Which Vehicle Is Safer to Ride On the Street, Electric Scooter or Electric Bike?

The latest trend in urban transportation is the use of personal electric vehicles for the last mile. Some experts refer to this trend as “micromobility.” Two of the most popular micromobility solutions are electric scooters and electric bicycles. Both of them can replace cars for commuting in traffic-congested cities. It makes much more sense to go around a city in a vehicle that requires less space than jamming streets and avenues with cars.

Both electric scooters and electric bikes have their advantages. They also have their disadvantages. We all have heard about the many benefits of e-bikes: environmentally friendly, long-range, and more. However, they tend to be heavy. If you live in an apartment in a building without an elevator, you should reconsider getting an electric bike. In such cases, an electric scooter can be a better alternative. If space in your tiny studio apart is an issue, an e-bike may not be the ideal vehicle for you either.

But there is another critical consideration: safety. In fact, before assessing other factors, safety should be first on your list. The least you want is to jeopardize your physical integrity because of an unsafe vehicle. Therefore, we have prepared the following comparison between these two types of electric vehicles. Let’s begin with some general factors before we address the safety issue in more detail.

Comfort

Even if you commute for a short distance, you surely want to do it comfortably. In this department, the choice of vehicle depends on personal preference. For some people, riding an electric bike is difficult. For others, keeping balance on a scooter is nearly impossible. Hence, in principle, you should opt for the vehicle you feel more comfortable with.

However, city ebike has larger frames that allow the integration of suspension systems. This feature makes every ride much more comfortable if the roads are bumpy or potholed. Most electric scooters don’t have suspension systems and are best for flat terrain. But if you need a vehicle to go shopping or carry extra items, an electric bike is the obvious choice.

Speed

In practically all cases, electric bikes are faster than electric scooters. Some electric scooters specially designed to speed can reach 22 mph. Most fast electric bikes can reach 28 mph and even more. However, when you commute in traffic-congested streets, speed is not a big concern.

Range

Electric bikes are equipped with larger batteries. Therefore, they can travel farther on a single battery charge. E-bikes are ideal for longer commutes and, in some cases, for offroad trips. As a rule, an electric scooter is not capable of traveling long distances. As such, they are strictly limited to cover the “last mile.”

Safety

Finally, we come to the main topic of this article. We will go to the grain; electric bikes are generally safer than electric scooters on the road. There are several reasons for this conclusion:

• Scooters are low and their wheels are small. If the wheels go over a bump, pavement crack, or jolt, the chances of falling are high.
• Because of the low height of an electric scooter, the rider is less visible to car drivers.
• Visibility is poor for the e-scooter rider. Statistics show that, in comparison to e-bikes, electric scooters are involved in thrice more accidents. E-scooter riders are more likely to crash against lampposts and signposts.
• The culture of safety is much more developed for e-bikes. For example, most e-scooter riders don’t wear helmets and often ride on sidewalks.
• So, unless you plan on using an electric scooter in flat terrain and for a very short distance, an electric bike is a safer alternative. Authorities will have to regulate the use of e-scooters on the road to prevent injury to riders and pedestrians.