Electric Scooter Vs Public Transport

Harry2021 on 31/10/2021 - 19:27

Hi all
I'm after some suggestions for having an electric scooter vs public transport. My work place is 20 km away from my place and it's a 10 minutes walk to the train station with another 20 minutes ride to my work place, overall 30 minutes. It cost me around $4 each way to use public transport. I'm thinking to buy an electric scooter and my commute route also have bicycles footpath available. However with max speed of 20 km/hour, it will take me an hour each way to commute, but I will save public transport costs.

Keen to hear if anyone travels to such a long distance to work or if it is too much of a hassle considering weather, hassle of charging, and wear/tear etc

Thanks

Electrical & Electronics Electric Scooter

Comments

  • jjjaar on 31/10/2021 - 19:59
    +2

    Where are you located? In some states it’s illegal to use an electric scooter on footpaths. In other states it’s illegal to use an electric scooter in bike lanes. In some states it’s illegal to use electric scooters on road lanes.

    Be sure to look up the laws of your state.

  • Kangal on 31/10/2021 - 20:06

    Why not Both?
    \( ﾟヮﾟ)/

    • djones145 on 31/10/2021 - 20:30

      scooter from the back of the carriage to the front.

      boom

      time saved

      crazy

  • Presence on 31/10/2021 - 20:17

    If its legal then do it. You'll recoup costs very quickly.

    I was looking at a Segway Ninebot of some description, but they are illegal in Vic and the fines are pretty big.

    • dasher86 on 31/10/2021 - 22:21
      +1

      40km a day will be really be hard on a escooter.
      That's about 9400km if you work ~235 days a year.

      You will really need to look at life expectancy of a scooter and consumables.

      $8x235= $1880

      Two scooters a year and consumables, and no fines and a hell lot of time.
      Is it worth it?

      What about a bike and some Lyra instead?

  • thatonethere on 31/10/2021 - 20:39
    +6

    An hour on a escooter is pretty rough on your hands and arms. Try hire one or borrow one and test the route first.

  • Hardlyworkin on 31/10/2021 - 20:42

    Why not a regular Vespa type scooter?

    • Presence on 31/10/2021 - 21:55

      You can't ride those on footpaths or bike paths, not carry it onto a bus or train.

      • pegaxs on 31/10/2021 - 22:20

        No, but you can ride them on the road at more than 20km/h…

        • Quantumcat on 01/11/2021 - 17:20

          You need a motorcycle license and they need to be registered and insured, plus you need to buy fuel.

          • pegaxs on 01/11/2021 - 21:17

            @Quantumcat:

            You need a motorcycle license

            Correct, because you ride them on the road at more than 20km/h. And honestly, how hard is it to get a bike license?

            and they need to be registered and insured

            Correct, again, because you ride them on the road at more than 20km/h. And honestly, hurt one pedestrian or run into a car with your electric kick scooter and see how "uninsured" works out for you.

            plus you need to buy fuel.

            Do I need to link to all the various electric scooter/bike models on sale that would be ideal for this type of commute? Even if it were a petrol scooter, a round trip would be about $2 worth of fuel (My 150cc Vespa gets about 35~40km/l)

            Not to mention a motorcycle/scooter would be much more comfortable seated for 20~30 mins than an hour or more standing up on a glorified skateboard with handlebars.

            If I was going from home to the train station and from station to work, grab a Ninebot or something similar. If I am looking to cut out the train portion entirely, get an electric motorcycle/scooter.

            If OP was really looking at using an alternative mode of transport and wanted to utilize the bike paths and cycle-ways, the best idea would be an e-bike. No fuel, no insurance, no license and way quicker and a hell of a lot more comfortable over that distance than a stand up, no suspension, small tyred electrified kick scooter.

            • Quantumcat on 02/11/2021 - 09:30

              @pegaxs: The point is that an electric scooter is a genuine alternative to walking, a petrol scooter is a vehicle and is not, if you're going to ride a scooter you may as well drive a car as it isn't far removed and a car is a lot more comfortable. I would know as I rode a scooter (first a 125cc, then a 50cc then a 500cc) for 6 years or so before I got a car license. A half hour commute on a highway in winter is NOT fun. The bones of your hands feel like they are being boiled in hot lead. And if you skip riding all winter your scooter will need some mechanical work and a new battery before you can ride again. It doesn't make sense to use a petrol scooter or motorcycle as an alternative to walking, it's either your vehicle you use regularly or better to not have one. Electric scooters on the other hand you can happily store in a cupboard and use every few months if you want.

              • pegaxs on 02/11/2021 - 18:36
                +1

                @Quantumcat:

                an electric scooter is a genuine alternative to walking

                OP is not "walking" 20km to work each day.

                if you're going to ride a scooter you may as well drive a car as it isn't far removed

                What? A scooter and a car are nothing alike. That's like saying "well, if you are going to drive a car, you may as well drive a truck, as they are not that far removed…"

                You cant lane filter and get to the front at traffic lights in a car for a start. Parking a bike is much easier. Cheaper to register and insure. Easier to get through traffic. Quicker off the lights. Way better on fuel. Better for the environment. Ease traffic congestion.

                A half hour commute on a highway in winter is NOT fun

                But a 1+ hour commute in the same conditions over a 20km commute standing up on a glorified kick scooter with no suspension IS fun??

                The bones of your hands feel like they are being boiled in hot lead

                *cough* heated hand grips/winter weight gloves… *cough*

                if you skip riding all winter your scooter will need some mechanical work and a new battery before you can ride again.

                As a mechanic, all I can say here is "bullshit". I don't ride any of my motorcycles or scooters over winter. Never had to do "mechanical work" or had to replace the battery because "winter". (I also mentioned "electric motorcycles and electric step though scooters". Do they need maintenance and batteries replaced every winter?) And anyway, just how cold and shitty do you think it gets in Perth over winter?

                It doesn't make sense to use a petrol scooter or motorcycle as an alternative to walking

                Over a 20km commute it does.

                Electric scooters on the other hand you can happily store in a cupboard and use every few months if you want.

                As you could with any electric motorcycle or electric step through scooter (although not in a cupboard).

  • bobbified on 31/10/2021 - 21:21
    +1

    ..but I will save public transport costs.

    Factor in the possibility of getting a fine for illegal use.

  • brendanm on 31/10/2021 - 22:38
    +1

    but I will save public transport costs

    Ignoring the upfront and ongoing cost of the scooter, you are going from sitting relatively comfortably for half an hour in an enclosed space, to riding an E scooter at 20km/h, for an hour, outside in the weather. To save $8.

    • Presence on 31/10/2021 - 23:19
      +1

      sitting relatively comfortably

      A seat… on a train? Before covid I'd be lucky to get the damn carriage!

      • brendanm on 01/11/2021 - 11:14
        -1

        To be fair, I don't use public transport, so assumed that you could get seats.

    • Quantumcat on 01/11/2021 - 17:20
      +1

      To be fair you could still choose to catch the bus/train on rainy days.

      • brendanm on 01/11/2021 - 18:05
        -1

        You can, then the ROI time for the scooter will be even longer.

  • cjbowden on 01/11/2021 - 01:36
    +2

    I tried a 15km commute on my scooter once. It was far more effort than I expected, and I arrived exhausted with a sore back and arms. They are great for the short trips (like to the train station and back). Doesn't save you the $8 but is fun and will save you heaps of time on that part of your commute.

  • BugsBunnyAUS on 01/11/2021 - 02:29
    +3

    1) Weather
    2) Comfort
    3) Chance of injury
    4) Standing for 20km each way (related to 2 I guess)

    Just get the train.

  • kolorijo on 01/11/2021 - 08:54

    How about an e-bike or bike? Also that 10 minutes walk is good for daily exercise.

  • leiiv on 01/11/2021 - 10:59
    +2

    With 10 min walk + 20 min train ride, vs one hour on escooter, isn't it pretty obvious which one to choose? Even if you can double the scooter speed (40km/hour) it is still not faster than taking the train. And how much is your time worth an hour? $8 is a good price to pay if it can free up an hour of your day.
    If the train allows escooter on it, it is even worth to buy the scooter to further cut down the 10 min walk time.

  • Quantumcat on 01/11/2021 - 17:22

    Porque no los dos?

    Scooter instead of walking, fold it up and carry it with you on the train, and charge it at work.

  • Bristhrifty on 09/11/2021 - 14:53

    I scooter 5km to work on a bike track - its the perfect trip, on the bike track almost instantly after leaving my house and my work is also on the same bike track - no stopping, lights or hills. In this situation a scooter is perfect. I would keep scootering up to 10km with the same conditions, but if conditions were worse (like I had to use footpaths, deal with traffic lights ect) then that distance would become tedious. 20km would be an absolute mission on a scooter - however, it could be done if conditions were perfect (i.e. you have a nice bike track) but if not, it would be way too much hard work. An electric bike would make it better (bigger wheels, sitting, more comfortable, less concentration required) - I have an electric bike as well and its definitely better for longer journeys.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join