The Mobility Scooter Guide

Not being able to walk for an extended period of time is a problem that affects people of all ages, but those over the age of 65 are most commonly affected. Often times this is as a result of a disease, like osteoarthritis, which makes it very difficult and painful to walk around. This might not be as big of an issue around the home, but if you want to go outside or on a shopping trip, then it can become a much larger issue. Mobility scooters are used by many people to solve this problem.

A mobility scooter is a type of battery powered vehicle that can be used indoors and outdoors to carry a person for an extended period of time. Most can travel at least 10 miles on a single charge and there are a good number of scooters that have a much larger range.

Generally scooters can be classified as either three wheeled or 4 wheeled. A 4 wheeled scooter is much more balanced and stable. Typically a 4 wheeled scooter will be able to support more weight and handle outdoor use more admirably. A 3 wheeled scooter does not provide the same level of balance or weight support, but it makes up for this by being much more maneuverable. For this reason it is usually better to go with a three wheeled scooter if you are going to use it mostly indoors and in tight quarters.

Mobility scooters are very easy to use and control. Most have simple controls that are large and easy to see. Those that use mobility scooters are effectively able to increase their mobility and the places that they can go.

For people who have difficulty walking, using a mobility scooter is one of the best ways to get around. There are many different models of mobility scooter, but they fall into three basic categories.

Travel Scooters: A travel scooter is, as the name implies, intended to be used when traveling. They often do not have as many features as other types of scooters and they also usually have a more limited range, but what they lack in range and features, they make up for in transportability. Travel scooters are light weight and can be disassembled easily into several pieces. The individual pieces can then be easily placed in a car or van without the need for a vehicle scooter lift. The heaviest piece of the scooter is usually around twenty-five pounds and this makes them very easy to transport.

Heavy Duty Scooters: Heavy duty scooters are almost a direct opposite of a travel scooter. They usually can be broken down into several pieces, but most frequently the heaviest piece of the scooter is over a hundred pounds. This means that to transport the scooter, you will likely need to invest in a scooter lift for your vehicle, but they are packed with features and designed to be driven over almost any type of terrain. In addition to their excellent off-road capabilities, these scooters can support much more weight than other scooters and have a much larger range, with some traveling around fifty miles on a single charge.

Non-Travel Scooters: So far we have discussed the two extremes of scooter design. In between, there are many scooters that are too heavy to be a travel scooter, but not heavy duty enough to be classified as a heavy duty scooter. Like the others these scooters can be disassembled, but the heaviest piece is usually around fifty to seventy pounds. They can be driven outdoors, but are not as adept at traveling over rough terrain.  Their range is also less than a heavy duty scooter, but usually almost doubles that of a travel scooter.

A mobility scooter is in some ways very similar to a wheelchair, but it is also quite different. Like a wheelchair, a mobility scooter is used to improve a person’s ability to move around. Like wheelchairs, they can also be used indoors or out. Some though are better suited for the outdoors than others.

While a mobility scooter does offer a function that is similar to a wheelchair, it uses a different platform. The chair of a mobility scooter is mounted towards the rear of the device and a set of handlebars, which extends from the front of the device, are used to control the unit. Since the handlebars are installed in the front of the device, it is not possible to drive a mobility scooter straight up to a table in the same manner that you might in a traditional wheelchair.

Depending on the model and manufacturer of the electric scooter, some are able to travel more than fifty miles on a single charge. This is of course not true of all scooters and most have a range that is between 10 and 15 miles.

People who use a mobility scooter are no longer restricted to where they can go, because with a mobility scooter you can go virtually anywhere.

Walking might be something that you take for granted, but for many it is not so easy too do. This can be due to injury or as a result of things like arthritis, which makes it difficult to use your joints. A mobility scooter is one way to help increase mobility and allow you to go places that you might not have thought possible.

A mobility scooter is a type of vehicle that is used to carry a single sitting person. They are commonly used by the elderly and you might have noticed a commercial version of a mobility scooter at your local grocery store. They are used by all types of people who have difficulty walking though and some have ranges that are greater than 40 miles per charge. This allows for electric scooters to be used in almost any area.

Some are better suited for the outdoors, while others are very maneuverable and great for the indoors. Deciding on where you intend to use your scooter should be the first step in the purchase process. Some models, called travel scooters, can be taken apart in a matter of minutes to be placed in the back of a car or in the trunk. These types of scooters typically have a reduced range though and don’t have as many features. A travel scooter will be great for the indoors, but usually if you intend to use it outdoors over un-paved surfaces, you will probably want a different type of scooter. To improve a travel scooters range, you might be able to inexpensively purchase an extra battery. This way you can just swap out batteries and keep on going.

4-wheeled scooters are the best for the outdoors, because they have superior stability and balance. They tend to have a larger turning radius though and so will not work as well in close quarters. For this a 3-wheeled scooter will be better. There are a few 3-wheeled heavy duty scooters though and they have a reinforced suspension system, which helps improve its ability to go off-road.