Bike VS Scooter: Who comes out on top?

When it comes to commuters, a folding vehicle is ideal. To take your chosen wheels onto the train with you during rush hour, and to quickly unfold and whizz onwards, leaving your fellow train passengers queueing for the bus, can bring on a sense of winning even while the day has barely begun.

But why compare the cycle-commute and the scoot-commute? Bikes are the more efficient form of transport, they are fast and easy to use, so how could a scooter possibly compete?

Looking for the ideal Commuting transport read our thoughts on folding bikes vs folding scooters?

Check out our entire range of Swifty Scooters 

Road Danger

The number one reason most people are put off cycling in cities is road danger. If the cycle infrastructure is lacking, many people aren’t willing to risk their lives on their way to work. Those that cycle already will know the dangers all too well but a quick look on twitter for 'cycle safety' never fails to show up a litany of dangerous situations riders are facing every day.

The use of a kick scooter offers you a whole new network of opportunities, it's easy to hop up and safely ride on the pavement. This means you can easily cut through different routes to get to your destination and most important of all means you can avoid sharing your route with motorists!

Standing Posture and No Saddle Sores

The stand-up posture of a kick-scooter not only gives a certain thrill factor when freewheeling down a hill but is also kind to your back and neck. Maybe not the most aerodynamic riding position, but an upright scooting position is comfortable for miles. Modern jobs are increasingly sedentary, so scooting gives you a rare opportunity to open up your posture and riding position to directly counteract this.

It stands to reason, no saddle = no saddle sores. Anyone who has spent a long time in the saddle could tell you it’s not always kind to your behind. This is not a worry on a scooter though, in fact, it's the opposite! Scooting is a fantastic exercise for your glutes 

Learn all about the glute benefits of kick scooter in our blog guest post - Your Bottom Needs A Scooter!

Accessibility

You can, of course, go a lot further on a bike when compared to a scooter. But, the standard cycling position on a normal bike can be quite uncomfortable for a lot of people. If you're getting into road biking and you're locking your feet into pedals it can be quite an intimidating position to find yourself in with cars racing past you. This is something that isn't an issue for a lot of people but is enough to put some off cycling altogether.

Scooters, by comparison, are very accessible; the riding position is extremely natural, the footplate is low to the ground if you need to hop off, the speeds you get up to on flat land are never too dangerous and the movement to propel yourself is low impact. 

Stress Factor

There is not just a risk factor associated with cycling on the road, there is also a stress factor. Admittedly exercise is a proven tool to unwind, why ruin this with lorries hurtling past, and buses tailgating, taxis cutting you up, and pot-holes to dodge. 

In contrast, by scooting, you can leisurely scoot down the pavement, finding the freedom to alter your route, down backstreets, tow-paths, finding broad pedestrianised sections. Taking in the sights, exploring while exercising, now that sounds like a more enriching commute!

Easy Maintenance

A scooter has less moving parts and therefore requires less maintenance than a bike. Just a quick check of tyres and brakes and off you go!

Naturally, most of the time bikes will have no problems either, but the fact is there are so many more things that could go wrong with your city bicycle. 

No need for a special kit

For the more style-conscious among us, wearing lycra into the office is a no. But chancing getting your best jeans caught in the chain is also a no. A scooter has no chain, so you can pretty much scoot in whatever you like – no room for lycra-clad warriors here folks!

Price, Weight and Foldability

A SwiftyONE is around half the price and half the weight of a folding bike of comparable quality, with significantly less maintenance involved in its upkeep, who could argue with that?

The folding mechanism of SwiftyONE has one clear advantage, that it can be rolled on its front wheel while folded. Its slim profile when folded is also particularly convenient for storage, both these factors are unrivalled by a folding bike.

Speed

The bicycle wins on speed – sure enough, the bicycle has a mechanical advantage. To that we say, take note the words of Mahatma Gandhi,

“There is more to life than increasing its speed”