I commute around Dublin City 2 or 3 times a week on an electric scooter. In the past two weeks alone, I’ve battled blinding sunlight, rain and freezing temperatures. So, if you are a fellow electric scooter rider, what should you be considering now coming into some of the harshest weather we face in Ireland?
Can your scooter even get wet?
I was very lucky to have the guys at Irish electric scooter company, LOCO, send over one of their own branded Motion Pro scooters. Not just because I get an extended run on a great piece of kit, but because this is one of the few IP-rated electric scooters on the market. The LOCO Motion Pro is IPX7 rated, which means it can get wet.
The team believe in it so much that they’ve committed to replacing any that get water damaged. Which is nice.
This is great in winter, but let’s be honest here. In Ireland it’s a must have feature all year round.
Get yourself some gloves
Even on a short scoot, I find my hands can either go pure white, or red raw if the temps are cold enough. When riding a scooter, the throttle usually needs regular input. This means your hands are always out. I got myself a simple pair of cycling gloves ages ago and find them excellent.
This isn’t just for comfort, either. Cold hands are less responsive and slower to grip brakes in an emergency.
Give your scooter the once over
My scooter was starting to feel sluggish. I put this down to simply being the batteries not liking the extreme cold and me being a pretty big guy.
Then I pumped up my tyres and voilà . It was nippy again.
Tyres will naturally lose pressure over time and need a regular shot of air. I used a motorised pump for this, but be careful. The tyres don’t take long to get up to the recommended 45psi.
Beyond that, you want to check your brakes, cables, buttons, lights and that there are no seals worn or cracks in the body that might let water into your electronics.
Get lit up
One criticism I have of nearly all electric scooters on the market is how poorly lit up they are. Even leaving the office at 5pm means you’re in the dark when it comes to winter. Electric scooter lights are often really low, particularly on the back – leaving you exposed.\
Now, having lived in the Netherlands, I don’t prescribe to the obsession with high-viz in Ireland. Motorists should be able to see cyclists and scooter riders. But if you are in dark clothes on a scooter, from behind you can be hard to see.
I recommend you get a helmet with a light. Personally, I use the Livall smart helmet which is still available today so I get music on the go, but also extra lights and indicators which are much more visible. But remember to give space to motorists, because they are not used to seeing indicators on helmets. Don’t assume they are paying attention like they should be.
Set your speed limit
In freezing weather, you need to be more wary of acceleration and braking patterns. You can’t be as sudden on either. Naturally, the same can be said for cornering too. All of this is safer if you’re riding slower.
Now, I find the speed limits on electric scooters to be incredibly prohibitive. 20kmph is too slow. A responsible scooter rider can stop faster than any cyclist, yet most cyclists can easily surpass 20-25kmph. I’m regularly overtaken by ebikes and regular cyclists, but this is all a debate for another day.
Ultimately, 20kmph is the legal limit for an electric scooter. If your scooter can go faster, it’s up to you to set the limit. Gardaà can, do and will have checkpoints out to test your scooter so it’s worth ensuring your limited as required. The limit also means you are less likely to have a dangerous spill at high speed. In the winter, it’s two times over a good idea.
Consider public transport when it gets really bad
Don’t be stubborn. If you look outside and the weather is absolutely ridiculous with hail, sleet, snow and black ice – leave the scooter at home. I love my electric scooter. It’s the perfect way for me to navigate Dublin. But in the wrong conditions, it can be lethal.
There’s days where public transport is simply the better option. Don’t be afraid to take it.
