About mobility "scooters"

[artme]

Apparently Hervey Bay is Mobility"scooter"central. I gues that figures as this place is often called God's waiting room!

Well I have no doubt that many people need these, but I am heartily sick of the number of users who have no regard
for others and, in some cases, no self respect.

Went to the bank one morning before opening time. There were 2 people in front of LOML and I Eventually there were
7 people standing there and #8 arrived on his scooter. He sat back at the verandah post chatting to a couple of the others
but the second the door was opened he was out of that vehicle like Hec Hogan and first through the door!! Bloody amazing!!

Another case: I'm walking across a pedestrian crossing, staying to one size and this rude old bugger roared up behind me
beeping the horn!! There was plenty of room for him, and at least one other, on the crossing to get around me.

I've also been abused by awoman going through a roundabout as if she was Jack Brabham!!

And we hear the constant cry that young people have no manners!!

[Scott]

Just about every person I've seen riding those things is obese, sorry to say. Walking never hurt anyone. As they say, use it or lose it.

[SAISAY]

Just about every person I've seen riding those things is obese, sorry to say. Walking never hurt anyone. As they say, use it or lose it.

Callous remark
It certainly does, if your hips, knees or back are worn out.
I sure wish I could afford one.

[arose62]

Just about every person I've seen riding those things is obese, sorry to say. Walking never hurt anyone. As they say, use it or lose it.

Ditto on the callous, unthinking comment!

My 88 y.o. dad, whose knees are totally stuffed, and whose heart wouldn't survive a knee replacement op., loves and loathes his scooter.
It gives him mobility, but he would rather have functional knees.

[Scott]

Sure, it's a callous comment but why should I beat around the bush? I'm all for these scooters for individuals who have a genuine disability. But why shouldn't we discuss obesity in the same breath as mentioning mobility scooters?

Secondly, have you seen how BIG and FAST those things go? Users are driving them FULL PELT through shopping centres, along footpaths and anywhere else which has a smooth surface. Why do motorised WHEELCHAIRS for the DISABLED go slower?

I read an article in the paper the other day that the width of seats on mobility scooters has had to be expanded because people are getting bigger. In the U.S. McDonalds are building specific drive-thru lanes for Mobility Scooters.

Obesity is an epidemic. Obese are using these scooters.

What I'm really saying is that the incidence of mobility scooters is a sign of the times, especially where obesity is concerned. I'm not going to sugar coat the use of these things.

[Scott]

By the way. At 87, my wife's grandmother was riddled with arthritis, had a kidney transplant, had congestive cardiac failure and two hip repairs. She got around with the aid of a walking stick.

[Scott]

Ditto on the callous, unthinking comment!

My 88 y.o. dad, whose knees are totally stuffed, and whose heart wouldn't survive a knee replacement op., loves and loathes his scooter.
It gives him mobility, but he would rather have functional knees.

As a matter of interest, has your father been offered knee replacements under a spinal anaesthetic rather than a general anaesthetic? It's what surgeon's/anaesthetist offer when patients have cardiac failure. It's a very real option.

[rsser]

Arthur, one of my brothers lives in Dundowran Beach and has made similar observations.

As to whether folk need or should use scooters, that's between them and their health care pro. I'm not gonna comment (cos someone will then say what's an old phart doing riding a 1000 CC motorbike ).

[BobL]

Sure, it's a callous comment but why should I beat around the bush? I'm all for these scooters for individuals who have a genuine disability. But why shouldn't we discuss obesity in the same breath as mentioning mobility scooters?

Exactly what is a genuine disability, and how can anyone judge by looking at someone what caused their disability?
For example what about the beanpole guy that drinks himself stupid and has a car accident that writes his legs off and ends up on a scooter and still looks like a beanpole - shoulda, coulda ???
Or the beanpoles passenger who also loses his legs and then finds it hard to exercise so he becomes obese?
How about if your mum became immobile due to obesity would you deny her a scooter? "No mum I'll do your shopping every week".
As soon as folks with an immobile ( for whatever reason) dependent are inconvenienced enough they're often the first ones organizing scooters.
Given mothers day is coming up perhaps if we treated everyone like our mums the world might be a kinder place.

Now, let's move on to disabled parking bays

[Sir Stinkalot]

Secondly, have you seen how BIG and FAST those things go? Users are driving them FULL PELT through shopping centres, along footpaths and anywhere else which has a smooth surface. Why do motorised WHEELCHAIRS for the DISABLED go slower

I think this is really the key issue. Irrespective of who has the right to have one for whatever reason they are almost at a point where they are an alternative to a car.

Yesterday while riding my push bike to work I was waiting at the lights to make a left hand turn. I look over to the footpath where there is a motorised scooter taking the corner and heading down the street. It wasn't all that long before the lights changed and the scooter was well and truly half way along the next block. The standard walking speed is about 5 km/h where as this scooter was much faster than that on a footpath. I cant ride my bike on the footpath as I go too fast and I am dangerous to slower moving foot traffic, where as a motorised scooter seems to be able to travel much faster than the foot traffic without any fear.

As with all sectors of society you are going to get the nature of person who feels that it is their right to jump the line, or think they own the footpath, and I don't think you can label all scooter users with the same tag. There is the issue however just how quickly they do travel, and not only safety for other footpath users but also the scooter users. I recall for some reason some time ago reading about the number of accidents that scooters are involved with and it was alarming.

I think it great that they can provide the users with independence, irrespective of their medical conditions or reasons for use, however given they are intended to replace walking, why do they need to go so quickly? Limit them to 5km/h top speed.

[rsser]

About 15-20% of the pop'n has a disability. Many of those disabilities aren't visible.

If it comes down to a mobility disability in my case, I'll put the 1000 CC motor into the scooter

(I'm also a subscriber to the principle that victimless crimes shouldn't be penalised; insured? yep.)

[DavidG]

I love my mobility scooter.
Can get around shopping centers, go out to my
sons football. Get out of the house and car.

I am obese - was before I fell off the bike.
Would love to get back on my motorbike...............

I can walk for a bit but it aches and carries on.
Not all operations are 100%
Specialist says I need another op but as pain killers do not
work on me, I don't want it. (Morphine - no effect)

By the way. They are speed limiter to 10kph

[Sir Stinkalot]

By the way. They are speed limiter to 10kph

So still twice (if not more) the speed of the foot traffic around them for those irresponsible enough to go fall throttle!

[doug3030]

By the way. They are speed limiter to 10kph

The speed that the scooters are capable of is not the issue. It is the speed that they are driven at that is the problem.

My car can go at 200 km/hr but it would be irresponsible to drive it at that speed in most circumstances, and illegal anywhere except on private property.

We have speed limits on our roads because not everyone has the common sense to drive at a safe speed, so this is enforced by law.

I have yet to see a speed limit sign for mobility scooters at the entrance to a shopping complex. So when common sense fails they drive them as fast as they want to. Sometimes I wonder if a lack of common sense should be classed as a disability too.

Doug

[BobL]

Perhaps Sawstop can do a deal and have them fitted so that explosive bolts stop them when they come into contact with another person?