Scooters are a great way for kids to have fun, socialize with their friends, and enjoy the great outdoors with fresh air and exercise.
However, the sad truth is that we live in a world where people often take things that don’t belong to them. As a result, we must ensure we have measures to deter this behavior.
Nobody wants their scooter stolen, so we’ve written this guide to help you to understand how your child can lock their scooter and why they should do so.
Why Should You Lock Your Scooter?
There are plenty of reasons you should teach your child to lock their scooter, but there are primarily two. The first is for security reasons, and the second is as a life lesson.
Let’s look at these further.
Security
As we mentioned earlier, we are living in a world where people will take things that do not belong to them, and the chances are that you will not get your scooter back.
As scooters can be quite pricey, you do not want to have to fork out your hard-earned money for another scooter if you should not have to.
Not only due to thieves, but as scooters can look very similar to one another, a lock in place can differentiate from other scooter users – meaning your child’s scooter will not be taken by accident by another child.
Life Lessons
Drumming into your child the importance of locking their scooter is a very good life lesson. It teaches them to respect their property, especially when it is very valuable.
Not only this, but when your child grows up, they will need to understand security. They will need to remember to lock their school lockers, their cars, and their doors at home.
While these may seem a little different, it’s the same principle but transferred from one thing to another.
How Do You Lock A Scooter?
You must consider a couple of things before setting out and locking your scooter. Let’s examine some of these things to think about first.
Assess The Locking Points
You will first want to look for a secure locking point on your child’s scooter. Many scooters will still be insecure, even with a lock on them, as you can still remove other parts and take the rest of it.
You will see locking points of your scooter usually in three main areas:
- At the stem
- Through the folding mechanism
- Across the carry handle
While it might be tempting to place a lock on some other areas, you absolutely should avoid some. These include:
- Through a wheel that can be removed easily
- Around the handlebars
- Through removable or breakable areas
Get The Right Lock
Scooter locks will differ from bike locks or other types of locks. They’re designed specifically to keep your scooter safe and secure.
The locks you will be looking at are U-locks. They are generally made of hardened steel and resist many types of tools that can be used to remove them.
You’ll want to make sure you buy a U-lock that can withstand heavy hits. Some U-locks can easily be chopped by bolt cutters, so that makes them pretty much pointless.
There’s no value in purchasing a U-lock that can easily be removed, so ensure you buy a sturdy one.
Choose The Right Place
It’s all well and good having a fantastic lock, but if your child is locking their scooter in the wrong place, it might all be for nothing.
There are many places that have scooter “parking” areas. These lock racks are often reserved for bikes, but there’s nothing wrong with locking your scooter on them too.
Of course, the best places to do this are well-lit and preferably either have cameras or manned security, but if this is not available, then ensure your child is aware of how safe the area is.
It’s also important to teach your child about the weather. Scooters can deteriorate in some elements, and you don’t want your child to use a slippery scooter anyway.
So, ensure they try to lock their scooter in areas that are covered or purchase a scooter cover if necessary.
What Are Some Great Scooter Locks?
If you’re wondering what sort of locks will be good for your child’s scooter, we’ll give you some brief examples below that could help you out.
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1. Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboutit
This hardened U-lock is created with security in mind and can hold up against bolt cutters and hand tools.
It’s large enough to protect your child’s scooter whilst not too heavy for them to carry. It also comes with a few keys in case you need a replacement, or your child loses theirs.
2. Sigtuna Bike Lock
This lock designed for both bikes and scooters can protect your child’s scooter from theft whilst also looking pretty cool!
Instead of keys, it uses a combination locking system, so there’s no need to worry about your child losing their key.
Once again, this lock is designed to be theft-proof, giving people no chance with the use of hand tools and bolt cutters!
3. Master Lock 8170D U-Lock
Another great example of a U-lock for a scooter here, your child’s scooter will be super protected from thieves.
It comes with a carrier bracket, making things easier for your child to take with them!
Final Thoughts
It’s crucial that your child understands the importance of locking their scooter, but it’s also important that you buy them the right lock to do so.
As long as you have the right lock and your child locks the scooter in a secure place, everything should be fine!
Jump back over here for all our scooter gear-buying guides and advice
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