Yield to pedestrians and animals, always riding no faster than you can control.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Being out among other motorized vehicles is always risky. Don't make sudden and erratic moves in high-traffic areas.
Wear a helmet and knee and elbow pads to minimize injuries in the event of a spill.
Obey the rules of the road.
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Comments
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fusiongyro
May 08, 2009
Ignore step 8. Riding on the extreme right of the lane increases your chances of being in an accident by a factor of 10. Stay in the middle of the lane. Besides statistics, this is also the law here in NM and many other places. Riding on the right encourages drivers to pass you, sideswiping you when they do not have enough room. -
Sep 04, 2006
Once I had the hang of basic acceleration, turning and stopping, I went to a quiet neighborhood near my house, where most of the roads were cul-de-sacs and there was no traffic. There I could practice under real road conditions (corners with stop signs, using the turn signal and rear view mirrors, uphill and downhill roads, turning around in driveways, staying in lane during a turn, passing parked cars, etc.) safely. I don't think you get adequate practice in a large open area, like a parking lot, to be safe going out on roads with traffic.
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Sep 04, 2006
Once I had the hang of basic acceleration, turning and stopping, I went to a quiet neighborhood near my house, where most of the roads were cul-de-sacs and there was no traffic. There I could practice under real road conditions (corners with stop signs, using the turn signal and rear view mirrors, uphill and downhill roads, turning around in driveways, staying in lane during a turn, passing parked cars, etc.) safely. I don't think you get adequate practice in a large open area, like a parking lot, to be safe going out on roads with traffic.
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Sep 04, 2006
When turning around on a narrow road, try to find a flat, level place to pull into. It's hard to keep your balance on a heavy scooter backing downhill, and it's strenuous to walk the bike uphill backward. Most scooters do not have a "reverse" gear, so keep both hands on the brakes and both feet on the ground. Of course, you want to turn the front wheel all the way in the direction you want to back up. The rest is easy. When you have backed up far enough to pull forward safely, just point your front wheel in the direction you want to go before accelerating.
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Sep 04, 2006
When turning around on a narrow road, try to find a flat, level place to pull into. It's hard to keep your balance on a heavy scooter backing downhill, and it's strenuous to walk the bike uphill backward. Most scooters do not have a "reverse" gear, so keep both hands on the brakes and both feet on the ground. Of course, you want to turn the front wheel all the way in the direction you want to back up. The rest is easy. When you have backed up far enough to pull forward safely, just point your front wheel in the direction you want to go before accelerating.
