One of the more frequently asked questions I hear is I want an electric skateboard, but am I allowed to ride it on the roads? The answer is not so straight forward – I’ve been using an electric skateboard on the roads for years no problems, but there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

Firstly safety is paramount. You need head, elbows and knee protection; you have to be competent on an electric skateboard and you must ride within your limits. When you ride on the road any accident you have can be really dangerous, so don’t skimp on the safety gear. It’s important to be completely comfortable and confident with your electric skateboard before you go near a road. Make sure you’ve had plenty of practice with that particular board and take the time to practice stuff like tight turns and emergency stops in the park. Being an experienced road user is also a big help, as you’ll be used to traffic flow and how to react to sudden situations.

In all the years I’ve been using my electric skateboard to commute to work I have been stopped a few times by police officers. They’re more interested in the bit of kit they’ve never seen before than anything else – remember most people aren’t used to seeing electric skateboards ripping down the road! Usually they just want to know what I’m riding and as long as I stop and have a chat with them they send me on my way. If a police officer does stop you, they’re probably just curious and once you’ve had a chat they won’t see a problem.

Boom Borda 2 Advanced

Boom Borda 2 Advanced Pro

Electric skateboards are a great way to commute and make short journeys – they’re eco-friendly, fast and way more fun than sitting on the Tube. If you want to start riding your board on the road, I recommend the Boom Borda 2 Advanced or the Boom Borda 2 Advanced Pro. They’re both fast, quick to charge and have a good range. On the road you need good responsive handling and both these boards are nice and manoeuvrable. The Boom Borda Advanced Pro also has a great lithium battery which makes it even lighter.