The Scoot Commute: Using my Folding Kick Scooter in London

London is at the heart of kick scooter commuting, the narrow roads provide no segregated space for cyclists, and the traffic congestion means that we totally rely on public transport. So for those looking for another option to get around the capital, there's only one logical way to turn, to the scooter commute.

Scooting is so fun and easy, I can’t emphasise enough how important these two factors are, especially when it comes to your typical working week. When getting in a car basically means sitting in a traffic jam for god knows how long, two wheels is often quicker, and of course healthier. But if you’re like me and perturbed by the potential road danger on a bike, take to the pavements, through parks and back streets on a different set of two wheels – a kick scooter.

A Multi-Modal Commute with a Folding Scooter

I took a trip from Manchester to London, with my folding commuter scooter SwiftyONE. With the ONE in it's folded position it was no problem to stow it in the overhead shelf of a Virgin train. The ease of getting the push scooter onto public transport makes it a valuable asset on your commute. Many can be put off a scooting commute because of distance. However with an transportation method that folds you can scoot to your bus or train, do the majority of your journey there and scoot to your final destination once off again. It's the perfect last-mile solution for your London commute!

Arriving at Euston Station, I unfolded it in seconds and self-propelled through the crowds.

My destination being Old Street Station, I could have taken the underground, kept my SwiftyONE folded, stepped into a queue, ridden the escalators down underground. Then waited for a train on the northern line and completed my journey underneath the city in stale air. But it was a sunny day, so I hopped on, manoeuvring, self-propelled through the crowds.

Outside, I hopped off the pavement at the sign of the green man, scooting diagonally across to a quiet back street. Enjoying the slight easterly descent of Euston Road, and avoiding the steep incline of Pentonville road, I took a route south down Kings Cross Road.

Approaching the junction of Roseberry Avenue with a few uphill scoots, and I came across Exmouth Market, what a perfect refreshment stop! It being lunchtime, I grabbed a bite to eat, and freewheeled down a side street and came across Spa Fields Park, perfect. Resting on a bench amongst the lavender, where other people were reading and taking a lunch stop, what a find!

After my lunch, I jumped back on my SwiftyONE commuter scooter, and pretty much flew down the rest of Farringdon Road pavement, avoiding the junction with Clerkenwell Road by nipping down Farringdon Lane and over the bridge. Feeling pretty invigorated after those freewheel sections, I came to Clerkenwell Road. A major east-west bus and cycle route.

A Safer Commute With A Kick Scooter

Feeling thankful that I could scoot on the pavement I kicked along the flat, as cyclists and buses trundled past me. Bikes and buses, now there’s a combination. The bus catches up with the bike, chasing it from 3m behind, it overtakes, spitting out dust and fumes into the cyclists face, then veers left to stop at the next bus stop. The cyclist overtakes the bus. There’s a traffic jam, the cyclist takes the inside gap, alongside the traffic in the gutter, queueing behind the other cyclists, all competing to be first off the lights. I’m feeling smug now – scooting is a breeze – I feel no danger!

I scooted on, stopping at junctions and crossing ahead of pedestrians. Passing cafes, interesting shops, I could stop for a second to investigate something that caught my eye, a new restaurant, a cosy looking pub. A welcome downhill section leading to my destination at Old Street Station was a chance to cool off, turning left and right, snaking down the broad pedestrianised section lined with trees.

All of this was an absolute breeze because SwiftyONE is a large wheel scooter. Crack and bumps in the road didn't slow me, I was able to fly over grass and mixed terrain with ease. It also meant that I didn't need as much energy to keep myself at a good speed. Everything seemed easier on my adult commuter scooter.

The journey overall took 40 minutes including my lunch stop. I could probably do 2.5miles at a leisurely pace in 25 minutes on this route.

As a comparison, by checking the distance on Google maps, on foot it says 47 mins, by car it says 19 mins, and by tube 8 mins. So, if I was in a hurry I’d choose the tube, but cycling I just find too frightening now, as much as I love cycling, I have found a new set of wheels, a new love, my SwiftyONE. I'm proud to now call myself a scooter commuter!

Check out the best kick scooter for commuting in action below.