mobility scooters

[roadrash]

after three strokes, the time has come to start looking for a mobility scooter for my mother, now i know sod all about them apart from it will have to be collapsable to fit in car boot, does any of you good people have any experience with such things , and any advice on things i should watch out for

thanks in advance

RR

 

[User169]

Only experience is helping to rescue a scooterist a couple of weeks ago.

She'd managed to load so many shopping bags on the front, it had toppled forwards so that the rear drive wheels were off the ground. As I cycled the other way I heard her yelling for help, but by the time I turned around and got over to the other side of the road, somebody else had stopped to help. This person pulled on the headrest to get the rear wheels back on the ground, but this had the effect of ejecting the passenger out of the seat and onto the road (into the path of oncoming traffic). She must have weighed 200kg or so, but in the end five of us managed to get her back in the seat and we hung her bags on the back this time to avoid a repeat.

So, my advice would be to get one with a longish wheel base!

 

[Arch]

And if you can, make sure she gets some training, and understands the rules and how to use one safely. If she's been a driver, she may already be competent, but many people seem to use them without any thought. Even if it's just you giving her a bit of a lecture. For her safety, as much as the convenience and safety of those around her.

Things like how to approach a dropped kerb (straight on, not at an angle, I had to help an old chap up after his scooter tipped him out on a dropped kerb he took at an angle), remembering to check behind before reversing, knowing how far the edges stick out etc.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

So, my advice would be to get one with a longish wheel base!

Had a quick look to see if you could get trailers for them, found this though, could be handy.

 

[roadrash]

Ask your mother's GP to refer her for a proper assessment.

thanks regulator , shes had an assesment , i was thinking more about what to look out for when i go to buy one with her , like different battery types etc

And if you can, make sure she gets some training, and understands the rules and how to use one safely. If she's been a driver, she may already be competent, but many people seem to use them without any thought. Even if it's just you giving her a bit of a lecture. For her safety, as much as the convenience and safety of those around her.

Things like how to approach a dropped kerb (straight on, not at an angle, I had to help an old chap up after his scooter tipped him out on a dropped kerb he took at an angle), remembering to check behind before reversing, knowing how far the edges stick out etc.

thanks arch ,i will ofcourse make sure shes aware of stuff like that as she has never drove, and she WILL have insurance (for her benefit as well as others.

 

[roadrash]

Had a quick look to see if you could get trailers for them, found this though, could be handy.

gotta have one of those

 

[BigonaBianchi]

Rain cover and some proper lights.

 

[Leedsbusdriver]

If you do get her one then don't have her wind up the bus driver.He might have got more sympathy if he had stayed in his wheelchair rather than standing up and arguing the toss.

 

[Leedsbusdriver]

Can only post 5 videos in one post so here are the remaining two parts.

 

[bikepete]

thanks regulator , shes had an assesment , i was thinking more about what to look out for when i go to buy one with her , like different battery types etc.

As it happens I just sold one on Ebay for my recently widowed neighbour:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271231107520

and out of curiosity had a look at some of the others on sale. There really are so many second hand, most barely used (like the one I sold) that IMO you'd need some really compelling reason to buy new.

Most of the scooters use good old sealed lead acid batteries (deep cycle type) and I would go for these rather than any more fancy modern alternative like Li-ion - they're robust, cheap to replace (it's about £60 for a pair of new ones for the scooter I sold). For lifting it into the car boot the battery pack detaches (it just lifts out on the one I sold) so the weight of SLA batteries) is not a problem within reason. With the battery removed mine was approx 26 kg - liftable into a car boot by one person, piece of cake with 2. Chap who picked it up was in a Citroen Picasso and it went straight into the boot (all seats up) without any further disassembly.

Was pleasantly impressed with the one I sold - it was a relatively cheap (1000ish new) one but it seemed well enough made and was very controllable, with a twist knob to govern the top speed then a 'paddle' which you push with your thumbs for forward and reverse. Self-brakes well when you stop. Seemed to have adequate power for reasonable slopes. Main limitation was the ground clearance - it would ground easily on the uneven cobbles in the back alley behind our house. So a bigger wheeled one would be an idea if it needs to go off roads and pavements. Mine was also missing its basket - best get one with one, makes it more practical for shopping trips etc.

Good luck...

 

[Sara_H]

It may ell be worth considerinh if your mum in law will want to use the bus to avoid problems like the above. I believe our local bus company's policy is that electric wheelchairs are allowed on board but not mobility scooters.

 

[roadrash]

Thanks bike Pete ,it really does seem like second hand is the. Way to go with so many for sale having hardly been used ,

Sarah ... it's my mum not mum in law .........there's only one difference between outlaws and in-laws ..........outlaws were wanted Thanks for the tip 're buses but I don't think she will be using them

 

[fossyant]

Look at battery capacity as well. My in laws have two light weight ones. The heavier of the two is of course more powerful (MIL is heavy) but splits down to go in the boot. The other one doesn't split quite as well.

Both are small wheeled ones, so not good on rough stuff, but my MIL would poop herself if she did go over anything rougher than Tarmac.

As said above, both aren't used much, so go for second hand. Weigh up the size of your mother, as if they are heavy and not mobile then you may need a bigger one.

 

[roadrash]

My mum is probably about ten stone so weighting an issue ,one thing I'm trying to find out is the range or distance one can expect from a full charge ,I know things like terrain and hills will make a difference but but I'm trying to find a small scooter with a reasonable range

 

[Fnaar]

Not meaning to make light of the circumstances described in the original posting, but you can have them pimped up too:
http://tyneandwear.sky.com/news/art...bay-man-whos-making-the-mobility-scooter-cool