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.

But if it’s illegal to ride them how can you insure them?

Why would charging it in Spain be an issue?

How do you insure yourself at present as a pedestrian, and why would anyone need to insure a bicycle or scooter?

Get an electric bike. So easy to ride and use, and legal on the roads. Too much hassle if its a scooter, but not seeming to deter the many users

I’d agree with this.

As fun as scooters can be they aren’t anywhere close to a bike when it comes to longer journeys.

Your household insurance sometimes covers you as a cyclist if you cause an injury, or you can buy insurance that covers you and third parties. If you cause an injury or worse as an escooter rider (ie not one of the trials) there’s no insurance that will cover you for doing something illegal.

You'd need to have the appropriate EU plug - if it's a case of getting a different lead, not a problem, as the supply is almost the same as the UK voltage, but if it's a fully moulded unit, you'd have to be able to source one, rather than sticking into a travel converter, especially if you're leaving it to charge overnight.

Any adapter will be fine, it’s a low-power device.

I'm a pedestrian and a bike rider. My city would be safer and less polluted place if there were more e scooters and less cars. The millions of deaths worldwide directly caused by cars is always the elephant in the room when talking about e scooters or cycling.

Thanks @JenniferAllisonPhillipaSue thats all really helpful, I’m the same age as you and an experienced, cautious pushbike rider here in the UK so will be the same on a scooter. I’ll be taking @PrincessButtercupToo and @AgentProvocateur advice about large wheels and hard tyres too. The roads around where I stay are very quiet and well maintained, going inland much could be a problem though as it gets hilly within a short distance.

We’re driving to Spain so no problem transporting it and I can’t see why there’d be a problem charging there.

I’d love the Raleigh folding e-bike but it’s over twice my budget. An e-scooter just occurred to me as an affordable way to get around very locally. But you’ve all given me lots to think about, which is useful so thank you.

@Hoppinggreen I feel a right narna about my spelling mistake, I was tired and trying not to be snappy. Next time I start answering a question the OP hasn’t actually asked I’ll try and remember how irritating it is 😇

The millions of deaths worldwide directly caused by cars is always the elephant in the room when talking about e scooters or cycling.

1.35 million deaths yearly and the 8th biggest killer of humans

road deaths by drivers are the number one killer of 5-29 year olds

yet there is no inquiry or investigation

They are way more risky to ride than bikes - more jittery and less stable. You need a perfect road surface for them not to be hellishly exhausting to use for more than say 10 minutes. You need safer flatter and much quieter roads than you do for biking.

How the fuck was anyone supposed to know she was in Andalucia and not the UK when she's asking on a predominantly UK site and didn't include it in her first post?! 🤔 🤨🙄

@Mookie81 why the fuck does it matter? All the useful advice I’ve had about buying and riding one (which is what I asked) has come from people who have bought and ride in the UK.

I'm responding to the smart arse who was complaining about people's comments, not you, calm down.😂

@sunshineandsuddenshowers. wait till you find out about cars, every 5 hours someone dies and thats just the uk

I have to add, when my e-scooter packs up (as it eventually will), I don't think I'll replace it. It's been great for the novelty but I feel like a plank riding it 😅 If I still need to commute then I might get an electric moped instead.

Im in the uk and we seem to have them to hire so why are they allowed

Ninebot has been very reliable for my son too. He did a lot of online research before choosing it.

It's an international brand as far as I'm aware.

I love mine. The brand is Pure and cost around 400 euros. Could have got a cheaper one but Dh needed something a bit more powerful. We use it a lot, many hills where we are and hot so ideal. Also not in the uk