Nowadays, electric scooters are incredibly popular because lots of people need quick rides to get around. But, more people using scooters means more chances of theft.
People in urban areas know how common bike and e-scooter theft has become, especially for delivery guys.
We specifically spoke to delivery boys, and they all had a similar story. And that is they left their scooter unattended for a minute, and when they returned, it was missing.
That’s why it’s crucial to learn how to lock your electric scooter. This will keep your investment safe and allow you to have stress-free rides.
If you’ve locked your bike before but never an electric scooter, it’s great that you’re looking for advice. In this guide, we’ll look at different ways to lock your scooter safely. But before that, let’s understand why locking is necessary.
Why Locking Your Electric Scooter Is Important?
In order to make sure that the electric scooter is not stolen we advise you to lock it. This is important to safeguard your investment and its safety. But, you might wonder, how can you do it?
So, before we talk about how you can lock it, let’s start by explaining why it’s crucial to lock an Electric scooter:
- Keep Your E-Scooter Safe: Thieves can be attracted by your escooters in your area. So, to secure it, lock it. A good lock does more than just prevent theft. It even makes thieves hesitate before robbing your scooter.
- Safety: By locking your electric scooter in public areas, you secure it, so that nobody without your permission can pick up and use your scooter. Furthermore, it also stops people from riding with the handle or playing with it.
- Peace of Mind: When your scooter is locked, you can relax knowing it’s safe. This lets you focus on other things without stressing about its security. It also makes sure your electric scooter lasts long without any worries about theft or damage.
- Responsible Ownership: Locking your electric scooter shows that you’re a responsible owner. It is a sign that you take good care of your stuff and respect public places. This provides a wonderful example for others to follow.
- Legal Compliance: You may not know, in lots of places, locking your electric scooter where you’re supposed to, is not just for safety, but also the law. Following these rules helps you avoid getting fined and makes the area safer and more organized.
All in all, when you know why it’s important to lock your electric scooter, you make your investment in both safety and security worthwhile.
Different Types of Locks for Electric Scooters
We have different types of locks in the market to secure our electric scooter. Each type comes with its own level of security and ease of use.
Let’s see the most common types of locks:
U-Locks
U-locks, also called D-locks, are strong locks that are shaped like a “U” or “D.” There is no doubt that they’re best for preventing theft. However, these can be heavier and bigger than cable locks.
Even though they’re heavier and bulkier, their top-notch security makes them popular. People buy these locks particularly where theft is common.
A lot of riders like them because U-locks are tough to cut or break. They often have a tough steel shackle and a strong lock. It makes them super durable against thieves.
U-locks can be of different sizes and styles to match your scooter and locking needs. Some have longer parts to help you lock your scooter to tricky spots. But, it’s best to get the shortest one that still fits around your scooter because they’re the most secure that way.
These locks offer the advantage of fitting around various shapes. However, longer ones are typically better for electric scooters. Overall, U-locks are crucial for bike riders and can also be great for scooters if they’re not too big to slip over handlebars or fit between wheel spokes.
Chain Locks
Do you live in a place where theft is common? Or is strong security indeed a must in your society? If yes, a chain lock for your electric scooter might be a good choice. These locks are quite similar to cable locks. However, they come with a metal chain instead.
Chain locks often have covers to keep your scooter safe from any kind of scratches. When buying, go for ones made of strong steel and tough locks for the best security.
You can pick from anyone like Kryptonite, ABUS, or OnGuard. They all are well-known for their durability and for stopping thieves.
Smaller chains, which are less than 16mm thick, can be cut with bolt cutters. However, thicker ones need a power saw to cut.
When you choose chain locks, it gives you a good balance between cost and security for your electric scooter. So, it’s a good idea to choose high-quality chain locks to make your electric scooter safer and discourage thieves.
Note: It should be noted that these locks are usually heavy steel chains with a padlock. It can make your electric scooter much heavier depending on its size.
Cable Locks
Cable locks are one of the most popular locks we have. They’re preferable among scooter owners because they’re lightweight and easy to carry around.
However, you must have known that they’re not as strong as U-Locks or Chain Locks. It can be cut with the right tools. So, it’s best to use them in places with low crime rates.
Cable locks are versatile and can lock your scooter to different things, which is great for parking in public spots. Additionally, they usually have a coating that protects your scooter from scratches. All in all, cable locks keep your scooter safe and in good shape.
These basically come in two types: password cable lock and key coiled cable lock.
# Password Cable Lock: This cable lock needs a combination of numbers to unlock it. It’s good because you don’t need keys in it. However, you just have to make sure you remember your code to avoid being locked out.
# Key Coiled Cable Lock: This cable lock uses a key to unlock it, which is a classic way to lock things. It’s ideal for those who prefer using keys over combinations. If you forget things or numbers easily, you must go for it.
Foldable Locks
These locks are small and foldable. You can even carry it in your pocket, but they can still keep your scooter safe. Foldable locks usually come with a bracket that you can attach to your scooter for easy access when you need to lock it up.
It has a folding design, which lets you change the size depending on how you need to lock your scooter. The rivets on Folding locks are hard to cut with a hand saw. Also, its cylinder and other parts are resistant to drills.
They’re made of strong materials and have reliable locking systems. All these make them a perfect option to protect your electric scooter when you’re out and about.
So, stay alert and make security a priority for a great electric scooter experience!
How to Lock An Electric Scooter?
Electric scooters are getting more and more popular everywhere. People love these modes of transportation because they’re simple, easy to carry, and good for the environment.
However, as more people use them, it’s crucial to keep them safe from theft. But, how?
Step 1: Find a Secure Location
First of all, you just have to do one thing before locking your electric scooter. That is, making sure your vehicle is in a safe spot with something solid nearby. It could be anything like a bike rack or a strong pole.
Don’t ever think to avoid leaving your scooter in lonely or dimly lit or darker places.
Step 2: Secure the Scooter
1. For U-Locks
- Place the U-lock on your electric scooter’s frame and wheel.
- Now, connect one end of the U-lock to anything solid.
- Next, lock the U-lock with the key or code.
2. For Chain Locks
- Wrap the chain around the scooter’s spokes and wheel.
- The next step would be to connect one end of the chain to something solid.
- Lock the chain securely with the lock and put the keys in your pocket.
3. For Cable Locks
- Put the cable through the scooter’s frame and wheel.
- Wrap up the cable around something solid and lock it by putting the end of the lock into the lock.
- You also have to make sure that the lock is tight. It is to stop anyone from messing with it.
4. For Foldable Locks
- Stretch out the foldable lock to wrap it around the e-scooter and a fixed object, like a rod.
- Lock it harder to make stealing harder.
Step 3: Check the Lock Properly
When you lock your electric scooter, there’s one important thing left. Now, gently pull the lock to make sure it’s locked well. Also, check that the scooter is firmly connected to the fixed object and not easy to take off.
Step 4: Activate Additional Security Feature (If Available)
Most importantly, if your electric scooter has extra security features like alarms or GPS tracking, turn them on. It gives you added safety, by providing accurate locations to the authorities.
Step 5: Don’t forget to Keep Your Key or Code Secure
Riders most often forget their key or code. So, keep your lock or code safe, and don’t share it with others (except your loved ones). You can also do one thing by changing it regularly for better security.
It’s a fact that the best way to keep an electric scooter safe is to bring it inside. Just never think to leave it alone outside. If you can’t park it indoors, then you should use both physical locks, e-locks, and a tracking device.
Conclusion
That’s it, electric scooters are quite popular across the world, which makes them a common target for thieves. If you want to protect your scooters, you can do this by parking smartly and using anti-theft tools. You must invest in strong locks, alarms, and kill switches.
Adding these strategies and tools will greatly reduce the chances of your scooter getting stolen. Whether you go for a strong U-lock, a flexible cable lock, or a smart lock, one thing remains the same. That is to keep your e-scooter safe.
So, lock it up, and don’t let any stranger even think about touching your electric scooter.