While riding in the daylight is ideal for most eScooter and eBike owners, there are a number of reasons why riders may venture out in the dark. Whether you leave early, stay late, or just enjoy night time rides, it’s important to stay safe during journeys made in the darker hours. To help ensure your less-lit trips are smooth and secure, we’re going over a few tips to keep yourself safer during nighttime rides.
Increase Your Visibility
When you’re riding in the dark, it’s important that you stand out as much as possible to help keep pedestrians, motorists, and other riders aware of your location. Most GOTRAX adult electric bikes and electric scooters come with a bright LED headlight that not only alters others on the road, but also helps you see the people, paths, and obstacles around you. On top of that, a number of GOTRAX rides include brake lights to alert those behind you whenever you’re coming to a stop. Another common visibility feature on GOTRAX rides is a reflector, which will keep you visible in the headlights of other vehicles.
Still, it’s best to take additional steps to keep yourself visible at night. Avoid wearing dark clothing that will blend in with the dark; instead, try to go for brighter clothing that will stand out more. Reflective clothes and accessories are also a great way to help keep others aware of your presence in the dark. Additional lights never hurt either, especially those with multiple light modes or the ability to flash, so we recommend looking into lighting up your ride even further if you can.
Find a Well-Lit Route
While some less-lit routes can be quicker, taking them can raise your risk of hitting unseen obstacles or getting lost. Sometimes, it’s best to simply find a new route. Checking your GPS for new routes can help you scout new paths that include better lighting, like lamps, streetlights, or other lighting fixtures. Making sure you pick a route that’s well-suited to your ride is also important. Different eBikes and eScooters do well in different environments, so making sure that your ride can handle the path you’ve chosen is key. You’ll want to test the route during the day to ensure that there aren’t any major obstacles you’ll have to watch out for during the night.
Ride Together
The larger your riding group, the more likely it is that you’ll be noticed. If you know other riders who travel a similar route, try coordinating to ride together. Drivers and other riders only need to catch a glimpse of part of your group to know that you’re there. On top of that, if something goes wrong during your ride, having others around makes it easier to get help.
Be Prepared
Whether you ride during the day or night, it’s always best to be prepared. You never know what may happen during a ride, so bringing supplies to help with a number of common issues will help keep your rides smooth. Be sure to bring a small toolkit for quick repairs: items like a patch kit for flats, a small first aid kit for any scrapes, and a travel size bike bump to keep your tires inflated are all helpful in a pinch. In addition, be sure to keep up with your regular maintenance. Addressing issues when they first pop up will stop them from spiraling into something worse and ensure that your rides are smooth and hassle-free. Be sure to take advantage of product guides and any other information you can gather that will keep you informed on how to keep your ride in top shape.
No matter when, where, or what you ride, just make sure to stay safe, follow the rules of the road, and always wear a helmet!
