Kick scooter

File:1936 avril 7 Lismonde dessinant église de Diest (photo Léon van Dievoet) (cropped).jpg, Belgium, 1936. Photo by Léon van Dievoet.]]

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Kick scooters have been handmade in industrial urban areas in Europe and the United States since the 1920s or earlier, often as toys made for children to roam the streets.There is a scene of this in Fritz Lang's 1931 classic M. One common home-made version is made by attaching roller skate wheelsets to a board with some kind of handle, usually an old box.{{cite web|url=http://www.crazyskateboardinggames.com/tag/skateboarding|title=Skateboarding – Skateboarding Games|website=crazyskateboardinggames.com|access-date=2012-06-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527175032/http://www.crazyskateboardinggames.com/tag/skateboarding|archive-date=2012-05-27|url-status=dead}}{{unreliable source?|date=October 2018}} To turn, riders can lean or use a second board connected by a crude pivot. The construction was all wood, with 3–4 inch (75–100 mm) wheels containing steel ball bearings. An additional advantage of this construction was a loud noise, like from a "real" vehicle. An alternative construction consists of one steel clamp on a roller skate divided into front and rear parts and attached to a wood beam.

The German Bundesarchiv for "roller" details that both homemade and manufactured children's scooters were used and even raced in Paris, Berlin and Leipzig in 1930, 1948 and 1951.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} They are similar to later designs.

The short movie "A Trip Through the Streets of Amsterdam" from 1922 shows several children on scooters.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/Kh4eVoqUoXo Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20160202160639/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh4eVoqUoXo Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh4eVoqUoXo| title = 1922 – A Trip Through the Streets of Amsterdam (speed corrected w/ added sound) | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

In 1974, the Honda company made the {{ill|Kick 'n Go|ja|ローラースルーGOGO}}, a scooter driven by a pedal on a lever.{{cite web|url=http://hondaroots.com/2015/01/21/honda-kick-n-go-scooter/|title=Honda Kick-n-Go Scooter|website=Honda Kick-n-Go Scooter}} While it seemed to be as much effort to "kick" as a regular scooter, the novelty of it caught on and it became popular nevertheless.{{cite web |title=1974 Honda Kick 'N' Go |url=https://kickngo.weebly.com |website=Old Bike}}

Before bicycles became popular among children, steel scooters with two small bicycle wheels were more common. Around 1987, many BMX manufacturers produced BMX-like scooters, such as Scoot.GT [http://bmxmuseum.com/bikes/gt_bicycles/28678 Zoot Scoot], Mongoose [http://bmxmuseum.com/bikes/mongoose/37154 Pro Miniscoot], and SE Racing [http://bmxmuseum.com/bikes/se_racing/2076 Rad Scoot]. Those manufacturers discontinued their scooters, but some scooter manufacturers were established in later years and remain in business. These scooters are still used in dense urban areas for utility purposes, since they are faster than a folding scooter. Some are made for off-road use and are described as mountain scooters. In addition to commuting, sports competition, and off-road use, large wheel scooters are a favorite for dog scootering, an activity in which single or team dogs, such as huskies, pull a scooter and its rider in the same way that a sled is pulled across snow. Some Amish do not want to ride bicycles, so they ride scooters instead.{{cite web|url=http://amishamerica.com/how-do-amish-travel/|title=How do Amish travel?|website=amishamerica.com|date=23 August 2010 }} Today, variations on the kicksled with scooter design features are also available, such as the Kickspark.{{cite web |title=Kickbike Worldwide |url=https://kickbike.com/en/kickspark/kickspark-max.html |website=Kickspark MAX kicksled}}

{{Main|Kickbike}}

{{multiple image

| image1 = 2015 Toscana.jpg| caption1 = Modern kickbike

| image2 = 1924-71 Ladies Hobby Horse.jpg| caption2 =A similar vehicle had been produced by Denis Johnson in 1819 }}

The development of the kickbike in Finland in 1994 changed the way scooters are viewed.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} The Kickbike has a large standard size bicycle front wheel and a much smaller rear wheel, which allows for a much faster ride. The Footbike Eurocup has been held since 2001.{{citation|url=http://www.iksaworld.com/frame-eurocup-raceresults-2001.html |year=2001 |title=Eurocup race results |publisher=IKSA world |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713005824/http://www.iksaworld.com/frame-eurocup-raceresults-2001.html |archive-date=2011-07-13 }}.

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In 1990, a foldable aluminium scooter with inline skates wheels was created by Wim Ouboter{{Cite web|date=2011-07-07|title=Micro Mobility Systems:Realizing the Scooter Dream|url=http://www.ifpm.unisg.ch/org/ifpm/web.nsf/SysWebRessources/Realizing+the+Scooter+Dream/$FILE/Micro-Last2-e.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707004432/http://www.ifpm.unisg.ch/org/ifpm/web.nsf/SysWebRessources/Realizing+the+Scooter+Dream/$FILE/Micro-Last2-e.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-07 |access-date=2020-11-05}} of Micro Mobility Systems in Switzerland.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WeFf86-e7A |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/7WeFf86-e7A |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=The Micro Scooter History|date=15 December 2011|website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2002/mar/31/features.magazine137 | work = The Guardian | title = Inventor of the micro scooter | date = 2002-03-31}}.{{better source needed|date=December 2017}} The scooter was sold as "Micro Skate Scooter," "Razor," and "JDBUG/JDRAZOR MS-130A".{{citation|url=http://www.razor.co.jp/item.php?action=dt&no=10010&category=1 |title=JDRAZOR MS-130A |publisher=JD Japan |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831235000/http://www.razor.co.jp/item.php?action=dt&no=10010&category=1 |archive-date=2010-08-31 }}. The Razor was introduced to Japan in 1999, with many early adopters being young Japanese who used it for portable transport. It later became a worldwide fad and these small scooters also became popular toys for children.{{cite web|url=http://osdir.com/ml/culture.bicycle.birdybike.general/2000-05/msg00015.html|title=culture.bicycle.birdybike.general – Folding Scooter Story – msg#00015 – Recent Discussion OSDir.com|website=osdir.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320000400/http://osdir.com/ml/culture.bicycle.birdybike.general/2000-05/msg00015.html|archive-date=2012-03-20}} TurboAnt's folding scooters are known for their detachable battery designs. Its electric scooters have a range of between 18 and 30 miles. {{Cite web |title=X7 Pro electric scooter review |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/turboant_x7_pro_electric_scooter_review-news-45864.php |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=GSMArena.com |language=en-US}}

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Kick scooters used for extreme sport are called pro scooters. They are specially made to withstand damage as the rider performs stunts and tricks. Numerous brands specialize in stunt scooters and accessories including lightweight and high strength parts, helmets, pads, ramps, grind wax, griptape, grips, bearings and clothing.{{cite web |title=SkateHut |url=https://www.skatehut.co.uk/customer/aboutus |website=About Us |access-date=2019-09-04 |archive-date=2019-09-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904213056/https://www.skatehut.co.uk/customer/aboutus |url-status=dead }}

File:Early razor scooter.jpg|Early Razor scooter with 98 mm wheels

File:Early razor scooter folded.jpg|Folded Razor scooter

File:Little boy on mini micro 4731291463 806be59606 o.jpg|A Mini Micro scooter with three wheels

File:Xootrs at Williams jeh.JPG|Xootr scooters in the USA

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Three-wheeled scooters similar to tricycles have been produced for little children.{{cite web |title=Scooter Review Online |url=https://scooterreviewonline.com/best-3-wheel-scooters/ |website=Best 3 Wheel Scooters – Guide to Get the Right Model for kids and Adults!|date=26 June 2020 }}

In 1999, Micro Mobility Systems and K2 Sports produced a reverse-three-wheeled scooter called "Kickboard". Micro also produced the Kickboard-like children's scooters "Mini Micro" and "Maxi Micro". The reverse design inherently provides greater stability than the standard: a standing person will tend to stand at the front of a scooter rather than at the back. However, the steering geometry is inherently weak and requires design adaptation to improve its response. An example is the Mini Micro, which uses a spring-loaded system to translate lateral force on the handbars (child leaning) into turning motion on the wheels, referred by its makers as "lean and steer".

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The early scooters, which were made with roller skates, were four-wheeled like skateboards.

Around 2000, a Swiss company produced a four-wheeled scooter called the "Wetzer Stickboard". The Wetzer Stickboard was a narrow skateboard with a foldable pole on the nose.{{cite web|url=http://www.worldgooddesign.net/e/awards/reddot/0013-body.html|title=WGD /WGD Awards /red dot award|access-date=2010-12-03|archive-date=2011-07-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724133143/http://www.worldgooddesign.net/e/awards/reddot/0013-body.html|url-status=dead}}

In 2006, a company called Nextsport started producing a line of four-wheeled scooters, known as Fuzions. The scooters are typically bigger and heavier than Razor and Micro models. The early Fuzion models come with large, wide wheels, and an oversized deck for stability. Later scooters such as the Fuzion NX included smaller and harder wheels. It also included 360 degree handlebar spinning capabilities, unlike its predecessors.

{{Main|Motorized scooter}}

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Electric models achieved popularity over their gas-powered counter parts in the early 2000.{{cite news | title =The History of The Motorized Electric Scooter | url= https://www.myproscooter.com/history-of-the-motorized-scooter/ | date =February 2010 | access-date =December 4, 2018}} They are often manufactured for fleet rentals, such as Lime e-scooters. Shared electric kick scooters have also made a certain contribution to environmental protection, because they do not emit greenhouse gases, reduce traffic congestion and reduce the need for public transportation, however they are most sustainable when they are "replacing personalized individual transport".{{Cite web |last=Delgado |first=Carla |date=2023-08-07 |title=Shared E-scooters Can be Sustainable - but There's a Catch |url=https://www.popsci.com/environment/e-scooter-sustainability-micromobility/ |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=Popular Science |language=en-US}} Electric scooters are also available for personal use, with manufacturers such as TurboAnt offering models designed for individual ownership.

Care must be taken when going up or down curbs, as this can cause the scooter to come to a sudden stop, sending the rider onto the ground.

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• Electric skateboard
• Freestyle scootering
• Wiggle scooter
• ABEC scale

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