Everyone is talking about electric scooters. Many of my friends and colleagues have tried them, and they’re all raving about the experience. But what exactly are electric scooters? What do they offer you, and—most importantly—are electric scooters dangerous? Let’s find out!
Why are electric scooters so popular?
- They are convenient
One of the best things about an electric scooter is the amount of freedom it gives you. You can get around quicker and more easily than on a bicycle or other regular vehicles, because you don’t need to pedal or drive yourself! Just push a button and off you go! No more waiting in traffic jams while trying to find parking spots; no more worrying about petrol prices going up again. Just hop on your e-scooter, ride away, and enjoy your time without having to worry about anything else.
- They’re fun!
Electric scooters are also known as hoverboards (or skateboards) because they float above the ground instead of rolling like standard skateboards do – so when people see one coming towards them they think “Ooh!” This makes things even better than before because now everyone knows what’s happening around them – there are no longer any surprises except maybe when someone jumps off their board unexpectedly! If only everything could be this easy…
The origins of e-scooters
At first, electric scooters were used for military purposes. William Thurston was credited with inventing the first electric scooter in 1895. The invention was used to transport soldiers around and became known as the “electrocycle”, which is a precursor to modern-day scooters that are used for recreation and transportation.
The electrocycles of this era were made from wood and metal, which might have contributed to their limited practicality as well as their high cost of production. They were also quite heavy at about 200 pounds (90 kilograms) each!
What are the benefits of e-scooters?
- Convenient. E-scooters are a great way to get around. They’re extremely affordable and quick, and they’re fun! You can use them for short commutes or to run errands, and if you want to go on a longer adventure with friends, e-scooters are perfect for that too.
- Affordable. Electric scooters cost about $1 per day to use for commuters who live within 15 miles of their workplace—that’s less than the cost of driving! And since e-scooters are more environmentally friendly than cars, riding an electric scooter can help make our planet greener as well!
- Fun. Riding on an e-scooter is easy and convenient, so it’s great for recreation too (especially in warm weather). Whether you’re going out with friends or exploring new places by yourself, these little machines will put a smile on your face every time you hop on one!
How do electric scooter companies get you to try them?
For example, you may have seen a promotion in the mail or on social media offering you a free trial of an electric scooter. The business is hoping that if you like their product and want to keep it, they’ll offer you a discount on your first purchase. Other businesses offer free helmets because they want people to feel comfortable riding their scooters and think it will encourage more ridership.
For children, some companies give away helmets for free or at a reduced rate. If a child is too young to ride on his own, he may need help from an adult who would be less likely to use the helmet correctly without proper training that comes with having one’s own equipment (and there are many ways for adults not trained in safety techniques).
Who can and can’t use an electric scooter?
Currently, electric scooters are not allowed on sidewalks in most places. However, if you do have an electric scooter and you want to ride it on the sidewalk because of a disability or other condition that prevents you from driving a car—or perhaps because it’s your preferred mode of transportation—then go right ahead!
In addition to people with disabilities, there are many other types of people who can take advantage of riding an electric scooter. For example:
- People under 18 years old (age varies by state) aren’t allowed to drive cars but still need transportation.
- People without vehicles may find that an electric scooter is more convenient than public transportation.
Who invented the first e-scooter?
It’s a common question to ask: who invented the first e-scooter? Well, it was a man named Michaux. He lived in Paris in the early 1800s and was one of France’s most famous inventors. Among his inventions were an underwater boat, a two-wheeled cart with an internal combustion engine, and even a horse carriage that ran on electricity!
Of course, it’s not surprising that he had so many achievements under his belt—he was passionate about science from a young age and spent hours tinkering outside of class at school. Soon after graduating he started working full time as an engineer for military applications where he created several cannons still used now (his invention of “breech loading” artillery led to major improvements).
Can e-scooters cause injuries?
The electric scooter industry is unregulated, so it’s impossible to say with certainty how many people are injured while using them. However, the popularity of e-scooters has led to multiple studies that suggest they can pose a serious risk to riders and pedestrians.
Injuries from electric scooters can range from minor scrapes and bruises all the way up to debilitating brain injuries or even death. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that between 2017 and 2019 there were 16 deaths related to e-scooters (though this number only tracks fatalities where a police report was filed). While these reports have only been released since 2019—and do not include any incidents before then—they’re still an alarming number considering how new these devices are as a mode of transportation.
E-scooter injuries often occur when riders don’t wear helmets or fail to follow road rules like riding against traffic or riding while intoxicated on alcohol or drugs (which is illegal in many states).
Riders who do not follow proper safety procedures can also endanger themselves by operating their vehicle too fast for conditions (like on wet pavement) or by failing to take precautions when turning corners at high speeds, which could result in loss of control over the device itself if you’re going too fast for your own abilities as well as those around you if other people happen upon your path unexpectedly during such maneuvers like riding through heavy traffic areas which tend not be designed with vehicles moving at high speeds like this in mind so there’s always room for error here
Are people making a good living from driving electric scooters?
Let’s say you’re considering buying an electric scooter. You want to know if people are making a decent living from it, but unfortunately our research shows that people are not making a good living from driving electric scooters. It is possible for someone to make money with their own personal electric scooter, but it’s not likely that they’ll be able to get by doing this alone.
There have been many attempts at making the average person into an entrepreneur by allowing them to rent out their car or apartment on websites like Airbnb and Couchsurfing in order to make extra cash on the side of their regular job or business (see: Doordash). But what makes this model vulnerable is when there are too many people trying it at once—if everyone rents out their place every weekend then nobody will have anywhere left over anymore!
This has led us down an interesting path where we have gone away from renting out space entirely and into providing services instead (like Uber Eats). Electric scooters can follow this same path because they provide both convenience AND entertainment value… just like ordering pizza delivery does!
Are electric scooters a good business model for companies?
Electric scooters are a great business model for companies. Companies that produce electric scooters and related products are making an incredible amount of money.
Some examples:
- A startup called Bird is valued at $2 billion. In September 2018, the company hired a new CFO named Tariq Mehmood who had previously been an executive at Uber’s Xchange Leasing unit. This indicates that Bird may be looking to expand their operations beyond just providing scooters, which would make sense considering how popular electric scooters have become in major cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco (where they’ve proven extremely useful).
- Another example would be LimeBike, which raised $120 million in new funding earlier this year — bringing its total funding amount up over $320 million since launching in 2017! LimeBike has already expanded into several markets outside of California including Boston; Washington D.C.; Seattle; Austin; Memphis; Miami Beach and Orlando
Are there any drawbacks to electric scooters?
There are a few drawbacks to electric scooters that you should be aware of before taking them on your next journey:
- Scooters are not always the best option for travel. Scooters aren’t ideal for long distances or in inclement weather, and if you’re traveling with other people, they may not fit comfortably in the back seat of a car. If you’re just going on a short trip, it’s often better to get around by public transportation or by walking instead of relying on an electric scooter.
- Scooters are not always easy to use on uneven terrain. They have been designed primarily for paved roads and sidewalks, so they may struggle with bumpy terrain like gravel or dirt roads (although some models have wider tires that can handle this better than others).
Electric scooters offer convenience, easy to use and are fun but they are not without risks
Electric scooters can be used by anyone. They’re easy to ride, fun and convenient. With the right precautions and precautions they are not without risk. The benefits of electric scooters include:
- Convenience – Electric scooters eliminate the hassle of parking and traffic jams, making it easy to get around town quickly on an environmentally-friendly mode of transportation.
- Easy To Use – Electric scooters are simple enough for anyone to operate, even if you’ve never ridden a bicycle before! Simply push your thumb against the throttle button on your handlebar (or twist it), then just start pedaling! When you want to slow down or stop at any time during your ride, simply apply pressure against the back brake lever until you’ve come safely to a halt.
- Fun – Riding an electric scooter is fun for young children who have trouble walking long distances but still want some independence from their parents; older kids will enjoy “zipping” through city streets without having to worry about getting tickets from police officers who think they’re going too fast; adults may enjoy commuting between home/work/school without having worry about parking fees each day or paying for gas or maintenance costs like other modes of transportation require.”
So, are electric scooters dangerous?
Electric scooters are an amazing convenience for city dwellers and tourists. They’re also fun to ride, especially if you have a few people who want to go on an adventure together. But there are some risks involved in using e-scooters, including injuries and even fatalities. So before you start riding around with your friends or family, make sure that everyone knows exactly what they need know about these vehicles before they hit the streets!