Can Electric Scooters be Dangerous?

Eliott Wertheimer December 13, 2019 1 Comment Uncategorized

Electric scooters are increasingly popular in European and North-American cities. Globally, the industry is expected to be worth upwards of $16.5 billion by 2027. They’re a big business, and it’s easy to see why. Electric scooters offer many benefits – they’re a quick, versatile way of getting from A to B, and have a far smaller impact on the environment than other modes of transport. Given that more people are taking to two wheels, it’s worth asking – are electric scooters dangerous?

In the first half of 2019, 618 accidents were reported by police forces around the UK. The actual figure is however likely to be higher as the Metropolitan police didn’t report its statistics, and many people may not have reported less serious accidents.

In terms of injuries sustained, the most accurate picture comes from the United States. Spanning a year, two medical centres in California recorded emergency department admissions from those involved in electric scooter accidents. Of the 249 patients admitted, the majority had suffered injuries due to falling off the e-scooters rather than being hit by another vehicle or person. Fractures and head trauma were the most common injuries – hardly surprising given that less than 5% of riders had been wearing a helmet. The e-scooters aren’t the problem – unsafe riding habits are!

Given that most accidents are caused by the rider rather than other people, it’s worth taking a look at how you can make riding your electric scooter as safe as possible.

Start Slow

Many electric scooters pack a powerful punch. FuroSystem’s Fuze Electric Scooter is able to accelerate to over 20 mph – useful to whip around on, but potentially intimidating if you’ve never used one before. We’d recommend you take your time in getting to grips with your new scooter. Start with slow speeds and limit yourself to an area you’re familiar with.

Wear Safety Gear

The importance of the right safety gear cannot be overemphasised. Wearing a helmet alone reduces the risk of serious head injury by as much as 70%. If you’re hopping onto an electric scooter you might also want to consider knee pads, elbow pads, and a sturdy pair of gloves. Falling over is never fun, especially if you’re whizzing along at 20mph. Covering your joints will reduce the risk of fracture, and the gloves will protect your hands if you use them as you fall. The cliché rings true: better safe than sorry!

Scooter Maintenance

Keeping your scooter in good shape is another way to stay safe when out riding. Here are some key considerations to ensure you maintain it in tip-top condition.

Battery

The most important part of the scooter, you’ll want to make sure your battery doesn’t fail you when out and about. To minimise the risk of battery mishaps, avoid running its charge down to 0% – doing so can increase the rate of degradation of cathodes in lithium-ion batteries. Strangely enough, charging it to 100% capacity also has this effect – try to keep the charge at approximately 60%. Read our full guide to getting the most out of your battery.

Brakes

Check your brakes regularly to ensure they’re working effectively. Brake pads can wear down over time with regular use and need replacing periodically. Check them over on a weekly basis and if you hear any metal scraping sounds or feel a lack of responsiveness, step off and give them a look immediately – it’s probably time to change!

Tyres

There are a couple of things to consider when checking over your scooter’s tyres. Firstly, monitor the air pressure – the recommended pressure per square inch (PSI) should be stated on the tyre wall. Check regularly and make sure you’re keeping at the recommended level – it’ll improve the safety of the scooter whilst ensuring your ride is as comfortable as possible.

Another thing to check over on your scooter’s tyres is the tread – this is the patterned inset on the exterior of the tyre which improves traction to the riding surface. The tread can wear down over time, especially if you regularly ride on hard or rough surfaces. As a general rule, if the tread is less than 2mm, it’s time to order a replacement.

Where To Ride Your Scooter

A key factor in staying safe on your scooter is being aware of where you’re allowed to ride it. In the UK, it’s illegal to ride electric scooters on public pavements and streets – stick to privately-owned land. In Europe, rules vary between countries. Germany, France, Austria, and Switzerland allow electric scooters on public streets but have different rules and regulations regarding speed and power. If you want to ride your electric scooter out on public roads, we’d always recommend checking the laws of the particular country.

Electric scooters are becoming a more frequent sight on city streets in Europe and the States. As with any vehicle, there will always be a risk of danger when riding one. However, following these tips will help to reduce your risk of causing injury to yourself and others.

FuroSystem’s Fuze Electric Scooter is a great choice for beginners and experienced riders alike. Its large 10” inch pneumatic tires offer a superb riding experience whilst providing stability over uneven ground, and powerful front and rear lights ensure that you’re seen at night. Take a look at the reviews to see what our satisfied riders are saying!

Are electric bikes safe?

Eliott Wertheimer December 9, 2019 No Comments Uncategorized

A common question amongst those who aren’t very familiar with power-assisted vehicles is: are electric bikes safe? It’s an important question to address, and in our estimation, concerns that most people have regarding the safety of electric bikes also apply to traditional pushbikes too, especially when using them on the road. Using any kind of vehicle, power-assisted or not, comes with a certain level of risk, but riders of electric bikes aren’t necessarily at any more risk than those riding traditional bikes or scooters. Here’s our guide to electric bike safety.

General safety tips

Certain safety tips are universal for any kind of bike – whether electronically assisted or not. For instance, it’s always, always, strongly advised to wear a helmet when cycling. Regardless of distance, terrain, and rider skill level, wearing a helmet is a must. It’s not a legal requirement, but that doesn’t stop it from being a very good idea.

Similarly, wearing bright, colourful clothing is also recommended. Being seen by other road users and pedestrians is a huge contributor to your safety when riding a bike. It’s difficult to avoid a cyclist if they’re difficult to see, so invest in reflective, high-visibility clothing if you cycle often.

As well as protecting yourself and making yourself seen by others, bike maintenance is important for your safety. It may seem obvious, but a broken bike is a dangerous bike. Regular maintenance checks, even at the most basic level, can make a significant difference to your safety when cycling. Everything from checking the brakes are responsive and the brake pads aren’t worn down to ensuring the tire tread provides enough grip. Even simply looking to see that your handlebars are properly aligned will go a long way to keeping you in control of your bike and safe, especially when cycling on busy roads.

Safety tips for electric bikes

The fact that electric bikes are powered brings with it a few additional safety concerns. For example, ebikes accelerate faster than traditional bikes and have a higher top speed than most people would usually reach while cycling without assistance. Therefore, especially when cycling through cities, you need to be more aware of your speed. Drivers of cars may be surprised to see a person on a bike accelerate so quickly once the traffic lights turn green, so you may need to compensate for how other people view you as a road user. Furthermore, by virtue of being able to travel faster, you may be at a slightly higher risk of colliding with something if you aren’t paying full attention.

The battery itself is an additional feature of your bike which needs regular maintenance in order to keep working correctly and not become a safety concern when you’re out on the road. Consult your owner’s manual or speak to an electric bike specialist for tips on how to properly maintain your e-bike’s battery.

Electric bikes are also heavier than most traditional pushbikes. Therefore, riders must pay more attention when mounting and dismounting to avoid having the bike fall on them. This may seem like a minor point, but younger and older riders should take note in order to stay safe.

Final thoughts

While it may seem like there are more risks involved when using an electric bike, a study has shown that ebikes are no more dangerous than traditional bikes. The initial thought that being able to travel faster made electric bikes dangerous may, in fact, be completely wrong. The electric assistance may make riders safer. The reason being that electric bikes are better at helping their riders keep up with traffic and move more confidently around roads. Electric bikes can ride alongside traffic, rather than being something that cars and other vehicles have to constantly overtake.

Further, the added power assistance can help riders to avoid collisions more easily. Ebike riders can quickly and confidently accelerate and steer out of harm’s way, perhaps better than they could on a pushbike. Steering is also easier when pedalling is less of a focus while cycling.

If you have any concerns regarding the safety of electric bikes, then get in touch with our team. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have. If you’ve been convinced by the article and are thinking of buying your very own electric bike, then check out our range of products. Our best-selling ebike, the Furo X is an excellent all-rounder and one of the fastest electric bikes you can buy. Perhaps you need something a little lighter that’s more convenient for carrying on public transport? Our eTura is the world’s lightest electric bike at just 12kg. Fancy an electric bike that’s more suited to the great outdoors? Then you’ll love the Sierra, our high-performance electric mountain bike. Here at FuroSystems, we have something for everybody.

Electric Bikes vs Motorcycles: 5 Differences

Eliott Wertheimer December 4, 2019 No Comments Uncategorized

With electric bikes becoming more and more popular, they naturally invite comparison between them and motorcycles, both electric and petrol, and it’s understandable. There are powered bikes that are often used for commuting and whizzing around cities. If you own a motorbike already, is it worth investing in an electric bike? In this article, we discuss the major differences between electric bikes and motorcycles in a range of areas.

Before we start, it’s important to establish the key difference between electric bikes and motorcycles: the way you ride them. With electric bikes, you pedal just like a traditional pushbike, and then the electric motor provides you with assistance. With motorcycles, there’s no pedalling involved, and all movement is controlled by the throttle. The differences don’t end there.

1. Legal requirements

Electric bikes and motorcycles are treated very differently in the eyes of the law. motorcycles, whether electric or petrol, are liable for road tax, insurance, and must be registered with the DVLA. Riders of motorcycles must also have a driver’s licence to be able to legally drive the vehicle. With electric bikes, no such restrictions apply. You do not need a driver’s licence, the bike doesn’t need to be registered or insured, and you don’t need to pay tax. In the eyes of the law, electric bikes are generally treated the same as traditional pedal bikes.

The clothing riders must wear differs between motorcycles and electric bikes too. Motorcycle riders are required by law to wear a crash helmet at all times, and it’s advisable to wear more protective clothing. The higher speeds that motorcycles are capable of come with a higher risk of injury. When riding electric bikes, you do not need to wear a crash helmet (although wearing a helmet of some kind is strongly advised). You also don’t need to carry around cumbersome motorcycle outfits. Electric bikes give you the freedom to wear whatever you want, within reason.

That being said, wearing protective clothing is recommended, especially if you’re going to be taking your electric bike onto busy roads. Read more about the legality of electric bikes in our dedicated article here.

2. Speed

It should come as no surprise, but electric bikes cannot compete with motorcycles (electric or petrol) when it comes to speed. The primary factor is regulation that limits the speed at which electric bikes will provide the rider with assistance: electric bikes are required by law to stop providing power when the bike reaches a speed of 15.5mph (25kph).

Motorcycles, on the other hand, do not face such limitations and are legally allowed to reach much higher speeds. If you’re a speed demon, then a motorcycle, either electric or petrol, may be best for you. However, as you’ll see in the next section, being able to travel faster doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll reach your destination sooner.

3. Commuting

Electric bikes make for a perfect commuter vehicle. They’re light, fast, reliable, and not subject to train delays!

In a city, the added speed capabilities of a motorcycle are irrelevant because of rush hour traffic and traffic lights. Electric bikes share the advantage that motorcycles have over cars in that they’re able to sidle down the side of traffic. However, electric bikes have the added benefit of being able to use them in cycle lanes and in certain parks around cities. You have more travel options with an electric bike. Motorcycles are restricted to roads. Therefore, in reality, the faster vehicle isn’t necessarily the fastest method of commuting.

Furthermore, electric bikes have a number of other practical advantages over motorcycles. For instance, there’s no need for a parking space, and many offices have space for bikes to be locked away safely. Also, some electric bikes, such as our very our Furo X and eTura, can be folded. Folding electric bikes are even more versatile since you can carry them onto trains and buses, and you can even take them into coffee shops or store them under your desk at work. Every base is covered!

4. Maintenance

Electric bikes come with far fewer maintenance needs than traditional motorcycles. There’s no oil or cooling system to take care of, and there are fewer parts overall, meaning there’s less to maintain. Additionally, running costs are minimal in comparison to petrol and electric motorcycles. You don’t need to buy any fuel, and you don’t need to charge the bike either. Electric bikes are ready to use at all times – there’s no preparation or forethought needed. When the mood takes you, you can hop on and be on your way!

5. Exercise

By virtue of needing to pedal in order to move, electric bikes are far better from an exercise perspective. Of course, electric bikes offer a huge amount of assistance to the rider, which makes them so enjoyable and accessible, but there’s still an element of rider input beyond twisting a throttle. For people who find traditional cycling very taxing – especially in a city – electric bikes offer an accessible form of exercise that motorcycles simply can’t.

While we may be a little biased, in many cases, electric bikes are the more versatile form of transport. They can be used in more places and by more people than motorcycles, and that’s a huge plus in a world that’s constantly looking for new and improved modes of personal transport. If you’ve been thinking about investing in an electric bike, check out our eTura, the lightest folding electric bike you can buy, or our ever-popular Furo X, the electric bike that started it all.

FUZE

FURO X

Aventa

Month: December 2019