Electric scooter injuries make the headlines far too often, but what's really behind them? And if you choose to ride, then what can you do to stay safe?

Some factors are simple and fairly obvious. Most data (and news articles) on e-scooter injuries focuses on public rentals, so it's no surprise that intoxication is a common cause, and many of those injured are first-time riders who might not have expected a learning curve.

But other factors are harder to deal with. Namely, the small wheels (and generally steep head tube angle) create twitchy handling that's susceptible even to small obstacles like pebbles or sidewalk cracks. That alone probably explains why injury rates are much higher on scooter than bicycles, as far as we know. There's no way to change that, but it helps to get riding experience in a clear, controlled environment before riding near traffic.

There are also maintenance issues. Shared electric scooters have notoriously poor brakes, which is dangerous for anyone but all the more so for new riders. Do a quick brake check before you start, and find another scooter if you're not confident in its condition. That's also a huge reason to simply buy your own...but we'll cover the rent-vs-buy decision in another video.

If you take the time to get a feel for those handling quirks, and always ride just a bit more conservatively than seems necessary, the odds are good that you'll stay perfectly safe. There are no guarantees, of course, but these tips have served me well.

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Read the companion blog post here: https://twowheelsbetter.net/electric-...

0:00 Intro
0:43 Fast Facts on Electric Scooter Injuries
1:36 Small Wheels Make a Big Difference
2:41 Ride Sober to Ride Safely
3:09 Go Slower & Stop Sooner
3:38 Slow & Stead Wins the Race...
4:11 Check Your Brakes First!
4:47 Time to Buy Your Own?
5:02 Get Your Footing
5:48 Slippery When Wet
6:20 Assume You're Invisible (Until Proven Otherwise)
7:14 Wrapping Up