Top Scooter safety tips: How to maintain your Scooter and ride responsibly

Bought a brand new scooter? Congratulations. Suddenly chicks are looking your way? Great. You look back at them? Now we’re talking! Hey, that blond girl is giving you the look! But watch out for that tree…

There’s nothing like scooters if you want to save time on parking and money on gas and insurance. But when riding a scooter there are a few things to remember. If you didn’t notice, a scooter has no windows or doors or body or even a seatbelt - it’s only you and the road. Which is fine, but you don’t want to get to know the road face to face.

This is what you should do:

Read. Even if you don’t like literature, you should go over your scooter’s manual. Believe us, it is a good read. You’ll learn a bunch of important stuff about scooter maintenance and how you can keep your scooter running safe.

Always use a helmet! You don’t know how important that is. Even if your DMV says you don’t have to – still, you have to. Oh, and that little brother’s bicycle helmet does not count. You need a DOT approved helmet. There’s no ending to being cautious and you can get yourself jackets, knee pads, elbow pads, and go crazy for safety.

Cut traffic but not a red light. You should always obey road signs and speed limits, especially if you are riding a moped. Speeding can lead to many accidents and actually make the worse.

Don’t be extreme. Try not to do any crazy maneuvering around cars. Watch out for vehicles and pedestrians and stay noticeable. Cars have blind spots and drivers might not see you at all times. Wear bright clothes and remember to always have your light on. Day, night – doesn’t matter. Having the lights on can help you be more noticeable. Oh, and you are not Evel Knievel by the way. Keep both your hands on handlebars and your feet on the floorboards.

Look on the road. Debris and problematic road conditions are your greatest enemies. Driving into an oil puddle can get you in big troubles. Gravel and even leaves can make you loose control over the scooter. Slow down when driving on bumpy roads and avoid going over any hazards that can damage your scooter like holes in the road.

Signal. Because you ride on a small scooter, your actions can surprise other drivers. So if you’re going to make a turn, make sure you signal, even with your hands, and avoid dangerous situations.

Never be surprised. Be ready for any possible scenario. Look two cars ahead and be ready for other drivers’ mistakes.

Don’t lose a screw. If something falls of your scooter, it’s not a good sign. Stop riding your moped if you notice that a part is loose and get it fixed ASAP.

It’s easier than ever to hop on a two wheeler, and with some smart shopping you can even get a super safety deal. Check out Scoot NY Summer Sale event. Buy yourself a moped and get a sleek new helmet ($150 value!) with a scooter purchase. Scoot NY is New York’s premier scooter shop. They have the largest selection of zero emission electric bikes and they're the authorized dealer of the eco-friendly Green Tec USA electric bicycle. Visit www.scootny.com for more information and get that summer breeze in your hair.

Scoot NY - New York’s premier scooter shop, has the largest selection of new
scooters in the five Boroughs.