to be considering getting a mobility scooter

[HelpMeTony]

I am not even 50 yet my mobility is seriously affected by health issues that are only going to get worse. I have just been awarded Pip disability benefit and thinking of using that to get a mobility scooter - even though DD2 is absolutely horrified.

I wouldn't know where to start with one though. I know there are large showrooms, but I am so embarrassed and uncomfortable that I dont know if I would manage to actually visit one, let alone test drive a scooter. Do they even do test drives?

Why on earth are you embarrassed? And why is your dd2 horrified, or is she at that teenage stage where anything is super embarrassing?

I’ve used one sometimes, haven’t needed to in a while, but it was a massive lifeline.

There are showrooms - their job is literally to let you try them out, and everybody they see in there needs one so they’re not going to be judging you!

You can also rent them to try out which type you get on with best.

I got one in my forties because of ME. I too felt self conscious at first but it was the best thing I have ever done and gave me my independence back. One tip, take the miles they will travel quote with a pinch of salt, they never come anywhere near!

@Ahbahbahbah yup DD is a teenager

I’m not sure why I feel embarrassed to be honest, I’ve driven past a couple of showrooms and felt the anxiety’s kick in even then.

Thanks @Fourmoos did you just ignore feeling self conscious and just got on without it? Or was there anything specific that helped?

Is it that you feel you’re too young or that people would be judging you somehow? As though they might think you were lazy or exaggerating? Not that I’m saying you should worry about that at all, I’m just trying to understand! I didn’t have those concerns but by that point I’d been using a walking stick for a while so was used to kind of advertising that I was having trouble.

I don’t know how bad your mobility is, but have you considered an electric wheelchair? You can use them in more places, e.g. inside shops, and there’s less of a social stigma. I may be making too big an assumption, but I’m guessing you’re worried people will judge someone of your age using a scooter, whereas no one questions a person in an electric wheelchair.

when I was a teenager my mother said “morning” and smiled at one of my friends as they walked past each other in the street and I was MORTIFIED so really if it wasn’t this it would be something. You can’t base any part of your decision on your teenagers’ embarrassment.

I think if you go on the Motability website you’ll be able to find out how to access a scooter ( or car). I get that sense of wrongness of it all. When I first was awarded a blue badge I couldn’t bring myself to use it. I was convinced I would be judged. Nobody cares.

I am 100% getting an electric scooter when I’m older, they’re fab - I love it when people come to appointments & they don’t even have to get off them, they just whizz round the surgery! Maybe have a look at getting one second hand, I often see them up for sale on Facebook marketplace.

They are a Godsend!
I don’t understand the embarrassment. If you need it, get it. I would advocate looking at second-hand sites. We got one from a place in the middle of no-where, in Kent. Helpful people, and you could try them out on the premises. They were really helpful, especially as I tripped on my way in and entered a bit faster than i’d anticipated....and bled all over their carpet! Maybe called ‘mobility giant’....and they deliver all over UK.
My only general advice would be to get a 4-Wheeler (not 3)....I find more stable. And you DD2 will soon be borrowing it for a late-night shop visit for a chocolate craving.

Thanks all. I think my fear is of being judged, and determined lazy (I am very overweight). I can walk short distances although painfully, so I think a scooter would be the best option rather than a wheelchair.

@MatildaTheCat thanks for the mention of the blue badge, I need to sort that out as well

@Theoldwrinkley now that’s an entrance! I’m definitely looking at 4 wheels, my balance isn’t great at the best of times so a wider stable base is needed.

I rented scooters and powerchairs from my excellent local Shopmobility for ages before splashing out on my own, so I had a good idea of how the different designs manoeuvred in shops and handled dodgy paving.

Also of how heavy they were, and whether to get a lightweight folding scooter or a roadster.

And I agree with PP: absolutely godsend! I was in my 30s and undiagnosed when my mobility probs started, so I completely understand that feeling of, "But people like me aren't allowed to use those!"

But honestly, they really are for people like us because they make such a difference to our lives.

As I keep saying, no one thinks twice before strapping a quarter-ton petrol vehicle to their arse to drive quarter of a mile to the shop just because it's a bit more convenient – so why would we feel bad using a little electric vehicle which for us is very much more convenient?

I felt embarrassed using crutches when I need to but now I do g care as some days I can’t manage without them.I am sure you will get so much from getting a scooter.My mum had one years ago and she was able to try before you buy .good luck

I bought DS13 one. He has considerable mobility difficulties. He cried and refused to even look at it at first but it turned into one of the best things weve done.

He hired one for a (covid careful) weekend away from a local shop that sells them. We bought it on the return. DS loved it as it gave him a sense of independence he never had before. Otherwise known as he realised he didnt always have to do/go exactly as/where I wanted if I wasnt pushing his wheelchair 🙄😖🤣🤣🤣. Also if he put it on fast I couldn't catch him.

It made going for a long walk much more possible so greatly enhanced shielding/lockdown part 2 for the whole family.

I'd love to had got him an electric wheelchair but they are thousands. Hes not entitled through wheelchair services as he doesn't use it in the house. DS' scooter cost £400, second hand but with 6 months "breakdown" cover, so it's not eating into his DLA too much either. (Even if we use it into the ground and have to replace yearly which I fear we might) Yes electronic wheelchair can go more places, theoretically, but the range is no better and it doesn't fit in the boot of an average sized car.

You definitely need to do it!!

A mobility scooter is a way to REGAIN and KEEP your independence. It will enhance your everyday life just knowing you can get out and about.
Please don’t think of it as a disability scooter.

Quingos have five wheels and are wide for stability. Yes places used to do test runs and some used to come to your home to discuss options. Don’t know if covid has altered that.

Good luck and I hope you find the perfect one for you.

I’m just 50 and I’ve had one for 2 and a half years. I’ve got a hoist fitted in my car so I can take it out and about with me. It’s the only way I can go out and about by myself tbh.

I got mine from a small specialist shop locally. They work alongside the adaptations people for the car and were incredibly knowledgeable. I wouldn’t have known where to start had it not been for them. It cost me about £900 irrc

Get one. They’re a bloody lifesaver.

Dont forget mobility scooter insurance!!

YANBU. I first used a mobility scooter when I was about 24. I had a few comments, though it was usually for using it with young children. It was great for the years I needed it.

I second ShopMobility if there is one near where you'd like to shop, it can be a good way to try out different models where you may actually be using them. Where I am, they use an area near car park that's cut off for their use for when you 'test' them out. No one around to see and for me it was a good first step.

Got mine a couple of years ago and before lockdown I had used it to reach places I hadn't got to for years. I feel it's opened options for me, ds doesn't think less of me for needing and using it. I'm 50 this year, and can walk short distances but also awarded PIP and a blue badge due to my MS I would happily recommend one to anyone who feels in need. I have been in shops with no issue in one and spent a lovely afternoon in a museum in one, without I just couldn't have managed.

Oh yes been able to use it for gigs too, both large and small. Was wonderful to not worry about standing or people standing in front of me but you do need to book in advance as they have limited spaces

Do this properly.

Where do you want to go on it?

Will you want to put it in the car?

What do you weigh?

Will you want to go off road?

How good is your upper body/arms/wrists/shoulders - scooters don't have power steering so if you have weaknesses there this might affect your choice of scooter.

Some scooters are ace, some are awful.

When you've got all your answers to the above, start looking up various kinds of scooter and get a good feel for what there is available.

Scooter plus points - on a four wheeler with the steering column in front of you, you do feel pretty safe and secure.

If its on the flat/pavement/around shops then steering isn't likely to be difficult.

There are smaller scooters around that will fit into small spaces like in your car, in your house etc.

Scooter downsides...

They have a large turning circle even for the small models.

You cannot get most of them off a kerb, and those you can you'll need to hit the kerb straight, not at any sort of an angle.

Most pavements do not have room to get a scooter pointed straight at the kerb, nor do they have room for you to turn a scooter around!
If you live somewhere with not many dropped kerbs then you need to plan routes carefully or spend a lot of time reversing.

Lots of scooters are sold as going off road, doing grass, gravel, sand etc - in reality VERY few will actually do this and those that will are likely custom models you can expect to pay upwards of 9K new.

Those that will do the above are unlikely to fit in a car.

Lots of them are sold as being fit to keep outside under a cover or in a shed - don't do this they will be knackered by the damp, they NEED to live indoors.

You can pick up second hand scooters but factor in that many have been abused by being left to go flat, (batteries do not like this) and being left outside. If you are going second hand, assume you'll be buying new batteries and factor the cost of that in before you buy.

They do need servicing annually, and I would recommend insurance too!

I loved mine, I had a Horizon Mayan AC for several years before my upper body mobility failed and I could no longer steer it if it wasnt on smooth flat pavement. It was a big off road model with chunky tires though.

I am told that people gave me evils when I was on it, I never noticed and likely this is because I am very obviously fat... I just smile at everyone and say hello oblivious and if they have been given me evils they soon stop!

You can get sales persons to fetch models to your home to try out in your chosen environment - don't be shy about getting them to bring the scooter to where YOU want to use it. And run a mile from anyone who refuses to do so, they do that when they know their scooter wont do what you want it to do.

They will (outside of the high end custom jobs) often make promises for what it can do when it really can't so prepare a script that you have other models to try and will NOT commit to buying before you've tried them all.

It can be good to try out new ones and then buy second hand - don't feel guilty doing this, their prices are vastly inflated, they recoup the cost of mucking about fetching things to folk who don't buy very easily, its all part of the game!

Many sellers also deal with second hand models anyway and many are bought on finance and then resold when the buyer no longer needs them, which sadly happens often as peoples mobility fails or people die (my friend has a wheelchair worth 11k, almost new, used for a few weeks then the owner sadly died, she got it for under 3K from a dealer).

Do be aware that folding lightweight models are often flimsy and the more folding/moving parts there are, the more there is to fail!

I think that concludes all my mobility scooter knowledge... if a scooter ISNT for you.. ask to be referred to wheelchair services to see if a wheelchair is a better fit.

PIP will cover motability payments, if you have the mobility payment, and Motability now do several power wheelchairs.

Do NOT feel that because you can stand and walk some ofthe time that a wheelchair is not for you - there are in fact MANY more ambulatory wheelchair users out there than there are full time permanent wheelchair users. It's just that the media tends to focus on teh full timers rather than us part timers!

So, things to think about in no particular order.

There are different classes of scooter (charmingly called "invalid carriages" in the law).

Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs come in 2 categories:
• ‘class 2 invalid carriages’ - these cannot be used on the road (except where there is not a pavement) and have a maximum speed of 4mph
• ‘class 3 invalid carriages’ - these can be used on the road, and have a maximum speed of 4mph off the road, and 8mph on the road
You do not need to register a class 2 invalid carriage.
www.gov.uk/mobility-scooters-and-powered-wheelchairs-rules

So will you just use it directly from the house, or do you want it to fit into a car / train / bus in order to get further afield?

My local bus company allows class 2 scooters, as do my local trains. However on the bus it's at least a 6-point turn to manoeuvre even my wee scooter out of the wheelchair space, so although do-able it's awkward.

Some scooters come apart and fold, which means they can fit in most cars.

Where will you store it at home? A scooter has a removable key and can be parked outside. A powerchair usually doesn't, and will need to make it into the house via accessible thresholds, and then takes up lots of space.

Where will you recharge it? Batteries are usually – but not always – removable and can be carried indoors to charge; they're pretty heavy. If I could buy again, I'd get gel batteries which are lighter and have better range.

There is also a low but real fire-risk from recharging batteries, which is something to consider re where you recharge. You may also be subject to council regs affecting mobility scooter storage for this reason.

Hah, WiddlinDiddlin covered it much better while I was typing.

I haven't had my current scooter long enough to know if the damp will knacker it (probably yes, but I don't have any choice).

It lives in a shed and I bring the battery indoors (on a trolley) to keep it at a reasonable temperature.

Actually, @WiddlinDiddlin, you might be able to help me with a query.

I've been whining on another thread about not being able to find an easily lockable powerchair –ideally with a removable key. As I'm an ambulatory wheelchair user and rather a lot of shops are in older buildings with front steps, I'd really like to be able to lock the chair without hassle.

TBF, I haven't done an exhaustive search for models. Do you have any words of wisdom?

(Sorry for hijacking your thread, OP.)

For what it is worth Op, even if you ticked every acceptable box on person As list you’d still be pissing off Person B. (You can’t please everyone so please yourself!)
I’m 32, fat as fuck (because of a hereditary bone disease) and I use a mobility scooter. I tried not using one, I lasted 8 years with my condition before falling twice on the school run and being 15 minutes late so I decided then and there that my pride wasn’t worth it anymore and I bought a second hand scooter, she is a BEAST and I’m loving life again. Yes people stare sometimes, I know for a fact several of my friends have said horrendous things about me but ... they aren’t living the existence that I was, I didn’t go outside for 18 months and that was before C19 so fuck them. I also have a serious anxiety disorder so it was a difficult decision at first for me too so be kind to yourself
Age don’t mean shit to illnesses, happy scooting!