SparkScoot Safety
Safe riding practices are essential in order to avoid injury to yourself and others when riding an electric scooter. Riders are at risk from cars and other vehicles, as well as unsafe road and weather conditions. Carelessness or recklessness can result in serious injury. Take it from Dr. Sam Torbati, co-chair of Emergency Medicine at Cedars-Sinai, who cautions, “if you fall, you’re going to get hurt. It’s a fun vehicle, just remember it can go fast and take some steps to protect yourself.”
Riding smart and staying safe is the best way to make sure you have a great time with your favourite SparkScoot products. Just like when riding a bike, skateboard or skates, falling can cause serious injury if you haven’t taken proper precautions. We’ve put together these safe-riding tips to help you avoid injury and stay safe, so please do read them and ensure you understand before riding.
- Who Should Ride
Children under 8 should ride with adult supervision at all times. SparkScoot products each have a recommended rider age – these have been set by our experts based on the skill level and size needed to operate the ride safely. Products should not be ridden by anyone under the recommended age limit. - Always Wear Safety Wear
When riding always wear an safety standard helmet. We also strongly recommend additional safety wear such as elbow and kneepads for additional protection. Wear athletic shoes, lace-up shoes with rubber soles, and make sure to keep shoelaces out of the way of wheels. Don't ever ride barefoot or in sandals. - Get Your Scooter Ready
Read the owner’s manual that came with your new ride and ensure you understand how to operate and maintain your ride safely. Do keep the manual for future reference. Before each ride, check and secure all fasteners and check wheels for wear and tear. Replace worn or broken parts immediately. Keep your product clean by wiping with a damp cloth to remove dirt and dust.
For non-powered rides such as kick scooters, never ride in or near traffic and do ensure you are mindful of any pedestrians around you. We always recommend erring on the side of caution, so do dismount when crossing the road.
- Start Slow
Gradually get the feel of your new ride before riding with others. Learn how tight a turn you can comfortably make and practice applying the brake at various speeds in an open area. Hold onto the handlebars at all times. - Watch the Terrain
As with in-line skates, avoid water, speed bumps, sand, gravel and anything that could cause your front wheel to stop. Even a modest bump in the pavement can stop the front wheel and cause a fall. Better to ride around obstacles than to take a fall. - Use “Extreme” Caution
With practice, you’ll get increasingly more comfortable on your ride. But, no matter how long you’ve been riding, you should always use caution. Avoid steep inclines and don’t ride too fast – you can lose control and fall. Keep the advice in the ride’s instruction manual in mind and use the ride as it is intended. Remember, ride smart and stay safe.
Ride safe, have fun, and get where you need to go on your SparkScoot.
