Use of a mobility scooter

I sent an email to my MP and I received a novella 48 hours later. He apologised that he hadn't written sooner and like me, you are probably unaware that we will receive the WFA provided we do not earn more than £35K!!!

Then he covered the NHS, discussing how much has been achieved and how much he cares about the elderly and disabled, emphasising the importance of staying independent.

He did not once mention my concern or the state of the roads and pavements here, where we both live. It really was funny.

Time where I live, there are few houses with a driveway, dropped or not.

If I left my scooter in my allocated car park space, suitably covered and secured, Somebody would remove it. It would not be safe in my locked shed. Somebody broke in a couple of years ago and stole cut tiles, which would only be suitable for my kitchen and bathrooms.

Just to add my 5 eggs to the mix, if you are travelling by scooter on the pavements, do be aware that you may not hear an electric vehicle coming out of a drive, and you may not be able to see them either. I very nearly met my maker like this one day. The driver was reversing out of his drive, he didn't see me, and I didn't see or hear him, suddenly he was moving toward me rapidly, thankfully I had my wits about me at the time, flicked onto full speed (8mph) and just managed to get out of the way, while screaming my head off. It was a VERY daunting experience, and I did make a point of raising it on our local 'Nextdoor' website, just to make both drivers and scooter owners aware that this can be a problem. Now I slow down just a little as I approach each driveway, which can be a pain, but is a necessity if riding on the kerb. Now, when I'm riding around the quieter roads where we live, I tend to ride on the road, and only mount the kerb when I need to travel alongside a busy road. Stay safe ladies (& gents if there are any on the thread).

I applied for and got the AA. I am a past master at filling in these forms but it was around 30+ pages from memory.

These firms could make a fortune if they developed a robust scooter, one that is not a Class Three, can mount the kerb, and cope with our uneven pavements. Surely not beyond the realms of possibility.

Just want to point out, in response to a previous post, that eligibility for PIP ends at State Pension Age. However, you can apply for Attendance Allowance.

I have been toying with the idea of a mobility scooter for ages but I was a bit nervous. Now I'm scared! I don't want to tip up or run someone over. Also, I was thinking of one of the folding models but it sounds like they're not very good on pavements.

I also hired one from my local shopping centre. They had 3 for hire. (Free) Wow it was so badly maintained it frightened the life out of me. I complained, but it seems nothing was done to rectify it.
In contrast I hired from a bigger town a few miles away. What a difference, a whole line of well maintained scooters ready to go. Still free to hire..the shopping centre was all level and easy to get round. If only I lived nearer.

sazz please credit me with some intelligence! I was a driver until this month and I stopped wherever to look both ways. I will also be using my arms to indicate right and left.

When I am walking in town I do not breeze across a road without looking both ways.

Please even if you are at a zebra crossing look both ways before crossing the road. We had one person just ride up the road and straight onto the crossing without looking. It's a 40mph road so not easy to just stop quickly. Luckily we were only doing 30 at the time. Best wishes ❤️

I have just returned from a local mobility store, and no scooter has been made that meets the requirements: it must be a Class 2, mount a kerb, and be easily transported.

I have bought one which is new to the market and ticks many boxes. I can fold and carry it, but it is heavy, so it would only be over a doorstep.

Bits are bright orange so they are easily seen. A ridiculous basket on the front would hold a bottle of water or a small handbag. It is not as comfortable as my present one but I am not going far.

My handbag weighs more than the battery. It plugs into the handlebars, and I could easily remove the battery for charging.

Just a thought which may interest some, my friend across the road has had an electric hoist fitted in her car boot.
It cost more than the scooter but she is very happy with it.
She can go out on her own without help.
Only drawback is it takes up all the space in the boot so she is limited when going away as to luggage and how many passengers she can take.

I think as suggested that a conversation with your local councilor would be best. In this town we have many, many mobility scooters and 2 shops selling them. A number of people do go on the roads and it frightens the life out of me as a motorist. We have as many other towns, some very fast drivers who think the one way system is a race track. Please do take care and take the safest route.

We're in a block of flats for the over 55s and they have a charging point and parking space in the garden beside the front door. Thank god because we live on the first floor and I wouldnt fancy lugging that battery up a flight of stairs to charge.

I live in London and in this area few have the luxury of a driveway, dropped or not. I am going to get a bollard fitted to my allocated car park space and possibly attach the scooter to it, and then only take the battery indoors to charge.

There is no space outdoors for a mini shed and nowhere for an electric charging point.

I have sent emails to my MP (a waste of space), one out of two councillors and the fellow at the council who deals with dropped pavements. With luck somebody will reply before Christmas. I cannot find local disability groups but that is next.

I never envisaged it would be such a nightmare to buy a loaf of bread.

I am reading your thread with interest Charleygirlas a relative has just become a mobility scooter rider.
I admire all of you who are keeping your freedom to go out even though it seems it is not made easy.
Good Luck with the Council Charley, persevere. 💐

Does it have. Removable battery . I leave mine outside under a cover and just take battery in to charge it . Or can you get an outside electric point put in . Or if you charge during the day can you put an extension cable out of a window so the scooter stays outside .

Hi bus essential mine has flashing lights .
I also have a bike reflector stick so if I go in the road they will take a wide birth . I don’t have any paths outside my house I do have to go in the road a bit and the paths I can use are quite overgrown.

Contact your local social services and tell them you need help with getting it into your premises. If you are a rented property, then contact your council housing dept too.

While you are not disabled per se, do Google for local help organisations who will have more local options for getting your pavements sorted. Roads (including pavements) are your county council.

If you are now unable to wholly manage, then please do go for PIP - there is a mobility element - and "frailty" is a minor qualifier. It is not means tested. But do get help filling it in, as it is a bit of a minefield (e.g can you walk 100 yds unaided - if you say yes on a good day, or yes, but I get breathless, they take it as yes - the answer is no, not without resting and not on a bad day)

If you have room out front, consider getting a "shed" for your scooter, as they make quite a mess, especially in the wet.

I concur about visibility - I bought my brother flashing lights and a bike safety flag.

Scooters are not as robust as you might think, so if you are planning shopping then get a basket properly fitted, as even a 4 pint of milk can break the seat or the handlebar cover.

Well I for one would not be without my mobility scooter. I live in a large village and go everywhere on mine. Shopping (always put your scooter at half speed if taking it into a shop), to the park, events that are held in the village, visit my friend who lives approx 1.5 miles away, hairdressers, bingo, social club, library etc. Luckily though I do not have problems with dropped kerbs as only on rare occasions are they not available. Charleygirl5 How about using the dropped kerb that leads to a persons drive. Drive down one, cross the road and use another persons dropped kerb on the opposite side of the road to get back onto the pavement. I thank goodness for my mobility scooter as otherwise I would be stuck at home and it gives me a bit of independence. People are so nice and helpful too. If you are considerate and careful when using a scooter yourself then I find people are too. Yes, there are times when a car/van is parked on the pavement, wheelie bins are in your way, kids leave their bikes in the way and it's a squeeze to get passed, just move them if you can but I'll manage if it means I can get out and about. I hardly use my car now just my scooter and yes, I also have one that breaks down into four parts to put in a boot of a car for when I go on holiday/garden centre/visit family miles away. Charleygirl5 DO NOT attempt to go up or down kerbs this would certainly break your scooter and would be very unsafe for you. I'm not sure how you will manage with kerb ramps on your scooter unless they fold up and can perhaps be put into a large shopping bag which could then be hung onto the handles (but again this would depend how heavy the ramps are). I do hope you will give it a try and enjoy finding the best possible routes suitable for you.

I agree, my local shopping centre hires out mobility scooters for £5, which covers each visit.. My problem is that it has been totally pedestrianised and I cannot walk there, and cars are out of the question. My bank is there but little else as it caters for late teens and early twenties mainly.

My mother used to get a taxi to the town and hire a mobility scooter there. Our local large stores have mobility scooters in the shops you can use. This applies to Sainsbury’s ,Asda and Tesco if you can get a taxi there.Out of interest our local NT and country parks have Trampers to use if you go out with friends. Not a solution for your dropped curbs but it might be a way of getting out

I agree, the state of the pavements is a disgrace, but I would quite like to be able to mount one first!

Be wary of those rather expensive scooters, that fold in one go using a hand control.. Problem is they are then pretty heavy to lift as folded includes the battery. Whilst they may be light weight scooters, still much to heavy for many of to pick up to put into a car.

When my daughter who does take me out and folds my scooter went to purchase her latest car, she looked very hard for cars that have no lips into the boot. That does make it a lot easier to get scooter or my wheelchair in and out

The condition of pavements are shocking. When I am going on a long journey by bus or train I use my electric wheelchair. They are wonderful for getting on and off buses, etc. but I feel so very unsafe in it on narrow pavements, so nervous that I can actually be tipped off the kerb into the road.

I think every local Councillor should be required to have one day a year in which they have to get round their own Ward using mobility aids.

Not immediately helpful to you Charleygirl5, but I recenty got a mob scooter too and didn't realise for one minute the problems I would have! As you say, narrow pavements/bushy hedges/parked car noses poking out of gardens/ and either dropped kerbs in wrong place or blocked by cars parked in every space bigger than 8". This is a wee rural town with streets full of wee Victorian cottages and built for the day when nobody had a car at all. I find it nerve wracking taking the bloody thing out at all!

I have sent an email to my council, but it was in the form of feedback because they are only interested in dropping the kerb in front of my house to make money, which I do not need. I may later, but I am trying to keep costs down at present.

I am so grateful for all of the sensible emails. I do not want, nor could I afford, to buy and store a Class Three, which has all the bells and whistles.

In my research for a scooter for DH (as mentioned earlier) I have found several online that come into pieces that I'm sure I can manage to lift into the car boot. On a recent holiday I had to lug a suitcase that was heavier than the heaviest part of a scooter into the car boot and managed it okay. But how stable it might be on the pavement is another matter.

The lightweight scooters are fine for certain situations, like round town or a shopping centre with flat tiled floors.
They are far too flimsy for pavements or cobbled areas.
Also we have seen the small wheels get stuck fast in ruts which need a strong person to pull it out.
I have often felt I will be tipped out and my scooter is reasonably sturdy.
My friend and I hired from Ableworld in a costal town.
They were excellent, 8mph and a long distance on one battery charge.
However they are expensive to buy and will not come apart for transporting.
Mine will go in a car in 4 pieces but only by a capable very strong person.
It really is a difficult choice to make, not made easy by unsuitable terrain.