Copyright (c) 2008 Jay Ta

The number of mobility scooters on the road has increased dramatically over the past few years due to the aging population. There is however little legislation on who scooters should be used.

Using a mobility scooter is fairly simple. They are operated by pulling a small lever towards the handlebar, similar in nature to a bicycle brake. This controls both the forward and reverse movement. To stop the level is released and the scooter will come to a standstill immediately. Most modern scooters can come equipped with lights, both front and rear, horn, basket and speed adjustment control. The control to adjust the speed is an important feature allowing the user to set the mobility scooter speed. This control will set the top speed of the scooter and can be used for example when in shopping centres to ensure the scooter is used in a slow and controlled way.

Mobility scooters are available in two main classes. Class 2 scooters are for pavement use only and have a maximum speed of 4 mph. Class one scooters have a maximum speed to 8mph and can also be used on roads. If these mobility scooters are used on the pavement they must only travel at 4 mph.

Mobility scooters are usually battery powered. The battery is stored on board the scooter and is charged via an onboard or separate battery charger unit from standard electric power. The charting time will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer but allowing your scooter to fully recharge after use will prolong the life of the battery. This will also allow the user to gain maximum distance coverage from the scooter. Depending on the type of scooter the owned the maximum distance which can be covered will vary, but some scooters have a range of up to 20 miles on one charge.

Mobility scooters come in two main forms. These being transportable and non-transportable. The transportable scooters are specifically designed to be dismantled and fit into the boot of a car. These scooters normally have 3 wheels and are ligh weight. Standard scooters usually have four wheels and and heavier than portable scooters.