Mobility Scooter
What type of mobility scooter fits your needs?
There is more than one type of mobility scooter and the type of mobility scooter that you would choose would depend on your particular needs. One thing that every mobility scooter has is that it is battery powered.
Compact or folding
As the name suggests these scooters are a lightweight type of mobility scooter and can be disassembled or packed onto the car easily for transportation in a car. They are ideal for short trips to the local shops or around the home and are flexible in small spaces due to their smaller size. Generally they travel up to 4mph and can have either 3 or 4 wheels.
Mid size or pavement
This type of scooter is more stable than the compact or folding type of mobility scooter. Sometimes they are suitable for around the home use but this depends on the make, model and weight of the type that you are interested in buying. These can travel for a longer distance than the compact models and will cope with uneven surfaces much better as well. They are not suitable for use on the road.
Heavy duty or road
This is the third different type of mobility scooter and is the most flexible of the lot. They can be used on either the pavement or the road though if they are used on the road a heavy-duty mobility scooter must have lights and indicators for safety reasons. This type of mobility scooter is not suitable for indoors use as they are considerably heavier than other models, they are good on rough terrain as they have inbuilt suspension and have a top speed of 8mph.
What to look for when buying a mobility scooter
There are so many different brands and models of mobility scooter on the market today, we have covered the essential three types but we know in reality that when you get out there shopping for a mobility scooter for real that task can be daunting.
Lets face it buying a mobility scooter is a considerable investment so it is worth understanding what you will need from your mobility scooter before you even start to look for one that fits your budget.
1. Where will you be primarily using your vehicle?
This is a big question. Is it for mobility around the home or will you be travelling outside as well in your mobility scooter to perhaps the local shops. Compact models provide better turning circles and are ideal for navigating smaller area like those inside your home.
If outside what will the terrain be like will it be pavement all of the way or is will there be many occasions when you will need to traverse rough ground to get where you want to go. The mobility scooter with 4 wheels will provide you with speed and stability.
2. When you are outside do you need to navigate steep hills or curbs?
If the answer is yes and frequently then you need to make sure that the mobility scooter that you purchase has enough power to do what you need it to do. Generally the 4-wheel type of mobility scooter will help with this and provide better stability rather than the 3 wheel models.
3. Will you be driving on roads?
Do you want or need to take your mobility scooter onto the road. Every area has different applicable laws so you will need to check with your local government what regulations you will need to comply with in your area. As a rule a mobility scooter that is being used on the road needs to have a minimum speed of 8 mph and needs a headlight, taillight and indicators to navigate through traffic safely.
4. Check your home for compatibility with any model you are thinking of buying.
Before buying a mobility scooter that will need to be used in the home and to access the front and back doorways you need to have a good look around preferably with a measuring tape to assist you. Look at the width of gates and doorways and see if there are any steps that could be a problem. Is there space to store the mobility scooter and will there be sufficient turning room to ensure that you don’t get stuck?
5. How comfortable is the ride?
Test ride any mobility scooter that you are thinking of buying because it needs to be comfortable for you. Look at additional features that are available to make the ride more comfortable and accessing the mobility scooter easier – like a swivel seat can make getting on and off the scooter much easier.
6. Does it need to be portable?
Think about whether having a mobility scooter that is portable is essential to your usage. There are models that are easy to disassemble and stow in the boot of a car, often without tools, for people that are often needing to move their mobility scooter from place to place and generally longer distances. For instance would you want to take it to the homes of family to use for mobility while you are visiting?