Why the bumpy ride?
Manufactures of disablilty aids seem to forget that their users are disabled! I'm talking about scooters in particular.
Nuts & knobs that cannot be undone, scooter charger plugs that cannot be pulled out, scooters with no susoension, & hard tyres that shatter
one's spine.
I thoughtt I'd invest in a scooter to help me get out & about. I spent nearly £1,000 on it, but is it almost
unusable for me as it's so uncomfortable to ride. Pavements may look smooth but they are full of bumps, manhole covers, kerbs & so forth.
The telescopic seat tube is solidly pinned in, but it would be so easy to put a spring in it, which would absorb the
knocks. Why don't manufactures think about thse sort of thing>
Mr Glidersleve
Manufacturers do invest a considerable amout of time & resorces in design & consultation. There are challenging
international standards to meet & clearly the safety, protection & posture of people is important. However comfort is sometimes difficult to define
& there are varying views on what is achievable. Scooters can be made more comfortable with alternative tyres (air inflated as opposed to solid) &
a sprung seat. It does, however, depend upon what a person can afford. It is always recommended that you have a proper assessment for a scooter & shop
around. Look for a British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) member who observes a strict code of practice supported by the Office of Fair
Trading.
The BHTA produces a range of leaflets covering the following:
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Get wise to buying a mobility vehicle
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Get wise to using electric scooters & wheelchair
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Get wise - How to make sure your wheelchair remains stable
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Gret wise to use public transport
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Get wise - Get morm from your battery
- Ray Hodglinson, Director Gereral BHTA
Bumpy ride
I agreed with Mr Gildersleve ('Why the bumpy ride?') in your spring edition. I
brought a scooter & find it too uncomfortable to ride. My own thick sponge seat pad does not give much protection from the bumps. Surely it would not
be difficult to add some suspension. Baby buggies are better sprung than some of the scooters we have to use & although you state that the
manufacurers spend a great deal of time in the research & consultation when designing this equipment, I can help feeling that they are not asking the
people who use it namely us!
T Fernley

