Mobility Scooters - MP's Urge Action

Trialia

But what happens in the case of Shopmobility, for example? Most of their branches ask you to prove you can operate the scooter safely before you can hire (or borrow, since Manchester city centre don't charge) one, but I don't have one of my own, so paying regular insurance and taking an official test to ensure I can use a hired one on the odd occasion, given my financial circumstances, would just mean I'd do more online shopping and stay in more.

I simply can't afford to do that, even with HRM because that actually goes towards my personal care since that is more expensive for me - I am on LRC, but was told by people who should certainly know that I ought to be eligible for middle rate, but didn't get it and don't have the energy to appeal that.

Also, I'm not eligible for a regular driving licence (mostly due to mental illness), so I don't know if I would be eligible for this, even though I'm one of the safer people I've known when it comes to operating a scooter, and can do very good three-point turns... I'm also on regular medication that, as Nilrem mentions, advises me not to drive or operate heavy machinery, except that it doesn't have much of an effect on me in that particular way anyway, unlike most people who would be taking it, because my opiate tolerance is freakishly high.

I hate having to stop short because a pedestrian decides to cross in front of me, but I always do it, even though it causes me noticeable pain to have to stop that quickly - it jerks at my back and shoulders.

I agree there should be some kind of test to prove you can actually control one of these things safely, but how would they go about that?

karatedragon

It says on that BBC article that they scooters weigh up to 150kg. I can well believe it. From what I see in my town the scooter weighs 5kg the rest is made up from the rider.

Heres an interesting rant on these things: http://www.whyihateeverything.co.uk/rants_peebz04.html

Trialia

karatedragon wrote: »

It says on that BBC article that they scooters weigh up to 150kg. I can well believe it. From what I see in my town the scooter weighs 5kg the rest is made up from the rider.

Heres an interesting rant on these things: http://www.whyihateeverything.co.uk/rants_peebz04.html

In response to that rant: I'm not old, I'm not obese, and if an aisle isn't wide enough for the scooter I'm using I either take a different route or I park the scooter, grab my cane and make my way down to whatever I need in the aisle on my own two feet.

I use a scooter when I have to go shopping in the city centre, generally because being on my feet for more than five to ten minutes causes me a great deal of pain, particularly if I have to stand still, because my hips try to dislocate, and I can only walk a certain distance. It gives me the freedom to explore a shopping centre and perhaps do price comparisons when I otherwise would have had to take the first thing I came across because I couldn't walk any further.

Oh, and on the last thing in that post: if I knock anything off the shelf, I damn well pick it up if I can get down there, or I find a salesperson, tell them about it and apologise for doing it!

Seriously, there are prats on and off scooters. This doesn't really have to do with the transport itself. For example, I've been run into far more times by people with pushchairs than by people on scooters. You just need a little bit of road sense - sadly it is not so common nowadays!

jazabelle

karatedragon wrote: »

Heres an interesting rant on these things: http://www.whyihateeverything.co.uk/rants_peebz04.html

Interesting? I think that is the most ignorant thing I've ever read.

Mobility scooters are hardly the height of glamour. I would never want to be on one, the only reason I have used one before is to access the town, which I would not be able to without. If the shops could accommodate them I would use them in there too, then perhaps I could go in more than two shops. Even with the scooter, by the time I popped into each shop I was in agony, exhausted and I had to go home. So I doubt there is load of people on scooters just for a laugh, there is a reason. "they’re not there to actually replace the need for !!!!ing WALKING!" Um, really? See, I thought they were this crazy invention for people that struggled to walk to allow them to get out the house. Obviously I've missed the point of them!

And strangely enough, fat people can be disabled for reasons unrelated to their weight. In fact, get a condition that limits your mobility and restricts the amount of exercise you can do, it can funnily enough cause weight gain. But instead of thinking that they may be in a difficult situation, they just label anyone larger as lazy.

LameWolf

Trialia wrote: »

Seriously, there are prats on and off scooters. This doesn't really have to do with the transport itself. For example, I've been run into far more times by people with pushchairs than by people on scooters. You just need a little bit of road sense - sadly it is not so common nowadays!

So true. What is sadly lacking with some of these people, it seems to me, is good old-fashioned courtesy.

jazabelle wrote: »

Interesting? I think that is the more ignorant thing I've ever read.

Mobility scooters are hardly the height of glamour. I would never want to be on one, the only reason I have used one before is to access the town, which I would not be able to without.

I think one only has to count the number of uses of the f-word to get an idea of the level of intelligence in that rant.

Suffice it to say that without my scooter, I'd have to give up dog-sitting, which would break my heart. I cannot walk to take a dog out, and having tried to take Molly-Dog with my ordinary wheelchair and become stranded because I didn't have the arm strength to get myself up a gentle slope.... well, I shan't try that trick again; it's lucky Mr LW was working from home that day, so was able to come and rescue me!:D

Oscar_The_Grouch

ramsas wrote: »

Fair comment and i take your point in full,maybe redress the balance by having the eyesight test based on age..has per driving licence?

I'm just worried about bringing mobility scooters in line with cars. A mobility scooter does, at best, 8mph (I know you can "adjust" them, but who does?). I know you don't generally get cars in towns nowadays, but the cyclists are on roads, in towns and in parks, but you don't even have to pass your cycling proficiency test nowadays to go out and get run over!!

karatedragon wrote: »

Heres an interesting rant on these things: http://www.whyihateeverything.co.uk/rants_peebz04.html

Everyone is entitled to have an opinion. My opinion of the author and their friend is that their nappies need changing and a soap mouthwash never hurt anyone but sometimes it's a good solution.

LameWolf wrote: »

Suffice it to say that without my scooter, I'd have to give up dog-sitting, which would break my heart. I cannot walk to talk a dog out, and having tried to take Molly-Dog with my ordinary wheelchair and become stranded because I didn't have the arm strength to get myself up a gentle slope.... well, I shan't try that trick again; it's lucky Mr LW was working from home that day, so was able to come and rescue me!:D

I know how you feel about the arm strength - I have a wheelchair because my legs give out but I have neck and shoulder problems too. Even on a good day I can't propel my own wheelchair!! We do have a self propel chair, but only because the larger wheels make it easier for Mrs Grouch to push it and also there's nothing worse than going shopping and having someone turn round and say "ooh look at this" when you're facing the wrong direction!!

sunnyone

Oscar_The_Grouch wrote: »

I'm just worried about bringing mobility scooters in line with cars. A mobility scooter does, at best, 8mph (I know you can "adjust" them, but who does?). I know you don't generally get cars in towns nowadays, but the cyclists are on roads, in towns and in parks, but you don't even have to pass your cycling proficiency test nowadays to go out and get run over!!



Everyone is entitled to have an opinion. My opinion of the author and their friend is that their nappies need changing and a soap mouthwash never hurt anyone but sometimes it's a good solution.



I know how you feel about the arm strength - I have a wheelchair because my legs give out but I have neck and shoulder problems too. Even on a good day I can't propel my own wheelchair!! We do have a self propel chair, but only because the larger wheels make it easier for Mrs Grouch to push it and also there's nothing worse than going shopping and having someone turn round and say "ooh look at this" when you're facing the wrong direction!!

Have you had a powerchair assessment?

Powerchairs arnt the solution for many situations and thats why I refused have one for a long time, the loading and transporting by car are the biggest hitch for me and it means that I cant go out alone but I couldnt go out in my manual alone either (you can have both manual and powerchair from the NHS, its not one or the other)

In my case I was a wheelchair user for many years and could manage some independance with my manual chair when I had full use of my arms/hands but since I developed a nasty strain of RA I cant self propel much at all, in fact just getting about upstairs is really hard and my powerchair has to live downstairs so thats no help.

jazabelle

sunnyone wrote: »

Have you had a powerchair assessment?

How do you get one, out of interest? Do you go through your GP, or someone else?

I'm just wondering if they would be open to someone having one for occational use. I'd want to keep hold of what mobility I have now around the home, and at work, but having a chair would mean access to much more, like shopping, visiting places I can't access now and other things. For example I'm going on holiday later in the year to a really nice part of the country, and I'm worried I'm only going to see if from a car.

What I mean is would the NHS expect you to use it 100% of the time, or say two-three times a week?

Do they fit in a car boot?

Just curious if anyone has had any experience with them!

jazabelle

LameWolf wrote: »

So true. What is sadly lacking with some of these people, it seems to me, is good old-fashioned courtesy.

I think one only has to count the number of uses of the f-word to get an idea of the level of intelligence in that rant.

Suffice it to say that without my scooter, I'd have to give up dog-sitting, which would break my heart. I cannot walk to talk a dog out, and having tried to take Molly-Dog with my ordinary wheelchair and become stranded because I didn't have the arm strength to get myself up a gentle slope.... well, I shan't try that trick again; it's lucky Mr LW was working from home that day, so was able to come and rescue me!:D

Yes, very true! It's just heartbreaking to see some people think like that in regards to disabled people.

Ooh, I wouldn't have the arm strength either, I know exactly what you mean. I'm very glad he could rescue you!

Exactly, and it's lovely to see you use your scooter in such a way that brings you such happiness. That's what a scooter is for, enabling people to live a normal life!

scroft21

hi

I am use a power wheelchair, which by the way is very different to a scooter. Basicly becasue power wheelchair have seating degin for the user which means sure the user can drive the chair safely.

One question I have about all the issus around driving test ect is how it would work with children? I heard about a hild as young as 11month who drive a power wheelchair ? Should their a lower limb If so what ? which basicly mean disability child can not have independance until than ?.

any through welcome ?

sarah