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Scooter & Bike Safety
Electric Bicycle Safety
Electric bicycles, like their non-motorized cousins, are a great way to get around and tons of fun to ride. However, since electric bicycles are motorized, it is important to exercise an additional level of caution while operating them. Please review our electric bicycle safety guidelines below.
Bicycle Safety Tips
- Wear a bike helmet at all times. The most serious bike injuries are to the head.
- Try to keep your bike in good shape.
- Always let cars and people go first.
- Slow down and check traffic at all corners.
- Keep both hands on the handle bars except when doing turn signals.
- Walk across busy streets.
- Stay off busy streets.
- Don't stunt!
- Don't ride double!
- Don't hitch rides!
- Never go in and out of traffic!
- Never go between two cars!
Know Your Bike
To keep yourself safe, make sure that your keep your bike in top running condition by familiarizing yourself with it's parts and how to maintain them.
- Chain: Keep snug, clean, and lubricated.
- Pedals: Lubricate bearings and spindle, replace worn treads.
- Spokes: Keep tight, replace broken ones promptly.
- Wheels: Should rotate smoothly, lubricate bearings, keep axle nuts tight.
- Tires: Inflate to correct pressure, which is stamped on the sidewall of the tire.
- Motor: Keep clean and dirt-free.
- Control cables: Properly fastened. Replace frayed cables.
- Side reflectors: Amber on front and red on read, visible from 500 feet.
- Headlight: White light visible from 500 feet.
- Handlebars and Grips: Properly adjusted and tight.
- Bell or Horn: Be sure it works.
- Saddle (Seat): Properly adjusted and tight.
- Fenders: Keep securely fastened.
- Red reflector or Taillight: Visible from a distance of 600 feet.
- Coaster Brakes or Hand Brakes: Must brake evenly every time, no slippage.
Source: Illinois State Police Bicycle Safety Command Center.
Scooter Safety
When used safely, electric scooters, gas scooters, pocket bikes, electric bicycles and similar motorized products are great fun! However, they are motorized and require an added level of precaution from their rider. Please take note of the following safety recommendations:
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Recommendations:
Motorized and Non-Motorized Scooter Safety
- Wear a helmet, knee pads and elbow pads. (Wrist guards may make it difficult to grip the handle and steer the scooter.)
- Children under age 8 should not use non-powered scooters without close adult supervision. Children under 12 should not ride motorized scooters.
- Avoid gravel and uneven pavement, which can cause falls.
- Don't ride scooters in traffic.
- Don't ride scooters at night - riders can't see where they're going or be seen by others.
- Wear sturdy shoes.
- Owners of scooters should check with local authorities for local laws regarding scooters.
Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Scooter Data.
Go-Ped's Safety Recommendations for Scooters & Go-Karts:
Know Your Scooter/Go-Kart: Familiarize yourself with the scooter/kart before you ride. Check the controls. Ride very cautiously until you become familiar with the way the scooter/kart handles. Take turns slowly and give yourself extra stopping distance.
Ride Within Your Abilities: To control your scooter, you need to keep it upright and make it go where you want it to go.
Body Position: Stand firm but relaxed. Keep weight between the wheels. Don't stand too close to the front or lean too far back. Shift your weight to the rear when applying brakes, and lean towards the front when accelerating. Keep feet apart for more stability.
Turning: New riders tend to have more trouble turning than experienced riders do. The only way to make good safe turns is to practice. Always approach turns very carefully.
Braking: Front brakes provide most of your stopping power, but you will need to learn to adjust your center of gravity to maintain stability. Again, practice this at a safe speed until you are comfortable with this action.
Areas to Ride: Ride in a safe place free of cars in an area which will not disturb other people or animals and has a clean dry surface.
Rules to Scoot By:
- Always wear your safety gear.
- Never ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Learn the local laws and regulations.
- Ride defensively.
- Wear bright colored and/or reflective clothing.
- Riding at dawn, dusk, or at times of poor visibility without a lighting system which meets local regional laws and without approved reflectors is illegal, dangerous and can result in serious injury or death.
- Observe and yield the right of way.
- Do not dart out of driveways or from between parked cars.
- Stop at all stop signs/lights.
- Be careful when checking traffic and don't swerve when looking over your shoulder.
- Always go with traffic flow and keep to the far side of the road.
- Never ride on sidewalks.
- Wet weather riding impairs traction, braking and visibility, for riders and others. The risk of accident dramatically increases in wet conditions and should be avoided.
- Stunts, wheelies or jumps can be fun, but they put incredible stress on everything. Riders who insist on jumping risk serious damage to their scooter/kart and themselves.
- You are sharing roads, trails and riding areas with others. Respect their rights, and be tolerant if they inconvenience you.
- Always yield right of way to pedestrians and animals. Ride in a way that does not frighten or endanger them, and avoid riding near them whenever possible.
- Keep your speed consistent with the conditions, and keep in mind that speed has a direct relation to control as well as component stress.
- Never carry passengers.
- Never carry anything that can obstruct vision, or control of your scooter.
- Everyone must be responsible for the environment, ride accordingly.
- Karts are designed for recreational use only. They should never be used on streets!
Pocket Bike Safety Recommendations:
Protective Gear:
Helmets, pads and other protective gear are an essential component to staying safe. Make sure you use the right helmet and protective gear with the device you are intending to ride.
Manufacturer's Age Recommendations:
While the CPSC age recommendation for motorized scooters is 12 & up, manufacturers tend to take a more conservative approach. Generally speaking, manufacturers of the motorized products we carry offer an age recommendation of 16 & up.
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