Bike and Scooter Safety Tips for Summer

The full guide

Bikes, e-bikes, and scooters are common during summer, especially around parks, neighborhoods, beaches, campuses, and busy shopping areas. Riders can reduce risk by checking equipment, using safety gear, and staying visible.

Quick Answer

Bike and scooter riders should wear helmets, use lights or reflective gear, check brakes and tires, slow down around pedestrians and driveways, avoid phone distractions, and document the scene if a crash happens.

Before You Ride

Wear a properly fitted helmet every ride.
Check brakes, tires, handlebars, and battery charge.
Use lights or reflective gear when visibility is low.
Make sure bags, clothing, and loose items do not interfere with wheels or handlebars.

During the Ride

Slow down near pedestrians, driveways, parking lots, and intersections.
Watch for opening car doors, turning vehicles, potholes, and debris.
Do not ride while holding a phone or wearing both earbuds.
Use extra caution around tourist areas and crowded summer events.

What To Do After a Bike or Scooter Crash

Move to safety if possible and get medical help.
Call police if a vehicle was involved or someone is injured.
Take photos of the bike or scooter, vehicle, road surface, signs, injuries, and surroundings.
Get driver, witness, and insurance information.
Save app ride details, receipts, repair estimates, and medical records.

If you were hurt in a bike, e-bike, or scooter crash, Bridgewater Law Group can help you understand your options.

Common Mistakes

Riding without a properly fitted helmet.
Skipping brake, tire, handlebar, or battery checks.
Holding a phone or riding with both earbuds in.
Failing to document vehicle information, road conditions, and app ride details after a crash.

What To Do Next

Move to safety and get medical help.
Call police if a vehicle was involved or someone is injured.
Photograph the bike or scooter, vehicle, road surface, signs, injuries, and surroundings.
Get driver, witness, and insurance information.
Save app ride details, repair estimates, and medical records.

Common Questions About This Topic

What should I check before riding an e-bike or scooter?

Check your helmet, brakes, tires, handlebars, lights, reflectors, and battery charge.

Before riding, check your helmet fit, brakes, tires, handlebars, lights, reflectors, and battery charge. Make sure clothing, bags, and loose items cannot interfere with wheels or handlebars.

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What should I document after a bike or scooter crash?

Document the vehicle, road surface, signs, injuries, witnesses, app records, and treatment.

Document the vehicle, bike or scooter, road surface, traffic signals, signs, injuries, driver information, witnesses, insurance details, app ride records, repair estimates, and medical treatment.

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Can a driver be responsible for a bike or scooter accident?

A driver may be responsible if careless driving contributed to the bike or scooter crash.

Yes, a driver may be responsible if careless driving contributed to the crash. Examples may include unsafe turns, opening a car door into a rider's path, speeding, distraction, failing to yield, or driving too close to a cyclist or scooter rider.

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What should families document after a teen bike or scooter crash?

Save photos, driver information, witness names, police or school reports, medical records, helmet and equipment damage, and any available video.

Families should document the vehicle, license plate, driver and insurance information, bike or scooter damage, helmet damage, road condition, traffic signs, lighting, visible injuries, witnesses, police report number, school incident report, and medical care. Video from nearby homes, businesses, buses, dash cams, or school cameras may also matter and should be preserved quickly.

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Why are driveways dangerous for teen riders?

Drivers backing out may not see a bike, scooter, skateboard, or e-bike approaching, especially if the rider is moving quickly or hidden by parked cars.

Driveways are risky because drivers may be focused on cars in the street and may not notice a teen rider coming from the side. Parked cars, fences, landscaping, speed, and distractions can make visibility worse. Teen riders should slow down near driveways, scan for reversing vehicles, and try to make eye contact with drivers when possible.

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Where should teens ride when there is no bike lane?

Teens should ride in the same direction as traffic, follow signs and signals, stay predictable, and choose routes with lower speeds when possible.

When there is no bike lane, the safest option depends on the road, traffic speed, local rules, and the rider's skill. NHTSA encourages riders to travel in the same direction as traffic, obey signs and signals, ride predictably, and plan routes with less traffic and slower speeds when possible. Parents can help teens choose safer routes before the school routine starts.

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