| How to Choose a Mobility Scooter | | | | will need to ensure that the scooter has the |
| | | | comforts and features that you need. An 8mph |
| After you have decided what type of mobility | | | | model may be just what you need, and will |
| scooter is suitable for your needs, the next | | | | allow you to ride on the road with a range of |
| thing to do is to try some. You will probably | | | | up to 35 miles. The road legal models have a |
| need to try several scooters to find one that | | | | full lighting kit and indicators and often |
| feels comfortable and meets all your | | | | have suspension and pneumatic tyres to offer |
| requirements. If a scooter doesn't feel right | | | | a more comfortable ride over the long |
| immediately, ask the sales person to adjust | | | | distances these scooters can cover. |
| the seat or the tiller, and see if that | | | | |
| helps. If that doesn't help, then that | | | | If your scooter is for occasional use and not |
| probably isn't the scooter for you. | | | | going to be your main method of transport, |
| | | | then a small/boot scooter might be most |
| You may be tempted by the cheapest disability | | | | appropriate. Again, make sure that there is |
| scooter on sale, especially if you have a | | | | enough legroom, and that it is comfortable. |
| budget, but remember that you wouldn't buy | | | | Try it out and ensure that you can easily |
| the cheapest car in the showroom if it didn't | | | | dismantle the scooter and that the individual |
| fit your needs just because it was the | | | | components are not too heavy to lift into the |
| cheapest! Whilst trying different scooters | | | | car. They tend to be ideal for days out and |
| make sure you can drive them around the | | | | short trips to the shops and rather than long |
| showroom, or even outside, to see what they | | | | journeys. |
| are like over bumps, and whether they feel | | | | |
| comfortable and stable. Legroom is another | | | | Pavement scooters are a good compromise |
| important consideration, especially for the | | | | between small land large scooters. They offer |
| taller person. As a rule of thumb, three | | | | the size, comfort and some of the features of |
| wheel scooters provide more legroom than four | | | | the larger scooters, but some of them can |
| wheel scooters; however, four wheel scooters | | | | still dissemble to fit in a car boot. They |
| tend to be more stable. | | | | tend to be heavier and more bulky, and harder |
| | | | to dissemble than the dedicated boot |
| Remember to ask the sales person any | | | | scooters. It is worthwhile dissembling the |
| questions that you want answering. It sounds | | | | scooter to see how easy it is and to make |
| obvious, but people can be intimidated when | | | | sure you can put it in the car. |
| faced with something that they know nothing | | | | |
| about. Common topics of questions include the | | | | Some models are available with different |
| scooters speed; range; whether it dismantles | | | | seats, or different batteries. If you've |
| for transportation; the weight of the | | | | found the ideal scooter, but there's |
| components once the scooter is dismantled; | | | | something that doesn't quite meet your |
| the actual dimensions of the scooter if space | | | | requirements, there may be a solution. |
| is tight; whether the tiller can be changed | | | | Remember to ask the sales person. |
| for a different one, or if the forward | | | | |
| reverse controls can be changed from right | | | | Once you have purchased your mobility scooter |
| hand to left hand. | | | | you can then begin to regain your |
| | | | independence. |
| If your scooter is to replace your car, you | | | | |