Sometimes, our capacity to get around can get affected. There are plenty of reasons for this. Maybe someone is recovering from surgery or perhaps they have a disability. The most common reason is that walking gets more difficult as we age.
For these reasons, portable mobility scooters have become extremely popular.
The mobility scooters are really helpful for navigating your house, the streets, commercial centers and public facilities. You can travel from your place to other nearby areas like a friend’s house. Getting around your neighborhood can be a simple task if you use a mobility scooter.
No doubt, this type of transportation is amazing. But, if you’re planning on getting one, then there are some things that you need to consider.
Where do you need to go?
First, think about whether you’d like to use your scooter indoors or outdoors? Maybe you’ll use it for a trip to the mall or when going to the supermarket. For this purpose, a small scooter will do. It will also fit well in the back of your car.
If you’re thinking about long distances and taking it out to the streets, then consider a medium-sized scooter. It will have more stability on uneven ground than the smaller models. Also, farther trips will be a possibility with such scooters.
But if you want to use your scooter on extremely long trips, then a heavy-duty one will do. It will have enough power to take you up to any hill that comes across your path. You’ll also get more independence with this type of scooter.
How far do you need to go?
When talking about distances, you need to always think about the battery. It will be horrible to run out of battery in the middle of a trip. To avoid this, you need to consider how many kilometres you are planning to travel during your trip.
Remember, the larger the scooter, the more battery it will have. For example, a heavy-duty scooter will have more battery than the smaller ones. This is because it has more room for a bigger battery.
Hence, try to check how many kilometres you need to drive in a day. With this, you can know the exact distance. Then, you’ll be able to check if the battery of the scooter that you’re looking for will suffice.
Ease of use:
Before hiring or buying one, try to check whether or not you’re facing any difficulty in moving the scooter. If you have arthritis or any difficulty moving your hands, then you will find hard to operate some mobility scooters. But don’t worry. There are a lot of models. You will surely find one that will suit your needs.
Here are things you should look out for:
- You should have enough mobility to be able to turn your head to keep an eye on pedestrians.
- You should be able to operate the hand controls and turn left and right.
- You should be able to balance yourself when you’re on uneven roads.
Other things to consider:
Foldable mobility scooters are to give you the independence that you need. But you need to be safe too. Here are the things that will help you with this:
- Have adequate hearing and visual range. This is for your own and others’ safety. If you’re able to see and hear cars or people coming, then you can easily avoid accidents.
- Stay focused during the trip. There are situations in which people cannot concentrate for long periods. But in this situation, concentration is a must.
- React with confidence. There are a lot of things that can go out of your control on the streets. You need to make sure that you can react well in risky situations.
If, for some reason, you aren’t able to do these things, then we would recommend not using a mobility scooter. It will be better if you can get yourself a wheelchair or consult with a medical professional about alternative options.
What you need to know about operating a mobility scooter? Click here to know more.
Last thoughts:
Now that you know what to consider when purchasing a mobility scooter, start browsing. It will be better if you can take the scooter for a test run on the streets. Try using it first on an even road without any obstacles. As you start gaining confidence, you’ll be ready for other types of scenarios. Having a foldable mobility scooter will make you as independent as possible.
