Why I Ride An Electric Scooter

I love bikes , acoustic or electric. However, I cover most of my two wheeled miles on an electric scooter. Today I share some of the reason why I chose to get an electric scooter.
0:00 I really like cycling
0:28 Why I ride an electric scooter
0:56 Fair weather cyclist
1:45 bikes are better
2:10 Scooter are cheaper
2:26 Enough range for most trips
2:36 Comfortable for short trips
2:56 No cargo space
3:17 Scooters are more convenient (for me)
4:10 Use the right tool

[@nicthedoor]

In case anyone was wondering I say "electric scooter" exactly 47 times in this video.

[@DigitalJedi]

This is critical information. "Electric scooter" is said on average 9.4 times per minute or once ever approximately 6.382978 seconds.

[@POINTS2]

I wouldn't want to trade my 10 mile (16 km) e-bike commute to my daughter's school for an e-scooter. However, I do smile and nod every time I see someone on an e-scooter or e-unicycle because they are awesome and they are not creating traffic with their micro mobility

[@DarthTinderalla-qm9zw]

You've obviously never bikes in the Nederlands if you think bikes don't cause traffic

[@harrison00xXx]

I guess it depends, yeah when it comes to those "legal" scooters going 20-25 km/h, sure e bike is better because its as fast (and faster), but when you ride a performance scooter going easily 50-60 km/h continous, it becomes basically a moped you have to stand on or get a model with seat or optional seat.

[@humanecities]

When I saw the thumbnail, I was ready to fight you, Nic! This is a really great look at why you choose the transportation tool you do. I love my e-scooter, but yeah, standing for the length of my commute is a pain - not to mention the battery BARELY makes it 😬 But it is SOOOOOO easy for short trips!

[@AquaDogTTR]

Your reasons for choosing the scooter over the classical bicycle hit the nail on the head and are what a lot of people fail to understand.

[@cupidok2768]

Where is this? There's a lake! I wanna move there

[@monowheeling]

The perfect application for a lightweight EUC, the smallest form factor for about $1000. It requires a new skill to learn, but it is tons of fun partly for this reason too.

[@duncanrobertson6472]

Great video. I ride an ebike and never fully understood the appeal of electric scooters. Seeing how you have to store your bike explained a lot. The fussiness in your storage and parking situation is totally relevant, both in terms of time and the mental friction associated with getting out the door. Where I live, a bike still wins that equation hands down, but now I have a better idea of what could tip the scales.

[@MatthewFordVictoria]

Scooters are very popular in schools, as they can be folded up and stored in a school locker. Can't do that with a Bike!

[@harrison00xXx]

@@MatthewFordVictoria Good luck doing it with any proper (performance/premium) scooter, so basically scooters longer than 1,2m and 35 kg+.

[@CasualCommuter_]

I commuted to work on an e-scooter for a full year before going remote, absolutely loved it. Main issue was that the battery lost it's charge after a few months(GoTrax GXL) and I had to keep a charger at work, plus it was hard to lock securely for other stops. But strictly for commuting it saved me tons of money and time waiting for the bus.

[@nicthedoor]

Interesting, I've seen mixed reviews with Go Trax. FWIW my apollo city is still going strong after 14 months. No matter the device, the savings are undeniable. BTW, we're all waiting more the next vid. Do you plan on making more?

[@CasualCommuter_]

@@nicthedoor Will take a look! And thanks! I do have a whole list of ideas for the year, just hit with writers block on what to cover right now with winter heavy footage. 😅

[@HallsEmporium]

My micro mobility path has been electric board, then electric scooter due to terrible bike storage, and recently I added an electric bike as my new apartment building has a very convenient to access bike room. It’s true, you can’t beat the storage convenience of the scooter both at home and at the office!

[@KyleRuggles]

You gotta try EUC's! They're fast, long range, and incredibly stable once you get used to it and they're fun! Incredibly fun! I mean they're more portable than e-scooters too!

[@BrotherKplays]

Great video. There's also the fact that scooters have 2 points of contact vs the 3 points of contact in cycling, which makes for a different riding sensation.

[@ApolloScooters]

Thank you for sharing your experience, Nic!

[@eloipecquet]

Love it! Great video

[@_petar]

Ride both like me, got my bike back for doing exercise and riding in winter too.

[@YoureNowOnTV]

Awesome video! Thank you 😁👍

[@xWink]

As a fellow Vancouverite, I highly recommend trying an Electric Unicycle. Eevees offers free training and has a shop in the DTES! In my opinion, it is the king of micromobility and the best form of transportation in Vancouver, period. They are definitely not as dangerous as they look!

[@BB-mq3nn]

I have both an NIU scooter (KQi3) and a Brompton which is aftermarket modded with a Swytch ebike motor. I honestly barely ever use the scooter, with the Brompton getting 95% of my time. It's super convenient folded up, and my city has some frankly terrible streets that make the scooter super sketchy to ride at times. I do worry a bit about being stranded with the scooter too if it runs out of juice, while I don't have that concern with the Brompton.

[@Hegad_org]

Oh boy. I always looked at scooters as these gadgets for people who want to be cool or modern. Never thought about them being actually practical. Now that i think about it, i could use it most of the time, too. I don't need much for work, i wouldn't have to lock it in the rain when working at the bar and i could make the already short trips to get snacks even shorter (especially up that hill that i can walk as slow as i want and still sweat). I might have to look into those now xD

[@siberx4]

E-scooters have another advantage that they integrate better with mixed-mode commuting than e-bikes do. They're smaller and lighter, so it's more manageable to take them onto buses/subways (or get a ride with a friend, or take a taxi if you get stuck somewhere) than a full e-bike.

[@deadGrlz206]

I never considered buying an escooter until i moved to capitol hill in seattle. I just bought an OXO and that thing is my new best friend. Its got the horsepower to get me up hills at 30mph. I get around town way faster than i do in a car

[@itsliam4905]

Nice video, I usually ride an electric skateboard and ride a scooter when I need to lock it up due to an event or something. Can't use a bike because there's no bike storage in my building and we live in a 5th floor walkup

[@1O1OO11O1O]

I do own a Kaabo Wolf e-scooter and I like it, but! There is nothing like an EUC, try at least something like Inmotion v12. Basically no maintenance, can always get it inside or even on a train, carry stuff in hands while riding or put hands in your pockets when it's too cold, it's about as convenient as if I would be able to walk 40mph without getting tired. Cons: takes time to learn and can't get a passenger on.

[@jackweta]

I also have an ebike & an escooter, my commute is 14km return with a steep climb at both ends & a very scenic cycleway between. My ebike is a hardtail mtb Bosch CX Trek Powerfly 5 converted to a commuter with pannier bags, mudguards, lighting & road tyres. I recently switched to a Hero X10 of similar value although the scooter did not require any accessories except a lock. I love scootering, it is a bit sketchy at times & I have had mishaps on both. My brain is enjoying the scooter challenge. I will probably sell my ebike as I love scootering much more. My scooter is very powerful & I limit output to 50%.

[@nicthedoor]

Dude that scooter is a beast! I can see why you like riding it.

[@oceanwonders]

I never even considered an e-scooter, until this video. I have a last-mile problem where Mobi is concerned. Could see short trips being worth it, at used Segway prices.

[@railzip]

Beautiful BC!

[@Route-kq8xd]

I find my KnowPed kick scooter to be more reliable than any e-scooter. Don't have to worry about batteries/range or flying off the handle bars.

[@Iamlewis93]

😂😂😂😂 L

[@vwbora26]

I ride 11 km to work, And on my Apollo Pro it's a breeze. I did made this commute in 14 minutes when I tried to beat if faster than a car and yes it was. Normally it's more around 19 minutes. I juste like standing on a scooter it provide a greater sense of freedom than sitting on a bike. That's just me.

[@Jake-pp2ob]

I love riding an e scooter to work, as when i'm biking home i get so tired riding an e scooter is so much better for me as i have the space for it in my room etc, it works so good for me.

[@chiclids]

Oh my God that’s hilarious. I live in Vancouver as well. Is the commute from home to work with your electric scooter cause I just got mine just last weekend.

[@TheNiteinjail]

I don't even have a daily commute... But many of the same things applies here... I can just fold it up and bring it in... Take it on a bus... Toss it in the trunck ... So much flexibility.

[@beebo7071]

Honestly interesting I’ve seen these pop up especially in the past few years never understood the demand till now

[@user-mn2zs2tb3c]

One thing I am jealous of your scooter 😅😅 men you can get a seat on your scooter. That's the scooter I would have ordered if it had folding handlebars. I've got the Vsett 8 and I walk and ride. Are walk to my destination and then right back. So that's how I keep fit. Everything's about finding a balance in life

[@NorroTaku]

Have a frame lock on my bike Sure its less safe ish But i could cut down my prep time down immensely No fiddling with padlocks amd chains Just key in and bike locked and loaded

[@user-wl9eb3vy3b]

I hope they make them legal soon in the uk. I ride my normal bike all year as there is no bus to work(very early mornings). I have to carry it over a railway bridge to get out of my estate. I'm not a small person and an e bike to take my weight would cost me a fortune and make it heavier to get over the bridge. An e scooter would be so much easier and cheaper. I am lucky that work has an indoor space for our bikes as half of the staff cycle in. Been riding to work for 9 years now.

[@magnetarklkl2012]

I can see myself getting one, too. The plazas and small mall I tend to frequent are within 1km of my place and riding my bike to them requires just a bit of planning so the scooter would make the trips easier. I guess I haven't bought one, yet because I don't know which brands are reliable in the long term.

[@nicthedoor]

Ninebot/segway sounds like kit might work for you. Ninebot max is a tank.

[@magnetarklkl2012]

@@nicthedoor Ok. Thanks! I’ll check it out.

[@chrisnegele6875]

I use a scooter to go 4.4 miles from my house to the train station. Fold it up jump on the train for 50 miles then scoot the remaining 2.4 miles to the office. I originally bought it for the train to office scoot but after a month of putting in the back of my car thought this is kind of silly and now just use the scooter. I’m now barely putting 3000 miles a year on my car and about 1500 on the scooter. I love my scooter 🛴 as a 66 year old adult I get lots of looks and occasional pictures taken of me on my scooter.

[@TroubleshootGamingMeds]

I love bicycles myself, but I main an EUC these days.

[@DigitalJedi]

The only reason I went the ebike route for my commuter is because it's also my grocery-getter and I can lock up indoors at both my house and at work. Cargo space and comfort are important for me as I usually grab something for dinner on the way home and commute roughly 11 miles.

[@mikereimer1390]

Scooters better for groceries. Bring it in the store and put the basket on the scooter. No need to worry if it's being stolen outside, no need lock it up. And no need to carry groceries in the store Backpack solves the storage issue. I have both but my ebike is rarely used anymore😁

[@MathieuTechMoto]

I ride the Veteran Sherman-S suspension EUC, you can literally ride in a pothhole and almost feel nothing, mine have a seat so i can sit on long streches, yes they are expensive but incredibly versatile, now that Kingsong as come with its more affordable suspension S16 model, i could see a lot of people to buy one, but i've seen the Inmotion RS and i'm pretty tempted to try it !

[@nicthedoor]

I am very eager to learn how to ride. Though I can't justify the price atm.

[@MathieuTechMoto]

For around 1000-1500$ you can get a Kingsong 18L or 16X used but without suspension, they still work great, are very compact and have about 80km range 45km/h top speed, learning to ride will be difficult for some people but if you do a lot of sports you will learn quickly, once you've learned it you won't regret it !@@nicthedoor

[@whatswheelygood]

There are many great eucs out there on the used market. I bought a v13 for 2300 and am currently selling my v12 for 1000 dollars. ​@@nicthedoor

[@luvinfunvan]

I dig your channel Nik and appreciate your work. I'm not convinced the iphonification of personal transportation is the right path. Like most endeavours humans engage in there is a lot of great invention and design for the "fun" part but little to no though or effort in the parts no one wants to think about. In the case of the mass takeover of all things human powered to become motorized there are things like the mining of cobalt required for the batteries that mostly comes from despot led nations and effectively slave labour. The MUCH shorter lifespan of e-things when "oops sorry we're not updating that charge controller anymore" resulting increased waste of our limited resources and the production of a very toxic waste. A quality bicycle is a multi-generational (save for wear parts) transportation device that is not yet rivalled by any other technology in terms of longevity and efficiency. Further imagine the benefits to our health outcomes at a community, city and global level if everyone got around under their own power, literally saving billions of dollars in health care costs... Humans a terribly short sighted. :(

[@Arjay404]

You are insane riding that scooter so fast in the dark like that. Or maybe it's stupid, one of the two. The pothole/pebble/branch dilemma is my main reason to not like scooters. The standing can also be an issue, but that really depends on the distance and your body, so you should know if it works for you or not. Finally bikes are better for the environment because even with an E-bike your body is still powering the bike (assuming it's not one of those throttle ones, which are just motorcycles cosplaying as bicycles.), whereas with the scooter all the power comes from the battery, a bike is just more efficient with it's power. Those scooters with the seat are pretty great though. Avoids the issue of standing while also shifting the weight a little bit back and lowers the center of gravity making flying off the scooter when you hit a pothole a little bit less of an issue.the compactness of a scooter is indeed amazing. Even foldup bikes are quite bulky and large when folded up.

[@weird-guy]

I don’t use it daily, but I brought a Chinese foldable e-bike for 300€ it was down from 400 euros, it’s only has does 25km/h with a 20 km range although is more heavy and combersome I prefer the stability but most buy Xiaomi electric scooter here you see more scooters than e-bikes because they are light weight and easy to store

[@dannydanny9875]

My Scooter Parking consists of 60 flights of stairs, but no lock, I keep it in my room. My other was was too big and heavy, so I kept it downstairs with 2 brass locks, and it got stolen 😞

[@mm1234Xxx]

I own a manual bike and an escooter, and I will say, sometimes you just don't feel like pedaling 5km uphill first thing in the morning. Either option is better than a car, though. Also you can bring a scooter into your apartment but not a bike? I'd like to hear the explanation for that. 🤔

[@esgee3829]

how does electric scooter deal with salt in the few months of winter when roads are salted? that's been my concern with e-bike. you really can't drive through that stuff even once without washing after to remove salt. i actually have an electric folding bike but the salt is brutal for just the couple of months where i may have it in my area, which has similar weather to BC.

[@andrelukin6364]

Do you live in Seattle? Just wondering from where the filmings come.

[@nicthedoor]

Vancouver. *BC

[@beezysbeatz4924]

I prefer my scooter over my bike mostly because its funner and gets around town quicker but i ride the scooter more because high gusty wind conditions do not effect the scooter. A moderate wind gust feels like the bike is getting blown out from under me. My 6000 watt dual motor scooter even pulls my cargo/dog trailer up any hill no problem.

[@MrC0MPUT3R]

I love my eScooter. It's replaced my car as much as is possible. I would love an ebike, but I just can't justify the price.

[@xnostalgiax]

My electric scooter assassinated me with one of those small pot holes. 5 months of missed work. Flipped over the handlebars and destroyed my leg.

[@deersakamoto2167]

Is it true that e-scooters (with regular use) last only about 3 years before the battery degrades significantly, like a phone?

[@nicthedoor]

More or less. I haven't seen any noticeable difference yet after 15 months. Or my ninebot max after 2.5 years. However it will eventually need to be replaced. Likely somewhere in the 3-6 year range depending on use. Thankfully replacements are constantly getting better and cheaper.

[@whatswheelygood]

Wait til you try an electric unicycle! Even more compact than an escooter and more stable at higher speeds.

[@antonioiniguez1615]

I love the fact that you can own a good ebike, a good regular bike, a decent cargo bike, and a good electric scooter for less money than a shitty car

[@bogdanipbv1989]

Roller girl at 4:17? Why did you cut that video? 😅

[@nicthedoor]

Maybe she was in NYC the same time as I was? haha

[@harrison00xXx]

The thing with the scooters you talk about... they are horrible slow, weak and have a small battery. Go for a "decent" scooter with >1,5 kWh battery and a weight of 35-40 kg, and the appeal of the "convenience" goes away nearly entirely. But i still learned to prefer and love this "overkill" of a scooter, much more stable at ANY speed, much more comfortable due to much better suspension, range is hilariously long when i dont push the trigger too hard for too long,...

[@harrison00xXx]

The only times i folded my 37 kg Vsett10+ was: - picking it up (2nd hand) into the car - 2x as i had a flat tire, again into the car Within over 5k km i have folded this scooter just 3 times, tells a lot about the "small form factor" those scooters are advertised with. My previous 24 kg scooter was often folded and in the car, but still too big and not really meant for transporting it that way too often, but doable and "easy" at least. For my damn Vsett i need to fold the back seats to even fit it into the car and it takes up a ton of space beside the annoying weight.

[@IsaacPoopsAlot]

I DO NOT TRUST those apartment bicycle locking stations in garages, too many times I've seen those get raided and they'll grind through everything and take all the bikes easily. Watch out dude!

[@nicthedoor]

We have two. It's always the other one that get raided.

[@mikko.g]

What is the rational for not being able to keep your bike in your apartment?

[@nicthedoor]

I think they want to prevent the elevator getting scuffed up with tire marks etc. It's in the lease agreement and I suspect it just hasn't been updated to include other devices like scooters.

[@rileyhall9320]

I'm an euc man myself

[@Bigbossperson]

1:56 ... also they're illegal in BC

[@YeeLeeHaw]

Pretty much every PEV that have any usability is illegal on paper everywhere. Right now it's all about slipping through the radar. Well worth it if you can afford one, especially a high performance EUC.

[@WaffleStaffel]

I love my scooter, but the roads in PDX are atrocious, poorly maintained, and full of potholes. We have pretty good bike lanes marked, but they're all absolutely filled with broken glass, gravel, and debris. Bike ridership plummeted during the illegal lockdowns and never rebounded, so they're no longer a priority. How can your apartment tell you you can't have a bike?

[@cycletricity]

I have an e-scooter and yet I can't legally use it in the UK unless on private land with the permission of the landowner. I long for the day when the government here bring in sensible laws enabling me to use it without fear of points on my driving license, confiscation of the scooter and it being on record!

[@SolarizeYourLife]

I don't like the tiny wheels...

[@AustinSersen]

Oh man, no bikes in apartment? I'd move if feasible. My guess is, you'd be spending a lot more if you moved. Yay current housing market... 🙄

[@nicthedoor]

WAY MORE! lol

[@monowheeling]

You didn't explain why riding the bike is worse in bad weather than riding the scooter, or did you?

[@nicthedoor]

This is not something I have experienced. Today I rode in icy, snow-packed lanes and streets on my scooter and only had one minor "near miss". I'd like to hear your opinion on the differences.

[@monowheeling]

@@nicthedoor I didn't catch your point. My question was: why does bad weather make you switch to the scooter? Or: why do you abandon the bicycle in bad weather for the car but you don't abandon the scooter for the car. The exposition to the weather is the same on a bicycle and a scooter.

[@1O1OO11O1O]

@@monowheeling He doesn't have an e-bike, looks like he doesn't like pedaling uphill in bad weather, he has a regular bike and a scooter

[@monowheeling]

@@1O1OO11O1O I understood the story (he also has a car which was somewhat relevant too), I don't understand how not pedaling makes the weather more bearable.

[@nicthedoor]

It's a mental hurdle. That's all. When I wake up in the morning, ready to leave for work and it's still pitch black. I struggle to get in the frame of mind to pedal uphill for 15 minutes. Has nothing to do with the gear necessarily.

[@JulianRides]

Ima need a faster scooter then that but looks nice. I'm an expert already I always travel like 50 mph when I get the chance lol 😆

[@fcv1967]

Bicycles wear holes in your jeans

[@nicthedoor]

I knew they were trying to get into my pants

[@alexlloyd4221]

As a non-driver and pedestrian, I absolutely hate these scooters. People don't know how or where to appropriately drive them, leading to me nearly getting run over multiple times walking the sidewalk. Its even tougher because they are so silent. People really race on these things too - like I once saw a couple on one scooter (probably not safe already) race through a red light between Oakridge and 41st which is absolutely wild. There needs to be much better regulations on how these scooters are used and those regulations need stricter enforcement. While I've certainly been endangered by cyclists not abiding by the rules of the road in the past, this is a rare occurrence in Vancouver. I've already had way more near misses with e scooters already and they got legalized only 3? 4? years ago. I wish scooter riders would at least acknowledge the downside of them for pedestrians/people who use mainly public transit (who you don't even acknowledge as a category in your last segment). Bike-tubers in general seem to disregard pedestrians/people who only use public transit in general, which is fine as your passion is cycling. However, I do think we deserve to be thought of occasionally, as we share the road with you guys too!

[@nicthedoor]

I hear you, there are many crappy riders. I think there should be some kind of registration for e-assist vehicles that can reach a certain speed on their own. To your last point, I didn't leave that out intentionally. While it may not have been a focus in this particular video, walkability and quality transit is the #1 thing I'd like to see this city do right. A lot of the conflict between micromobility and peds is often down to infrastructure. It simply is not very good here.

[@sanji663]

Nah u get good ebikes for 1000 + - $

[@jdubdoubleu]

I ride a 🛴 (apollo phantom) for the thrill. I love the power, speed and agility when on one. I don't just casual ride, i ride for the adventure and sense of freedom. Scooters have a whole different sense of freedom and fun. A bike and scooter have their own different feeling when riding. Obviously a motorcycle has all of that and then some but that's an entire different category. A scooter is just different when you're riding through all the different bike/walking trails they have to offer. Put some earbuds in and just ride 😌. Also riding with your partner just adds to the enjoyment as well, but solitude riding is it's own "at peace" feeling.

[@Spankmepink]

My arm was assassinated by a tiny pothole at 19 mph last week, got both major bones :( lmao.