Electric scooters have become a convenient and affordable way to ride within the city. After all, it provides plenty of benefits, from being a long-range electric scooter to helping save the environment. However, many have also criticised e-scooters saying that it doesn’t contribute much to efficiency and the environment.
If you are thinking about buying an electric scooter, consider the pros and cons of riding electric scooters. Will it make your commutes more convenient? Will it also contribute positively to your environment? Take these questions into account before you buy an electric scooter.
The Pros of Riding Electric Scooters
1. Time-saving trips
Electric scooters are lighter and more compact than a car and a motorcycle. It makes them a more efficient way to travel in the city. Riders no longer have to sit and wait in traffic since they can bypass or avoid traffic easily. The compact bodies of e-scooters allow riders to ride on footpaths (if allowed), bike lanes, narrow paths, and other public spaces that help make your routes shorter and your travel time quicker. Plus, it offers a solution for first and last-mile trips.
2. Inexpensive way of travelling
Electric scooters offer an affordable retail price for those who need daily personal transport compared to a car or motorcycle. Plus, e-scooters don’t run on fuel, so riders don’t need to worry about fuel costs. Moreover, you don’t need to spend on parking fees since you can carry e-scooters inside buildings or park them on bike racks.
Meanwhile, if you only want to rent an e-scooter for occasional rides, most shared e-scooter platforms cost a dollar to unlock a unit and around $0.40 per minute to ride it. So, that’s $5 for a 10-minute ride.
3. Eco-friendly mode of transportation
The environmental benefits of electric scooters include releasing zero harmful gases, helping reduce carbon emissions, using recyclable materials in their frame and components, and using renewable energy to recharge.
A study by ride-sharing platform Lime found that e-scooters in Paris helped reduce over 330 tons of carbon dioxide emission within a year. Moreover, many manufacturers are switching to greener processes and materials, which helps reduce the overall carbon dioxide emissions of e-scooters and incorporate recyclable materials into its body.
4. Provides access to opportunities
Making electric scooters accessible to the public allows people living in the outskirts or low-income workers to access opportunities in different city areas. E-scooters offer quick and affordable personal transport that will help people access opportunities in the city, from schools to job opportunities.
A Lime survey in Washington, DC revealed that 57% of riders use e-scooters for school or work. Overall, it will help access opportunities and make people more interconnected within cities.
The Cons of Riding Electric Scooters
1. Relatively unsafe
Unfortunately, one of the main disadvantages of electric scooters is their safety. In case of an accident, there is nothing to protect riders when falling or colliding with pedestrians or other vehicles. It makes them prone to injuries. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that e-scooter riders are twice as likely to incur injuries than cyclists. Moreover, many footpaths and lanes have uneven surfaces, making potholes, pavement cracks, and lampposts common causes for accidents and injuries.
2. Best for short distances
Long-range electric scooters are available in the market. However, these types of e-scooters are often more expensive. Average commuter electric scooters cost less but also deliver a shorter range. Commuter e-scooters produce an average of 20-25 km. It could be shorter depending on your riding style, weight, and terrain. If you need an e-scooter with a long range that can withstand all terrains, you will need to invest in a more expensive unit.
3. The legality of electric scooters
Many states and territories in Australia still don’t allow private electric scooters in public. Many are still discussing the possibility of implementing shared e-scooter trials. Although more councils are open to e-scooter trials, it is still inconvenient for some riders to ride their private e-scooter in public. After all, only ACT and QLD allow private e-scooters in public.
Moreover, each state has their guidelines. It makes it confusing for some riders. Before buying an electric scooter, make sure to check with your local council the requirements and laws for riding an e-scooter to prevent incurring penalties or fines.
4. Short lifespan and overall
Private electric scooters have a short life span of only three to five years. Meanwhile, shared electric scooters last for a few months up to a year. This quick life cycle makes them a threat to landfills. Although many e-scooters use recyclable parts, non-recyclable parts will remain in landfills. It becomes a concern as it will only add to the increasing land waste in cities.
Should You Ride an Electric Scooter?
Now that you know the pros and cons of electric scooters, should you get one? Overall, electric scooters offer impressive perks for riders, cities, and the environment. However, one should still be aware of their cons, especially rider safety and the possible impact on the environment.
Knowing both aspects will allow you to determine if an e-scooter fits your lifestyle. Ultimately, it all depends on your needs as a rider. If you believe that an e-scooter will help with your transportation concerns, then consider purchasing an e-scooter. Hopefully, manufacturers and cities will implement more e-scooter innovations and policies in the future to provide riders with a safe, sustainable, and affordable way to commute.
