Mobility Scooters

[sunny-dave]

A blessing or a nuisance?

Increasing independence or encouraging idleness and a dependence on the scooter?

There are very few scooters anywhere else in Europe (I've been in Ireland, Spain and Portugal recently and you could count the scooters on the fingers of one hand). Those that there are, are being used by people who are demonstrably unable to walk (eg by reason of missing legs) or have something like motor neurone disease.

I know that not all disabilities are obvious (believe me I do) - but have we bred a culture where the scooter is a first rather than a last resort?

The safety issue worries me too, in my neck of the woods, badly driven Mobility Scooters are a fecking menace - I think the whole law surrounding them needs tightening up. Not necessarily to prevent anyone using them, but to ensure the safety of other pavement and shop users.

Restrict the dratted things to 3mph (which is still better than parity with other pedestrians) and insist on proper training/licensing/insurance - with a damn great ID plate so that the user can be found and prosecuted for dangerous driving - I know two people who have been quite badly injured by a scooter, which then departed the scene without a 'sorry', let alone any recompense.

[Svejk]

I'm inclined to agree with everything you say,d.

[woofgang]

Difficult one Dave. I think part of the problem is that they are trying to do two jobs. They aren't only instead of being able to walk short distance, round here they are used as an alternative to busses, pushbikes and cars for people who want to travel longer distance...not miles and miles but say a mile there and a mile back again.....but they aren't really safe on the roads and aren't safe for others on the pavement. I do agree about proper ID and insurance. Part of my job used to be offering advice to people about what they should buy, if anything and we always talked about the road/pavement issues and the importance of being properly insured. Maybe a way forward could be to control more tightly the larger more powerful road worthy vehicles and insist that they are used on the road only, and lay a lighter hand on the vehicles for using on the pavement but govern them down to a walking pace? In either case i think a test of controlling the vehicle would be a good idea. We used to "kind of" do that for our patients, taking them out in the kind of vehicle they were thinking of around a fairly tricky route around the hospital where the trial vehicles were stored. mostly of they weren't going to manage they scared themselves enough to decide not to buy, occasionally we had to have a "conversation" but not often.
Its also sad because round here they really do contribute to independent living for many people and without them they would have to leave their own homes.

[mallyh]

i got knocked into a card rack by a woman on a scooter no apology just a look that said your fault .(it was pre hips operation so i was in a lot of pain)

[tonyav]

And so do I, also I wish they'd mark the electric scooter grand prix track in my local Tesco with a bit more care !.

[black_cat51]

the problem is the shopmobility type of scooter - some need you to show you can control it, others you just sign up and off you go

[mackfender]

I have used a mobility scooter for over 5 years and have never knocked anyone down. I use it on low speed when on pavements. 8 mph scooters have to be registered with Dvla and issued with registration number. Oddly enough, you don't have to display it, even when on the road. I appreciate that there are a lot of rouge riders and not always of the younger age.I cannot walk more than 10 yards without serious pain. I would love to be able to walk freely and save myself around £ 5000 for this machine.
More legilation is needed. It IS an offence to use a mobility scooter when not registered disabled, something that is never checked on.
However, some of us are quite responsible and safe.

[black_cat51]

"It IS an offence to use a mobility scooter when not registered disabled"

what a load of twaddle

[mackfender]

@ wolfgang
Every large scooter is fitted with a 2 was switch - 4mph and 8mph, but many do not use this on pavements.

[mackfender]

@black cat
Go on the Dvla website and look under Mobility scooters.

[UKSWF]

I suffer from chronic back pain myself and as my condition is worsening I am considering getting a scooter as I can no longer walk around shops or take my dog out, is that so wrong because my condition can deteriorate during any outdoor activity, my disability is not visual so I get bad looks when I park in disabled spaces even though my blue disabled badges are visible.

[Daffy6543]

I have been advised to get a scooter, my vanity and the fact I think I would feel an idiot on one are what have stopped me having a look into it. I also live in a house where I would have nowhere to store one even if I could get the bloody thing up the front step.

[mackfender]

When you get a scooter, you immediately become a third class citizen in many peoples eyes. If they cannot see what's wrong with you, then it doesn't exist.

[Zacs-Master]

And Madge off Benidorm hasn't helped.

[ummmm]

There's a loony round here that drives hers in the middle of the road and she does not care one iota about the cars behind her.

[margie04]

Hallo daffy, I haven't seen you posting for a while and wondered how you were. If I remember correctly, you (like me) suffer from COPD.
Have you considered the folding scooters? A neighbour would surely lift it inside for you - if you could cope with the folding mechanism!

[starone]

I use a shopping basket on wheels for shopping, a triangular shaped walking aid if I am walking a short distance with no shopping and a walking stick to go across the road, to my friend's house. I have contemplated buying a scooter but have decided against it for the following reasons -
1. I would lose the use of my legs and
2. I reckon I would be a danger to myself and to others.
And that just about sums it up!

[mackfender]

I use my scooter on the road when I need to. I was a car driver for quite a few years and quite knowledgeable with road laws, but find cars drive within two yards of my scooter desperatly trying to get round. Shouts of abuse are quite common.

[mackfender]

@Daffy
Ramps are available, although a bit expensive. I had a friend make on for me using some decent wood. It has lasted for years now.

[DrFilth]

mackfender > .I cannot walk more than 10 yards without serious pain. <

>"It IS an offence to use a mobility scooter when not registered disabled" <

mackfender we must have different rules in the manchester area because welfare rights said to me if you can walk more than a couple of steps forget the dla

i see people with cars and a blue badge who walk much better than me when i go to asda and wonder how they get them with the new atos tests

[Daffy6543]

Hi, Margie, yes I have COPD, I also have post thoracotomy pain after major lung surgery 10 years ago which has left me with nerve damage in my ribcage. I don't get on with the neighbours either side, they would probably stand and laugh if they saw me trying to lift a scooter into the house. A ram is also out of the question as I live in an on street terraced house.