Has anyone else noticed the trend in mobility scooters becoming a scourge to pedestrians & road users alike?
Posted by ReanimatedCyborgMk-I@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 100 comments
Even without a license it seems the elderly and otherwise abled denizens of UK society can continue to wreak havoc with or without a license by just shifting onto mobility scooters. You might be able to take an OAP off the road but good luck when it comes to scooters. Some seem to be the most oblivious, ignorant or malicious sorts out there. I've seen:
- Pulling out from a blind gap between two cars and charging across a busy road, forcing whatever traffic is coming through to suddenly brake so they dont get bits of scooter and pensioner smeared across the front of their bonnet
- Driving down a narrow path on a main road with 4 big dogs on leads abreast taking up the whole space at like 20mph, like a chariot with dogs of w@r at your back. Pedestrians in your way? Who cares, charge on, don't even slow down or warn them, just expect the poor cnuts to move out of your way!
- Blocking entire doorways with your scooter and acting indignant when people ask you to move
For the record, I have close family and friends who do use / have used scooters for legitiamte purpose, so its not to knock them, just that there seems to be a trend of bad users about.
Anyone else care to share their views and experience?
MinimumIcy1678@reddit
You're totally right, I think it was a fast moving mirage
Alarmed_Crazy_6620@reddit
Simply refuse to get mad at somebody needing to use a mobility scooter
MinimumIcy1678@reddit
What about someone who doesn't need to use one
SlimeTempest42@reddit
They’re expensive, most don’t fit in cars or on public transport, they can be difficult to use in small shops, if the battery runs out when you’re not at home you’re screwed and some have issues with electronics when it rains (and the person using it gets wet) why would people buy them without needing it?
MinimumIcy1678@reddit
You tell me - I've just nearly been rammed by two teenagers riding one at about 15mph.
OdinForce22@reddit
They can't go faster than 8mph if class 3 or 4mph if class 2.
MinimumIcy1678@reddit
Tell them, not me
OdinForce22@reddit
I'm telling you because you can't have been driven towards at 15mph by a mobility scooter.
MinimumIcy1678@reddit
I must have dreamt it
OdinForce22@reddit
Well you didnt experience it from a mobility scooter, thats for sure
CreativeChaos2023@reddit
The top speed they can do is 8mph, often lower. None of them have the physical ability to go faster.
MinimumIcy1678@reddit
Sure
Tacklestiffener@reddit
Fat? Lazy? Entitled?
SlimeTempest42@reddit
Did you miss all the bits about them being expensive and inconvenient? Mobility aids are freedom but they’re also a pain in the arse.
Fat people can be disabled too
Alarmed_Crazy_6620@reddit
Seems like a very narrow set of people?
Professional-Day6965@reddit
And how do you know?
Alarmed_Crazy_6620@reddit
Expensive thing that averages at 4mph max – you see a massive attraction in getting one?
GordonLivingstone@reddit
I've seen a lot of big ones that get driven about 10-15 mph on roads and pavements - and then into supermarkets. Some are enclosed.
They got used more like small electric cars. If you live in a small town, they could be all that you need for day to day transport.
Have definitely thought that people should be getting tested for competence before getting loose with these in crowded places.
Bug_Parking@reddit
Some people are very lazy.
Alarmed_Crazy_6620@reddit
Sure but is it a common cause of getting one of these?
MinimumIcy1678@reddit
They tend to be very wide
azkeel-smart@reddit
There seems to be a disproportionately large number of people "needing" it in the UK when compared with the rest of Europe.
SlimeTempest42@reddit
How do you know whether someone needs one or not?
azkeel-smart@reddit
I don't need to know if someone needs it or not. For me, all pensioners can jump on one and cruise around as they please. Doesn't change the fact that in most cases, it's hugely detrimental to their health.
SlimeTempest42@reddit
Getting outside, getting fresh air, sunlight, socialising are all beneficial for health and better than being housebound
azkeel-smart@reddit
Sure, sure.
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/news/2010/mar/mobility-scooters-can-increase-your-risk-of-developing-diabetes-and-heart-disease-93164149.html
SlimeTempest42@reddit
And being housebound is better? You think someone’s mental health won’t suffer because they can’t go out?
You don’t care about health you just hate fat people
azkeel-smart@reddit
The vast majority of mobilty scooter users can enjoy the outdoors without relying on a scooter with some effort. By the way, the effort is what keeps you in working shape. Somehow older people all over Europe manage without them and still go outside.
SlimeTempest42@reddit
Glad to hear it from an expert.
What’s some effort? At what point should they be allowed to use a mobility aid? Or should they force themselves to walk and only do what they can and miss out on anything more than walking around Tesco?
I bet you harass blue badge users that don’t look disabled enough
azkeel-smart@reddit
Again, everyone should be allowed to use mobility scooters as they please. Same like everyone is allowed to smoke and drink, and it junk food. I don't care. I'm just pointing out that the vast majority of them suffer health consequences as a result.
JBEqualizer@reddit
Other than pulling it out of your arse, how did you gather this information?
azkeel-smart@reddit
It's publicly available. Not hidden knowledge, nothing mysterious about it. If you search for a mobilty scooter use correlation with diabetes and heart disease there will be plenty of sources for you to educate yourself. I won't be pasting any links here because, most likely, you won't like the source I pick.
JBEqualizer@reddit
Correlation ≠ causation.
Mobility scooters allow people with mobility problems and even some serious health conditions to get out and about, do some shopping, meet up with friends and family, or even allow them to go to their local pool to do some low intensity exercise.
Those people would otherwise be sitting around at home, still not actually doing any exercise, especially now that almost everything can be delivered to your door.
azkeel-smart@reddit
Cute and irrelevant
Have you educated yourself yet?
JBEqualizer@reddit
Educated?
I'm fucking one of the people I've described. I'm far more educated on what it's like to be a mobility scooter user than you'll ever be!
The UK infrastructure, for the most part, isn't suitable for many mobility scooter or wheelchair users. You can only do so much before you're forced to get out and walk if you can walk. whether that's because a shop is up several stairs, the doors are too narrow or because a shop is so full of shite that you physically can't get around if you can't walk.
azkeel-smart@reddit
And? How does it change the fact that the majority of mobility scooter users risk serious health complications that could be avoided?
do you now claim that close to 1 million mobilty scooter users in the UK all can't walk?
Again, I don't give a flying fuck about people using mobility scooters. I keep saying that the industry is predatory and encourages people who don't need it to get on the scooter, which has a hugely detrimental effect on their overall health.
SlimeTempest42@reddit
Correlation ≠ causation
azkeel-smart@reddit
Are you saying that the lack of physical exercise doesn't cause health issues? Wow, just wow.
SlimeTempest42@reddit
Again you don’t care about health you just hate fat people
JBEqualizer@reddit
You've posted a 15 year old article, thats riddled with adverts for health monitors, vitamins and supplements, the 'information' they're using was gathered in the US, rather than the UK and last but not least, the diabetes site itself is owned and run by a 'software' company whose main focus seems to be CBT apps.
azkeel-smart@reddit
Post a link that says that the use of mobility scooters doesn't affect cardiovascular health or risk of diabetes. Waiting :*
OdinForce22@reddit
What's your specialism, doc?
azkeel-smart@reddit
Lol, the idea that you think someone needs to be a doctor to understand that lack of physical exercise leads to health issues is hilarious.
OdinForce22@reddit
Many disabled people cannot exercise.
azkeel-smart@reddit
Who talks about disabled people?
OdinForce22@reddit
Given that this is about mobility scooters which are used by many disabled people.. it makes sense to mention disabled people.
azkeel-smart@reddit
You know morphine has its legitimate use, but most of the population doesn't need it? Same principle.
OdinForce22@reddit
Are you okay? Like actually okay?
azkeel-smart@reddit
Oh, too much thinking power required to process this comparison? Apologies. What I meant is that there are people who legitimately benefit from a mobily scooter. However, this doesn't make the scooter a god tool for people who can still get by with a walking stick, for instance. Giving someone who can get by walking, be it with difficulty, a mobility scooter, can be more harmful than beneficial. Do you get it now?
OdinForce22@reddit
Im not going to message back after this, but before speaking to someone, maybe just think for a second that they might be disabled themselves and have some cognitive impairments as a result.
azkeel-smart@reddit
Why would I care?
DameKumquat@reddit
One reason is simply that most of our pavements are reasonably wide and flat and have dropped kerbs for wheelchair users, scooters, etc.
If you live in a town where all the pavements are about 2 feet wide and there's foot-high drops to cobbled roads, you're going to limp along as best you can and a scooter won't help you.
There's still too many people who stay at home because they can't get out easily. Many of those would hugely benefit from a scooter or wheelchair but don't want to be 'seen as disabled' or accused of faking because they can walk a little before being overtaken by pain. There's many people who can do an outing one day, then are unable to move the next - but you don't see the second day.
Alarmed_Crazy_6620@reddit
UK health stats are not great while the income/social net is relatively good so these are somewhat offered or affordable to those who need – probably those needing one in Albania can not get their hands on one
azkeel-smart@reddit
Funny you used Albania as an example. I was thinking more towards Germany and France, neither of which has the number of mobility scooters seen in the UK.
I'm of the opinion that mobility scooters are one of the biggest exploits of the pensioners in the UK. Instead of promoting healthy habits and encourge people to walk, they convince people not to move, by which they usually worsen their condition.
Alarmed_Crazy_6620@reddit
Germany and France have a somewhat healthier population, partially why we had worse COVID outcomes
azkeel-smart@reddit
Mobility scooters were overused here long before covid was a thing.
Blaming it on population is really dishonest. It's the pushy salesman and schemes like motability that are responsible for it. Sadly, this has a detrimental effect on public health.
Alarmed_Crazy_6620@reddit
I really doubt there's a big causal effect rather than our frailty and obesity rates being higher
azkeel-smart@reddit
You doubt in reality? Ok.
Alarmed_Crazy_6620@reddit
Alright you win, mobility scooters must be the reason of our national health issues – your theory is so sound you convinced me without any stats
OdinForce22@reddit
Nothing to do with mobility scooters. Everything to do with an individual not checking the road properly (which they may struggle with if disabled tbh).
Bullshit. They do 4mph if a class 2 and 8mph if class 3.
Again, nothing to do with mobility scooters and everything to do with an ignorant individual.
How about you don't vilify all mobility scooter users?
VOODOO285@reddit
OP is talking about specific behaviour they observed that are perpetrated by people on mobility scooters. That you’ve taken that as an affront to ALL users, speaks more about you than them.
OdinForce22@reddit
So their title isnt an affront to all users?
VOODOO285@reddit
No, that title is what’s called a QUESTION! It is not and never was a statement. That you conflate the two is hilarious. They asked if anyone else has noticed something from their own lived experience. That’s all. Calm down.
OdinForce22@reddit
They asked if anyone noticed a trend. A trend is literally a generalisation pal.
VOODOO285@reddit
Yes, they asked if anyone noticed a trend. If people did, that’s the generalisation. For example,
From where I was stood the sky was red last night, how was it for you. You answer, no I didn’t see it, it was blue for me. Or you’d say yes it was red here too. Then if enough people agree with the assertion then it becomes an accepted generalisation. If not then the assertion is invalid.
ReanimatedCyborgMk-I@reddit (OP)
When you're stood on a path bordering a busy main road it feels like 20mph...
And that particular example was a nightmare as her dogs, all shepherd/ husky types would take up the width of the path as she charged across.
OdinForce22@reddit
They do less than half that speed. This leads me to believe that you are heavily exaggerating everything in this post.
peppermint_aero@reddit
It's really fascinating the number of people who think they can diagnose whether or not any individual has a disability by eye.
How wonderful! Let's close all the medical schools! We definitely don't need any kind of occupational therapists either!
All we need is the judgement of any person on the street as to whether any other person's disability is "genuine".
This was sarcasm, by the way; most disabled people in Britain will tell you that they struggle to get diagnoses even from doctors.
CreativeChaos2023@reddit
Can we have a ban on able-bodied people walking down the roads looking down at their phones?
I’m a lifelong disabled wheelchair user, for the last 20 odd years a powerchair user. I’ve hit two people. The first was crossing the road on her phone, I had spotted her but she veered off to the side and walked into me. If she’d gone to the other side of the crossing she’s have been no where near me.
One stepped right in front of me in the supermarket, apparently intending to grab my shopping and put it on the check out. I can react fast, I can’t stop instantly the laws of physics don’t allow it.
But I’ve also had a lot of people look up from their phone, see me and freak out about how I “nearly hit them”. I know how big my chair is and what space I need. I never nearly hit them because either I knew size wise it was fine OR what made them look up was me shouting (more than once) to get them to move.
ReanimatedCyborgMk-I@reddit (OP)
I remember hamstringing a woman with the footplates of my partner's wheelchair because she stopped in the middle of a busy road pedesttian crossing to eyeball her phone. When she looked at me I gave her a death glare
sleepyprojectionist@reddit
There are two old fellas around my area who are an absolute scourge.
Both of them are heavy drinkers and come home from the pub pissed up.
They drive their mobility scooters erratically on both the road and the pavement, and on a couple of occasions I have seen them just parked on the edge of the road, fast asleep.
terryjuicelawson@reddit
I know a few locally who can belt along pavements, one blasts music too. They are incredibly fat, and I can't help feeling it isn't exactly helping. But an overall scourge, not really no.
Helenarth@reddit
This mf censored the word "war"
lobsided-flaps@reddit
Wow. Tag your post as NSFW please. I just read the word w@r and I need a lie down. /S
ReanimatedCyborgMk-I@reddit (OP)
Considering how many auto mod filters I have to dance through... yeah.
SlimeTempest42@reddit
People think Reddit is TikTok
Valuable-Wallaby-167@reddit
Can't say I have. Tbh I feel like I see less mobility scooters than I used to. I imagine that this will vary hugely depending on where you live though.
Btw "abled" means the opposite of how you've used it
CheekyYoghurts@reddit
Yep, absolutely.
It's always the largest and most entitled people too. Most of them aren't genuinely disabled, they're just obese.
Ever wondered why there's such a surge of them in this country and yet you see so few elsewhere?
SlimeTempest42@reddit
If they have mobility problems they’re by definition disabled
CheekyYoghurts@reddit
Yes, but why are we rewarding people for being obese?
We should be encouraging healthier habits and walking etc, not just giving them taxpayer-funded money and scooters.
Valuable-Wallaby-167@reddit
Nothing like being trapped in your house to make people lose weight.
Maybe we shouldn't treat people for lung cancer, it's costing the tax payer money and we wouldn't want to reward people for smoking.
In fact it's a great idea, let's start assessing everyone for worthiness before giving them support. Only support people for conditions that are completely beyond their control. It'd kill off a lot of people but at least we wouldn't be wasting the tax payers money.
ReanimatedCyborgMk-I@reddit (OP)
That's not the case tbf
SlimeTempest42@reddit
It’s not ‘rewarding people’ and no one is giving them mobility scooters they buy them. You can’t get benefits purely for being overweight or obese unless you have significant mobility and care needs.
What are people meant to do if they can’t walk or can’t walk more than a very short distance? I doubt you’ve considered that maybe having restricted mobility causes people to gain weight?
ReanimatedCyborgMk-I@reddit (OP)
To be fair, it's a cyclical issue. Mobility issues > mobility scooters > less exercise > weight gain. Disabled people often put on weight more easily and its harder to shift because well... they physically can't exercise the same.
Helenarth@reddit
You know that some disabilities can essentially cause obesity, right? Or make it very easy to gain weight and very hard to lose it?
Eli_Regis@reddit
Some older folks can’t always react quickly, and may have bad coordination and awareness of space etc. It might sometimes be why they’re on a scooter. Are you suggesting they just stay at home?
ReanimatedCyborgMk-I@reddit (OP)
No, just an observation that there's quite a few reckless users out there with no regard for others on the road.
VOODOO285@reddit
There’s always one. Do you usually find it’s you?
Eli_Regis@reddit
Eh?
VOODOO285@reddit
Your, are you suggesting they just stay at home comment.
No, no they’re not. They’re asking about observed behaviour. Then, there’s always one that thinks it applies to EVERY person who does what OP suggests. It’s tiresome.
SlimeTempest42@reddit
Ban kids on micro scooters, I’m of them charging towards me and the parents not saying anything forcing me as a pedestrian into the road because people can’t control their crotch goblins
CaptMelonfish@reddit
There's an old bastard round here with three dogs, he zips around on full with the dogs barrelling along next to him, he gives absolutely no shits about stopping, and cares not if he goes through you, or his dogs end up wrapped around your legs. He also swears at everyone to get out of his way.
Aintseenmeroit@reddit
They always seem perpetually angry at the world.
Itchy-Ad4421@reddit
There’s a dude near me goes down the A1 on his - not the motorway bit but 3 lanes of traffic either side nonetheless 🤣
Itchy-Ad4421@reddit
There’s a dude near me goes down the A1 on his - not the motorway bit (A1M I think that bit is) but 3 lanes of traffic either side nonetheless 🤣
miemcc@reddit
Maybe due to the poor level of upkeep of the pavements and the increasing habit of inconsiderate car drivers parking on to the pavement (causing problems for disabled, or those with young children). Top that off with an increasing number of older people living longer.
Boldboy72@reddit
I've a neighbour who uses one of these and she is the most obnoxious entitled prick you're ever going to meet. She can walk perfectly fine, i've seen her walking. She scoots around as fast as she can shouting at people to get out of her way, has a dog that looks like an XL bully and doesn't have him on a lead.
I once saw a woman freeze with fear when the dog ran up to her and our scooter lady shouted "don't show him fear, it makes him angry" FFS
She drives the scooter into Tesco and shouts at the staff that their stock cages are blocking her way (I mean total melt down and won't listen to them when they try to help)
scrotalsac69@reddit
You are probably just seeing it more as you have spotted an issue before. It is like never seeing a certain type of car initially, and then all of a sudden you see them everywhere.
Some people are just dicks, these ones just happen to be on mobility scooters. Someone else will take issue with wheelie suitcases, and another person will hate kids being kids
KowakianDonkeyWizard@reddit
Why? To vilify another minority for outrage clicks?
AutoModerator@reddit
Please help keep AskUK welcoming!
When repling to submission/post please make genuine efforts to answer the question given. Please no jokes, judgements, etc.
Don't be a dick to each other. If getting heated, just block and move on.
This is a strictly no-politics subreddit!
Please help us by reporting comments that break these rules.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.