The Pros and Cons: Escooter Rentals versus Owning One Yourself

    We’ve all witnessed the takeover of electric scooter ride share apps in urban areas all over the world. I don’t think I’ve been to any major city in the past couple of years and not seen a Bird, Lime or Wind scooter lining the streets. This goes perfectly with the takeover of escooters in recent years. For commuting, sightseeing or picking up groceries, electric scooters have taken over urban areas. I personally love escooters, and these rideshare apps, such as lime and bird, got me into the market. I wanted to compare the pros and cons of owning your own scooter compared to rideshares. 

Convenience

    The convenience of rideshare escooters amazing, however it does have its downfalls. I love being able to walk outside and just find a scooter. I live in the Marina and lime scooters are everywhere. I really love being able to pop out of my building and grab a scooter. In Dubai, you’re also able to lock these scooters just about anywhere. The convenience of the rideshare scooters does end, as they do speed lock themselves in some areas and they have designated ride areas they cannot leave. I really wish I could take a lime scooter to Bluewaters, as the walk there can be long and parking my own scooter there is difficult, but Bluewaters is out of the designated area to ride lime scooters so sadly this isn’t possible. 

Ride

    Rideshare scooters typically fair average when it comes to the overall quality of the ride you get. The scooters max out at 25 km/h, however they can go much faster if you’re going down a hill. They also come with suspension and a large comfy deck. They don’t have any special features by any means, however they are rideable and comfy. There are definitely some scooter brands that have better specs to them, however I would argue rideshare scooters are better than some of those cheap scooters out there. Lime scooters are generally better than your MI scooters or Xiaomis, the bulkiness and suspension is just better. When you get into the higher end scooters, this becomes obsolete. Inokims, Ninebots, Dualtron, Ducati, etc. all ride miles better than any rideshare scooter. The speed, suspension, range, everything is better. All in all, if you’re just looking to pick up a ride, rideshare scooters compare to cheaper lower end brands, however, the higher end ones just offer that much better of a ride. 

Price

    When it comes to a price point, I always recommend buying your own scooter if you’re going to be riding it often. A lime scooter in Dubai is 3 aed to unlock plus 1 aed a minute you ride it. This is cheap, however, do not be deceived. It will build up if you use these often. You can get some escooter brands for really cheap. If, however, an escooter is an occasional use, I completely recommend rideshare scooters. Especially if you’re visiting somewhere, see one walking somewhere, going to a cafe, a rideshare scooter can be the best way to get around at that price point. If you’re a frequent user, get yourself your own scooter. The one time expense eventually pays itself off, and you’ll love the extra specs that come with your own escooter. 

    Rideshares and owning your own electric scooter both have their own benefits. I lived in Barcelona for a year, and lime scooters were one of the most convenient methods of getting around ever! Since I’ve moved to Dubai, I’ve bought my own scooter and I really enjoy using it. My commute is stress free, and I get to enjoy the added customization from owning my own scooter. If you’ve never used an escooter before, try out a rideshare scooter, and if you like it I’m sure you’ll be an escooter user in no time!