Oct 13, 2023
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Before pushing the throttle, it’s essential to do a quick safety check before each ride. Here are the basics:
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:
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.
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!
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.
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!
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!
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:
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.
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!
