Does anyone use an e-scooter?

[MrsJimmyPerez]

I’m thinking of buying one and my endless online research is making my head spin, plus I’m sceptical of online reviews, so I’d really appreciate any advice from people with experience of buying/riding one.

Will be for regular journeys of up to 5 miles (and back!), can spend up to around £600, and am really tempted to get one with a seat - though would like it to be foldable and not too heavy to carry on public transport, so a seat might not work?

Does anyone have one and love it, or have bought one and regretted it? Any experiences/advice would be really appreciated. Thank you.

There is a missing not in the last sentence above.

They’re illegal in other parts of the UK too. The OP has already acknowledged the drip feed and that asking about this in Spain might have given her more relevant info.

DD has a ninebot one, made by the original Segway people. They’re expensive but worth it for the battery and peace of mind about quality.

Probably part of the UK Govts trial.

There are official hire schemes in various cities where companies have to ensure that riders have a full driving licence, have a speed limiter and are insured etc. It is currently illegal to ride a privately owned e-scooters in England unless on private land. Obviously police enforcement of the law varies from area to area.

They aren’t legal in my part of London, the ones people are using aren’t hired ones they are personal ones, literally no one cares. See them everywhere.

thanks - yes that is correct

I think E-Scooters are great in principle if they're driven safely. However, have seen loads of people (adults too) ride them on pavements, towards me and towards others and often not getting out of the way in time.

On roads there was an accident near where I live with one and a car. Can't recall who was at fault though.

I prefer the idea of E-bikes to be honest.

The police don’t have the resources to care - they’ll only care once someone is injured or killed.

Where I live (2 miles from centre of big city) they are a bloody menace. On the pavements everywhere and they are not slow.

Would have been even better if she’s got the accent in the right place

I think that for your budget you’ll be looking at the cheap Chinese ones, which are too heavy to carry anywhere, so make sure that’s not going to be an issue.

The most important feature, in my opinion, is large wheels. Anything other than perfect new smooth tarmac is awful for small wheels; unpleasant and far too high a risk of a faceplant when the little wheel gets stuck on an uneven slab or little pothole.

Surely if you want to sit an e bike is a better option?

Think you would be better off on another site as illegal on public land here so availability of models etc different to elsewhere. Police do collect and fine here, I only know as they post photos of their haul on Twitter never seen them do in person.

The school tried to put a ban on them at pick up but the parents have ignored it, always someone picking up their kid on one then riding along with them on the front not even a helmet on.

It's dot.com, not dot.co.uk, and there are people on here from all over the world. There are lots of Irish MN'ers, for a start.

They are illegal to use on public highways unless they are part if the trial hire schemes, which is what you are referring to. They are seized and destroyed in my area (of the UK 🤪) by the police. My very fit/healthy/mobile DH was knocked over crossing a dual carriageway by one that was crossing the road towards him. So dangerous.

I have a xiaomi one, no seat and fairly heavy (just under 15kg) but I really like it, gets me up a decent hill

I ride one everywhere (Manchester) past police many times, never been stopped.

@MrsJimmyPerez to expand on my earlier post. The battery power on the Xiaomi is great. I get about 2 weeks commute and general use before I need to recharge (say 30 km per week). There’s also an ‘eco’ mode that limits your speed and uses less energy.

My original tyre burst and its impossibly to change yourself, so I got them both swapped for hard tyres, which makes for a less smooth ride, but no tyre maintenance issues.

finally, I think you’ll need to buy one in Spain as shippers and airlines wont transport the battery.

The only thing I wish I could change (apart from the weight) is the handlebar - it’s not adjustable and if feels too high for me.

Train stations round our way have signs saying you can't take them on trains at all. They'd be very antisocial to take on a bus.

I loathe them and all their riders because around here they are mainly ridden by kids on pavements. Don't be one of those people.

A ten mile round trip is going to be hard, especially if hills are involved. Can you charge it whilst at work? Otherwise you'll be charging most nights.

For that distance I'd be looking
At an eBike.

fWIW I have a scooter and love it. My commute is only 3 miles round trip though.

How do you insure yourself against accidents?

Exactly the same way that you do as a pedestrian or on a bike

Neither of those are illegal on public roads or pavements though.

If you bought one here, how were you planning to get it to Spain? I presume you wouldn't want it to not turn up or having gone through baggage handling/an industrial sized grinder. And would you be able to charge one sold for the UK safely in Spain?

It seems more sensible to get one in Spain for both the logistics and practicality of use.