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How To Scoot Safely - Safety Rules for Scooter Riders
At Micro Kickboard, we encourage parents to start teaching safety habits as early as possible. Micro has a strong safety record, and we have seen that even from the earliest ages children can be taught to ride safely with simple rules like staying next to a parent while riding and stopping at corners and wearing a helmet. These habits and others are easier to teach children when they first begin to ride.
Check out our top tips for scooting safely.
WEAR A HELMET
Wearing a helmet is one of the most important ways to ride safely. Let your child choose the helmet, put stickers on it, wear it inside, and wear one yourself; all these help children embrace wearing a helmet.
It is also important to make sure the helmet fits properly. The first step is to measure the child’s head.
- Use a soft measuring tape, measure the circumference of the child’s head one inch above the ear. If they are able to try on the helmet, make sure it is snug to the head - a good rule to keep in mind is that the helmet should ‘touch’ all the way around the head.
- If they are not able to try on the helmet and are ordering online, careful measurements have a good rate of success, but can vary due to the shape of the child’s head relative to the helmet shape. If your child’s head is round or oblong, more than average, it might be worth a trip to a store to try some on.
Wherever you buy a helmet, make sure it is safety certified. Also be sure to tighten the chin straps (this can require some patience to get right).
Click here to view Micro helmets and helmet sizing.
RIDE ON SIDEWALKS ONLY
Teach children to stay on sidewalks when riding. Sidewalks don’t have cars and roads do. Also, off-road areas can have conditions which can affect the wheels’ performance. For example, small particles of sand can get into sealed wheel bearings and cause them to seize. Polyurethane wheels are designed to be used on smooth, dry surfaces, making sidewalks the safest places to ride.
STOP AT CORNERS
Stopping at every corner is a very good safety rule. Teach children the habit of getting off their scooter at corners and looking three times before crossing - left, right, and left again. Walking the scooter across the street rather than riding it is also a good habit, as it is slower and provides more control.
HOPPING OFF, AND HOW FAST IS TOO FAST?
Hopping off a scooter is an effective way to STOP instantaneously. While Micro scooters have brakes, the braking is more gradual, similar to a bike.
With scooter decks so near to the ground, children should be taught how to hop off as a way to stop instantaneously. It's a good tip to tell children that if they are riding too fast to hop off easily, then they are riding too fast.
WHEN NOT TO SCOOT
Don't scoot when it’s raining. Riding in the rain will make braking difficult and wheels slippery. Micro's polyurethane wheels are not designed for wet surfaces.
SCOOT DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS
Even with LED wheels and little headlights, scooters are designed for daytime use. If children are coming home at dusk, make sure their jackets and/or helmets have reflective or light-up safety features to make them visible.
WATCH FOR PEDESTRIANS
Give pedestrians the right of way. The safest and most considerate approach is to get off the scooter and walk it around a pedestrian, especially if it is an elderly person or young child.
WHAT’S ON THE SIDEWALK?
While riding, it’s important to look for broken sidewalks, large cracks, stones, glass, and anything unusual on the sidewalk that can get in the way or cause the scooter to destabilize.
FOLLOW TRAFFIC SIGNS
Stop signs and traffic lights should be obeyed. These apply to people riding bicycles, walking, or scooting, in addition to road traffic.
PROTECT ELBOWS & KNEES
Reduce elbow scrapes, bumps, bruises, or breaks in case of a fall - elbow and knee pads are recommended.
RIDE TOGETHER AS A FAMILY
Adult supervision is a great way to teach children Safety Rules. Hop on a Micro scooter and join in the fun! (Plus, it's great exercise!)
CHECK SCOOTERS REGULARLY
Review your child’s Micro Scooter with them. Check it regularly to see if it needs any adjustments, all of which can be very easily made with the allen key that comes with all Micro Scooters.
Here’s our Quick Checklist. In each case, you will want to make sure the part feels secure or tight, not loose.
- Check Clamps - if loose, tighten with allen key
- Check Wheels - if loose, tighten with allen key - if becoming flat, consider replacing (free shipping on all Micro replacement parts)
- Check Brake - if brake is bent, it's time for a new brake! ($5 shipping on all Micro replacement parts)
- Check Handgrips - if loose or ripped, replacement handgrips will provide a safe handle for your kids (and can even dress up your scooter with a fun new color!) ($5 shipping on all Micro replacement parts)
All Micro replacement parts come with $5 shipping! Replacing parts is a cost-effective way to extend the life of your scooter, or even give it a new look with updated colors of handle grips, decks, and more!
A FINAL WORD ON SCOOTER SAFETY
The safety of our riders is highly valued at Micro Kickboard. Be sure to check out our fun safety video below, and invite your children to watch also!
