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| | Choosing a Scooter |  |
There are many points to consider when you are thinking of getting a mobility scooter.
- People with visual, perceptual or learning difficulties should seek medical advice because, as mobility scooter users, they will have responsibility for the safety of other road and pavement users.
- Consider where and when you will need to use a mobility scooter, and the distance you’ll need to cover. For example, is it mainly for visiting friends, getting round the shops, walking the dog?
- Think about your own size, shape, weight and any specific medical problems you may have. Scooters have weight limits; generally, the larger the scooter, the heavier the occupant it can accommodate. For some people seat position, suspension or the position of controls will be important factors.
- Carefully consider your own environment. You might live in a town where there are a lot of kerbs to climb, or you might live in an area where there are many uneven surfaces to negotiate or hills to ascend. This will obviously have a bearing on the type of mobility scooter you choose and its capabilities.
- Will you need to transport the mobility scooter in a car, or take it on public transport? If this is the case, then a portable mobility scooter is recommended. These can be dismantled to fit in a car’s boot. They are smaller and lighter but can be less comfortable and less versatile.
- Where will you store it at home, and where will you charge the batteries? A secure and waterproof storage space is needed, with access to a power point for charging the battery. A garage is ideal, but for some this is not an option. If you need to take your mobility scooter indoors, you may need access ramps. Be mindful of the width of doors and the space required to store the scooter out of people’s way.
- What is your price range? Remember to include the cost of insurance, ongoing maintenance, accessories and replacement batteries and parts.
Mobility Scooter Information
There are three kinds of invalid carriage according to highway regulations.
- Manual wheelchairs are designated Class 1
- Class 2 category encompasses all powered wheelchairs and scooters that are used on the pavement, to a maximum speed of 4mph. These may not be used on the road itself except on pedestrian and zebra crossings.
- Class 3 denotes powered chairs and scooters for use on the road, to a maximum speed of 8mph. Since they are used on the road, they are required to have indicators, hazard lights, front and rear lights, a horn and rear view mirror. They are not, however, classified as motor vehicles so do not need to be taxed and insured (though insurance is advisable). Furthermore, a driving licence is not needed to operate one.
Mobility scooters are not permitted on motorways, cycle lanes or bus lanes.
A mobility scooter is a mobility aid similar to a wheelchair but configured like a scooter, sometimes referred to as a Power operated vehicle, scooter, or electric scooter.
A mobility scooter has a seat over two rear wheels, a flat area for the feet, and handlebars in front to turn one or two steerable wheels. The seat may swivel to allow access when the front is blocked by the handlebars. Assistive and small sit-down motor scooters provide important advantages to people with mobility problems throughout the world.
Mobility scooters are usually electric-powered. A battery or two is stored onboard the scooter, and is charged via an onboard or separate charger unit from standard electric outlets. Gasoline-powered scooters are also available, though they are rapidly being replaced by electric models.
A scooter is useful for persons without the stamina or arm/shoulder flexibility necessary to use a manual wheelchair. Also, swivelling the seat of an electric scooter is generally easier than moving the foot supports on most conventional wheelchairs.
A mobility scooter is very helpful for persons with systemic or whole-body disabling conditions (coronary or lung issues, some forms of arthritis, etc.) who are still able to stand and walk a few steps, sit upright without torso support, and control the steering tiller.
A main selling point of the electric scooter is that it does not look like a wheelchair, which many people see as a sign of old age. However, as increasing numbers of elderly persons choose mobility scooters, the scooter is now developing its own reputation, at least among the able-bodied, as a geriatric item. Mobility scooters are generally more affordable than powered wheelchairs.
While a mobility scooter eliminates much of the manual strength problems of an unpowered wheelchair, its tiller steering mechanism still requires upright posture, shoulder and hand strength, and some upper-body mobility and strength. Other drawbacks of mobility scooters are their longer length, which limits their turning radius and ability to use some lifts or wheelchair-designed access technologies such as bus lifts. Scooters also have fewer options for body support, such as head or leg rests. They are rarely designed for ease of patient transfer from seat to bed. These limitations prevent some disabled individuals from using scooters.
Types of Mobility Scooter
Portable Mobility Scooters
These are ideal for people who need to travel, by car or other method, to the place their mobility scooter will be used. The batteries are necessarily smaller than average and hence have a more limited range between charges (typically around 10 miles). The scooter chassis, battery pack and basket can be separated for storage during transport, the chassis often capable of being dismantled into smaller parts. The rear section, containing the motor, is generally the heaviest component. Solid tyres are normally used on portable scooters, to avoid punctures.
Mid Size Scooters
These are larger and more comfortable than portable scooters, with larger batteries that permit around 20 miles of travel between charges. They are ideal for people who do not need to transport their scooter, although some mid size models can be dismantled with a tool kit if absolutely necessary. Pneumatic or in-filled tyres tend to be employed on mid size scooters; the former provide a more comfortable ride over uneven ground but have the disadvantage of being liable to puncture or lose pressure.
Class 3 Mobility Scooters
Class 3 mobility scooters are allowed to travel on the roads at speeds of up to 8 mph, so they come with all the lights, indicators and mirrors required. They are particularly useful if you live in an area with uneven terrain or insufficient pavements, as they have a better suspension than smaller models. Their larger batteries lend them a greater range but they are mostly too bulky and heavy to transport unless you have a large van with ramps. Their size and weight also make them less manoeuvrable than smaller models.
Mobility Scooter Components
Mobility scooters operate by a key ignition, as in a motor car, and are driven by use of a thumb control on the handlebars (commonly known as a “wig-wag”). The forward control is usually on the right handlebar and the reverse control on the left, but this arrangement can normally be changed if you find it easier the other way round, for example if you are left-handed. The front part of the mobility scooter, or tiller, can be adjusted to bring the controls closer to the user if necessary, in all but the most basic portable models.
Mobility scooters have either three or four wheels. Three-wheeled models tend to be more manoeuvrable but those with four wheels have the benefit of being extra stable when climbing kerbs or turning sharply. Most seats on scooters are capable of swiveling to allow the user to get on and off more easily, and have some adjustable components such as armrests and seat height. Generally, the larger the scooter, the more comfortable and adjustable is the seat. Seat position, seat back angle and headrest can be altered on more deluxe models.
Two 12 volt rechargeable batteries are used to power a mobility scooter, though the batteries’ output (measured in ampere hours) varies greatly from model to model. The brakes are electro-magnetic and act on the scooter’s motor whenever the wig-wag is released. However, the brakes can be overridden by a freewheel lever that allows the scooter to be pushed manually when necessary. Some larger scooters have an emergency brake mounted on the handlebars but it is by no means essential.
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