Do you find mobility scooters a nuisance?

I think mobility scooters have something of a reputation for a variety of reasons. I’m a wheelchair user and when I used a scooter I found that people were much less respectful. I do find that people tend to walk into the wheelchair a lot more - usually because they’re too busy looking at their phones, and I’m careful in supermarkets because people tend to step backwards from the shelves straight into me. Despite this, I’ll stick with the wheelchair every time.

They are a wonderful help to people who can't otherwise get out and about much. So let's be tolerant. I agree that there are some careless drivers of them, but most are fine. I see them regularly here and just think how nice it is for those who need them.
I do realised that it must be more difficult in city or town centres with bigger populations and therefore more crowded streets.

I have no doubt that mobility scooters are godsend to those that need them but my issue is the speed . Is there any reason why they have to go so fast ?
pedestrians have very few "rights" these days so with bikes, motorised scooters and e scooters sharing pavements, my question is where are pedestrians able to walk safely?

I’m not rattled by people using mobility scooters who through no fault of their own, find themselves in need of them, but rather by morbidly obese people (and not elderly) who have brought this sad situation on themselves.

My mother-in-law has insurance but chose one that is pavements only. It has two "gearings" fast and slow selected by a switch. Obviously she can accelerate and stop etc on either set of gearings - maybe the pavement ones should just be made slower? That might work...

Should have been registration with DVLA

I think a point that some are missing.
By the time some people need a mobility scooter they have other health issues which makes their reaction time etc not so good such as early stage dementia
Perhaps there should be a scheme to educate, something like the old cycling proficiency scheme
It would make family more aware before purchasing a scooter if there was greater emphasis on regulation with the DVLA and compulsory insurance. Mine was only about £45 per year Yes I have just asked my husband if mine was registered and apparently it was

Well reading these replies has made me feel easier in my experiences. As I said, i drive like a snail and am 100% curious to other.

I can but agree with comments on the erratic behaviour of some drivers, they obviously don't give a hoot to others or how they are perceived.

I have made my scooter a fancy basket cover and i have number plates for her hahahaha.

People are brilliantly kind and friendly, but have encountered the odd 1 or 2 with faces like slapped ar**

I have no problem with mobility scooters per se. Any problem seems to lie with the riders and sellers. There appears to be no control (if that’s the right word) on who can purchase them and if they have any appreciation of the ‘rules of the road’, as they are often sold to complete novices. An old chap I know, who broke his hip, bought one second hand, but his son supervised him until he was competent. Sadly, he now has dementia, but still wants to be out and about in the scooter - thankfully, his sensible son now has the key, otherwise it’s just an accident waiting to happen.
It’s extremely sad when someone’s mobility is so compromised that the only solution to getting out is one of these machines, but like driving a car, I feel there should be a ‘test’ of some kind and they should carry some form of insurance.

If I ever have to give up my car, I will purchase a scooter and ask for a lesson on how to use it. I think I might wear a cycling helmet even if it makes me look odd.

Mine looked like a motor bike and on one occasion got called a biker chick. Said in a way I didn’t think of it as sarcastic or patronising
I am back driving my car now and I like to think I was a considerate scooter driver
Actually I miss some of the social side of being out on my scooter

I think the ones that look like a motorbike are generally driven pretty well. I think they are generally chosen by younger men who probably have been bikers and still have an agile brain and quick response time. I think they are more aware of people around them.

The ones (two in my town) that I dislike are driven by people who think they own the whole pavement, all the shopping aisles, the gaps between market stalls, the whole of any "sale" line, the whole of the library etc. They just keep going in a scary focused way so you are run over or "clipped" by them. If you aren't super-fast they shout at you to "move".

My mother-in-law likes her shiny scooter but inspite of her advanced years (99) only uses it when she needs to go to several places in one trip. She is fortunate that she can still walk and does so mainly with a rollator. If she takes her scooter she parks it outside shops and uses her stick(s) to negotiate the aisles. She said she finds it difficult to be as careful as she feels she needs to be in a confined area if she'son her scooter.
I think not so many people feel like this and believe they have a right to just plow on.

If everyone was like the considerate drivers I don't think anyone would have a problem.

Don’t knock mobility scooters
If you are going to complain about anything it’s individual drivers
No one would globally criticise bikes or cars
When I had serious mobility issues I used a large road worthy scooter
It was insured which is not compulsory but I think it should be
Regarding the comment of ignoring the drivers I found that people would acknowledge me much in the same way as walking Actually got to meet local people I would not have in my car
It was fantastic gave me some independence could visit friends for a cuppa get out for lunch with the girls
Even get out with my small group of walking friends on quiet lanes etc
On the other hand using my manual wheelchair I found people talked down to me or spoke to my husband
When driving it myself in supermarkets I was game for wayward trolleys even when very much keeping to the edges

It is like any form of personal transport, it all depends on the driver and just as there are really bad selfish car drivers, some people using mobility scooters are selfish and careless scooter drivers.

The other problem is to do with the size of the scooter. Just as some 4x4 cars are the size of a lorry, need two parking places and are driven by loud arrogant people, who think the world owes their 'car' space to do whatever they want , so there is a category of mobility scooter owners, mainly men, who buy the scooter equivalent of a huge 4x4 - and think that they and their vehicle should have priority at all times and in all places. They block supermarket aisles and drive everyone on the pavement in their way into the road.

How I react to mobility scooters, tends to vary with size. people on small ones appear to me like ordinary pedestrians and i treat them as such, but as the scooter gets bigger, I become more wary, and when I see those huge ones with the kind of bodywork means the owner can pretend he is on a high power motorbike, then i hate them and their arrogant owners, because owners of that kind of huge scooter, is arrogant or they would not have bought such a huge space grabbing vehicle in the first place.

One of the problems I found, when I bought my mum a scooter, is that to stop it she had to take her hands off the lever. Fine when we were practising in a car park, but when she had to stop once we were out an about, her driving instinct kicked in, and she was pressing her foot to the imaginary brake pedal, and with her bicycling instinct, gripping harder on the imaginary cycle brakes so not stopping at all!

I wonder how many other users have similar problems, accounting for what may appear to be rudeness?

Not all need to be registered, only those which are allowed to go on the road.
Class 2 mobility scooters must not exceed 4 mph and may not use the road and do not need to be registered.
www.gov.uk/mobility-scooters-and-powered-wheelchairs-rules

Good grief. Why do people use them so erratic! They are an absolute Godsend to give independence to those who would otherwise find it impossible, but some seem to abuse them and draw the wrong attention.
I really do thank you for your replies. 😃

JamesandJon33

People around here seem to think it fine to use the road. A it dangerous for all.

Unfortunately they are legal to use on the road, although it must be registered with the DVLA. I wonder how many are.

My sister was pinned against a wall inside an optician’s by a lady on a mobility scooter that she had little to no control over. She was extremely lucky to escape with just bruises and no broken bones. Mum and I witnessed a lady lose control of her scooter and demolish a shop display down my road, hence I now give them a wide berth.

No, I can’t say any of them have ever bothered me.

There is a man in my local city who races around on his yelling hello to people, especially round the cathedral close ... he is having a jolly time but others are a bit unnerved by it.

I was going to say the same as bluebelle

It’s funny though I will say good morning to a passing pedestrian but not to someone on a mobility scooter, apart from one chap months ago. He looked very happy and his scooter looked all shiny and new so I couldn’t help but acknowledge him. Normally I think I don’t acknowledge anyone using a scooter because I think of them as being a driver and therefore needing to concentrate on what they are doing.

Don’t feel bad about using yours Serendipity when used properly they are a wonderful invention, but as always it’s the folk that go OTT and use them like cars on the pavement

Yes, I can but agree. I drive like a snail and ALWAYS stop to let people get past ( if there is an obstruction )

Your points are precisely what i mean by me feeling uneasy using mine, some people treat them as dodgem carts ( sorry if i spelt dodgem wrong, never had the need to write it haaaa )

I take mine on weekends away with my GC and yes they did take in turns to sit with me on it, but as i say, it was all done at a snails pace.

Thank you for your replied, appreciated.

👩‍🦼

Mobility scooters and electric bicycles are used on pavements here.
I'm wary as they could cause injury if used incorrectly.