4 ms·

Are scooters significantly safer? (I'm assuming you mean the small 2 wheeled scooter that looks a bit like a skateboard with a steering post, not a vespa style

Are scooters significantly safer? (I'm assuming you mean the small 2 wheeled scooter that looks a bit like a skateboard with a steering post, not a vespa style "mini motorcycle" scooter which is the scooter referenced in this article). I don't know how to clearly differentiate between the two types of scooter when talking about them.

endisneigh 5y ago
I strongly believe the addition of the handlebars makes a scooter much safer to use for an average person compared to an electric skate or longboard. I say this as someone who has owned all three. Best example of this is braking. Most electric longboards accelerate and decelerate as fast or faster than a scooter. However the laws of motion still apply. Without something to hold onto you have to actually anticipate your deceleration and lean back when decelerating - very unintuitive. When I had an electric longboard I let several people use it and saw several people fall over (fortunately they fell on their feet)
- Johnny555 5y ago
  It just seems that the narrow 3" wheels commonly seen on scooters are way too sensitive to road imperfections. I've seen some with oversized 6" or so wheels that are wider like a mountain bike tire, those seem safer. I miss eBikes, which seem to have been pretty much replaced by eScooters, at least in my community.
  - H1Supreme 5y ago
    Totally agree. Those wheels are way to small at top speed. You're just asking to get a stone jammed in there.
    - droopyEyelids 5y ago
      A 1.5" deep pot hole will stop a 3" wheel as if it hit a solid wall.
  - wraptile 5y ago
    That has been basic rule of thumb when it comes to motorcycles for ages - the bigger the wheels the safer it is. The only downside is extra weight and turning radius (smaller wheels can turn more) - which is irrelevant for motorcycles the article argues for. When it comes to wheels - size matters!
- tokai 5y ago
  Scooters are dangerous. The upright position with arms low in front close together makes for some really nasty falls. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31130267/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31130267/
  - endisneigh 5y ago
    I agree, but skateboards are more dangerous imho
    - dymk 5y ago
      Lotta "imho"s, very little data
      - endisneigh 5y ago
        yeah, it's as if it's just, you know, my opinion. smh. there's data out there shows that there's more injury using a skateboard vs manual powered kick scooter: https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546504269256 https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546504269256 https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.109.3.542 https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.109.3.542 proving conclusively that a skateboard is more dangerous than a scooter would be difficult observationally, however. intuitively though all of the danger present in a scooter also applies to a skateboard, with the added addition that a skateboard doesn't have brakes nor does it have a way to steer without leaning, putting yourself at risk of falling off.
        everforward 5y ago
        Some of that is likely due to the method of use. It's anecdata, but most people I know with skateboards attempt to do tricks. I don't think I know anyone that does scooter tricks, and I only recall seeing one at skate parks when I was younger. > intuitively though all of the danger present in a scooter also applies to a skateboard, with the added addition that a skateboard doesn't have brakes nor does it have a way to steer without leaning, putting yourself at risk of falling off. Those may not be entirely bad things. It creates a feeling of danger that scooters tend to hide too well. I tend to feel out of control on a skateboard before I'm actually unable to control it. I tend to feel in control of a scooter until something happens and I realize I've had very little control the whole time. That's my pet theory for why electronic scooter accidents are so common. The controls make it feel under control even when it isn't, which is how we end up with stupid stories like putting 2 people on a scooter and crashing at 20 mph. I strongly doubt normal people would go 20 mph on a skateboard, much less with a second rider.
ycombinete 5y ago
Yes they are. For two reasons. The handlebars, and importantly the wheels are much larger than a skateboard [1] The larger wheels make for a much smoother ride, and they handle bumps far better. You’ll pop over a bump that would send a skateboard into an instant brake. [1] https://i.ytimg.com/vi/l9n5zWm0N5o/maxresdefault.jpg https://i.ytimg.com/vi/l9n5zWm0N5o/maxresdefault.jpg

endisneigh 5y ago

I strongly believe the addition of the handlebars makes a scooter much safer to use for an average person compared to an electric skate or longboard. I say this as someone who has owned all three. Best example of this is braking. Most electric longboards accelerate and decelerate as fast or faster than a scooter. However the laws of motion still apply. Without something to hold onto you have to actually anticipate your deceleration and lean back when decelerating - very unintuitive. When I had an electric longboard I let several people use it and saw several people fall over (fortunately they fell on their feet)

Johnny555 5y ago
It just seems that the narrow 3" wheels commonly seen on scooters are way too sensitive to road imperfections. I've seen some with oversized 6" or so wheels that are wider like a mountain bike tire, those seem safer. I miss eBikes, which seem to have been pretty much replaced by eScooters, at least in my community.
- H1Supreme 5y ago
  Totally agree. Those wheels are way to small at top speed. You're just asking to get a stone jammed in there.
  - droopyEyelids 5y ago
    A 1.5" deep pot hole will stop a 3" wheel as if it hit a solid wall.
- wraptile 5y ago
  That has been basic rule of thumb when it comes to motorcycles for ages - the bigger the wheels the safer it is. The only downside is extra weight and turning radius (smaller wheels can turn more) - which is irrelevant for motorcycles the article argues for. When it comes to wheels - size matters!
tokai 5y ago
Scooters are dangerous. The upright position with arms low in front close together makes for some really nasty falls. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31130267/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31130267/
- endisneigh 5y ago
  I agree, but skateboards are more dangerous imho
  - dymk 5y ago
    Lotta "imho"s, very little data
    - endisneigh 5y ago
      yeah, it's as if it's just, you know, my opinion. smh. there's data out there shows that there's more injury using a skateboard vs manual powered kick scooter: https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546504269256 https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546504269256 https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.109.3.542 https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.109.3.542 proving conclusively that a skateboard is more dangerous than a scooter would be difficult observationally, however. intuitively though all of the danger present in a scooter also applies to a skateboard, with the added addition that a skateboard doesn't have brakes nor does it have a way to steer without leaning, putting yourself at risk of falling off.
      - everforward 5y ago
        Some of that is likely due to the method of use. It's anecdata, but most people I know with skateboards attempt to do tricks. I don't think I know anyone that does scooter tricks, and I only recall seeing one at skate parks when I was younger. > intuitively though all of the danger present in a scooter also applies to a skateboard, with the added addition that a skateboard doesn't have brakes nor does it have a way to steer without leaning, putting yourself at risk of falling off. Those may not be entirely bad things. It creates a feeling of danger that scooters tend to hide too well. I tend to feel out of control on a skateboard before I'm actually unable to control it. I tend to feel in control of a scooter until something happens and I realize I've had very little control the whole time. That's my pet theory for why electronic scooter accidents are so common. The controls make it feel under control even when it isn't, which is how we end up with stupid stories like putting 2 people on a scooter and crashing at 20 mph. I strongly doubt normal people would go 20 mph on a skateboard, much less with a second rider.

ycombinete 5y ago

Yes they are. For two reasons. The handlebars, and importantly the wheels are much larger than a skateboard [1] The larger wheels make for a much smoother ride, and they handle bumps far better. You’ll pop over a bump that would send a skateboard into an instant brake. [1] https://i.ytimg.com/vi/l9n5zWm0N5o/maxresdefault.jpg https://i.ytimg.com/vi/l9n5zWm0N5o/maxresdefault.jpg