Electric scooter rules for safe rides

Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or first-time user, you should know the most important electric scooter rules and put safety first, always. In this electric scooter safety guide you’ll learn some fundamental safety rules. 

Rule #1. Don’t drink and drive

The number-1 Bolt scooter rule is just like for any vehicle: don’t drink and ride.

Using a scooter under the influence of alcohol or other substances is illegal and strictly prohibited. Doing so will result in a fine and your account being permanently blocked from Bolt services.

If you can’t resist a celebratory drink after a long day at work, we recommend ordering a Bolt ride instead. Let a driver get you home safe and sound while you sit back and enjoy the ride.

Rule #2. 1 scooter, 1 rider

It’s OK to want to share the joy of riding a scooter with a friend or loved one. And with our new Group Rides feature, you can reserve up to 4 scooters from 1 app — rather than riding in tandem, which is highly unsafe.

To ensure safety for all, we introduced the industry-first tandem riding prevention feature that detects when 2 people try riding 1 scooter. The feature sends a notification to users to warn them of the dangers of tandem riding.

Rule #3. Obey traffic lights and follow traffic rules

Traffic lights exist for more than just cars. There are also traffic lights for light vehicles, such as scooters and bicycles, and pedestrians. So when a traffic light turns red, you must come to a complete stop!

Traffic lights aren’t the only tools that regulate traffic. There are traffic signs, pedestrian crossings and markings, and more. And as with traffic lights, you should follow all street signs while riding.

And above all, please respect your fellow commuters while moving around the city — we’re in this together!

Rule #4. Where possible, use a road/cycle path

Just as cars have road lanes, scooters have cycle lanes. Riding in a cycle lane’s safer and prevents danger to others. 

In countries where pavement riding’s allowed, watch out for pedestrians at all times! In countries where local regulations don’t permit riding on pavements, you must use a designated cycle path or lane. 

It’s important always to follow local regulations to ensure everyone stays safe.

Now that we’ve covered electric scooter rules regarding the law and traffic, the exciting part begins — riding! If it’s your first time scooting, go over the ABCs of safe scooting before taking a ride.

Rule #5. Pre-flight scooter check

Before pushing the throttle, it’s essential to do a quick safety check before each ride. Here are the basics:

• Tyres — check they’re not flat;
• Brake — make sure it’s working correctly and isn’t loose;
• Battery — see if there’s enough charge to cover your trip;
• Throttle — check it responds properly and that you can accelerate;
• Scooter — confirm it’s in good overall condition and doesn’t produce strange sounds when you ride.

Rule #6. Practice before your first ride

Practice makes perfect, they say. And they’re right! If this is your first time riding, find an empty car park or flat surface and practice scooting with these tips in mind:

• Accelerate with care

The key to good riding is being smooth. Gently kick off from the ground to start moving and accelerate gradually so you have full control of the scooter. 

You can also turn on Bolt Beginner mode in the Bolt app and limit your maximum scooter speed to 15km/h.

• Brake gently

What goes up must come down, including your scooter’s speed. As much as we want to feel like we’re flying, braking gradually and gently is important to avoid skidding or losing control.

Remember, be smooth!

• Use the bell to communicate

Communication’s key whether you’re in a relationship or on a scooter. If you need to pass someone, give them a little ring with your bell to let them know you’re approaching.

This way, they’ll know when to move out of the way. 

• Keep both hands on the handlebars

Dual handles aren’t just for aesthetics — engineers had a specific purpose when designing scooters with 2 handles.

It only takes a pothole or reckless driver to create an obstacle you can’t handle with only 1 hand on the controls.

So, think of the handlebars as part of your scooter safety gear and always use both!

Rule #7. Wear a helmet

Scooter safety gear and, most importantly, a helmet is like a superhero’s cape — it makes you feel invincible. But unlike a cape, helmets protect you from head injuries in the event of a fall.

Our scooter safety statistics from 2022 show that 99.997% of Bolt scooter rides ended safely without incident. But regardless of how vigilant you are, accidents can happen.

And if they do, a helmet’s the only thing standing between your head and the ground. So please follow Bolt scooter rule #7, and whenever possible, wear a helmet!

Rule #8. Be mindful of your surroundings

This unspoken electric scooter rule isn’t just about following the law — it’s about being considerate of your surroundings. 

Keep in mind that cities typically have 3 designated areas, each with its own rules:

• Slow zones. These are typically high-traffic areas with many pedestrians. We limit your scooter’s maximum speed to ensure everyone can safely share the space.
• No-go zones. The adventurer in you might be tempted to take a scooter off the beaten path, but there are areas where riding a scooter is prohibited at all times for your safety.
• Parking areas. Reward your scooter for being a good sport by parking it in a designated parking spot instead of leaving it in the middle of the pavement. It’s considerate to other road users, keeps the city clean, and is also the law.

Rule #9. Master the art of parking

We touched on it above, but parking’s a topic that deserves its own section. 

Parking a scooter correctly — and in an appropriate location — ensures your and others’ safety. If parked incorrectly, a scooter may be a hazard to others and can block important access routes.

Let’s go over the dos and don’ts of parking.

Do:

• Use designated parking zones, bike racks, or Bolt charging docks — the Bolt app map shows where you can park;
• Lower the kickstand fully to ensure the scooter’s stable and can’t fall over;
• Leave the scooter in a convenient spot for the next user;
• Find a location that’s out of the way of foot traffic and doesn’t obstruct pavements, wheelchair ramps, or building entrances;
• Park on a flat surface to ensure your safety and that of the next rider;
• Pick up scooters that have tipped over and park them properly.

Don’t:

• Block pathways — this creates obstacles for pedestrians and can present dangers for those with mobility difficulties;
• Trespass on private property;
• Park at bus stops — while scooters may form part of the wider city transport network, that shouldn’t mean blocking access to public transport;
• End a ride near an emergency exit;
• Leave the scooter tipped over, as it’ll be a tripping hazard.

Rule #10. Be a responsible scooter rider

We’ve come to the end of the article, but not the end of the journey. You now have what it takes to contribute to our safe, responsible scooter community. Congrats!

And if you notice any unsafe behaviour while you’re out and about, please report it to us.

Keep up the good work, and see you out there!