| Mobility scooters are designed to help people with | | | | enough to matter. |
| mobility problems to move around. They are | | | | In many people's view, and as the second major |
| somewhat similar to wheelchairs in terms of function, | | | | advantage, mobility-scooters come across as more |
| but similar to scooters in appearance and some | | | | maneuverable than the other alternative mobility aids. |
| operational aspects. | | | | Maneuvering most powered wheelchairs will typically |
| The typical mobility-scooter will tend to have three or | | | | involve moving foot supports. Maneuvering the typical |
| four wheels in total. Inevitably, two of these will be on | | | | electric mobility scooter, on the other hand, will typically |
| the back, with the seat resting on top of them. In front, | | | | involve swiveling the seat. It is many people's |
| we will have one or two wheels. Where one wheel is | | | | contention that the latter is not only easier, but also |
| presented, we will tend to have a handlebar for control. | | | | more convenient that the former. To be sure though, |
| But where two wheels are presented, we will tend to | | | | how much of an advantage this turns out to be |
| have a steering wheel for control. | | | | depends on the type of disability we are looking at. |
| Now in the recent years, we have seen a great rise in | | | | The third advantage associated with mobility-scooters |
| the number of people opting for mobility scooters, | | | | comes from their appearance, in that they don't look |
| rather than the other available mobility aids. And from a | | | | like wheelchairs, or like mobility aids at all. Now truth be |
| closer examination of their reasons for doing this, it | | | | told, we are still living in a society where disability is still |
| would appear that they are attracted to the mobility | | | | something that is looked down upon. Even where |
| scooter by a number of advantages it comes with, as | | | | people are more understanding, the people faced with |
| compared to those other mobility aids. | | | | physical limitations don't like, in as much as possible, to |
| The first advantage associated with the | | | | make their predicaments conspicuous. And that is |
| mobility-scooter would have to do with cost; in a | | | | where mobility scooters - which to a large extent look |
| situation where the mobility scooter is typically more | | | | like ordinary scooters, come in handy. People |
| affordable than closer alternatives like powered | | | | encountering the person using the mobility scooter on |
| wheelchairs. This is important because limited mobility | | | | the road will tend to be more inclined to view him or |
| often comes with limited earnings/financial resources. | | | | her as just another scooter-user/motorist, rather than |
| That means that many people who find themselves in | | | | a person with physical limitations 'in need of pity.' |
| predicaments where their mobility is limited will tend to | | | | Of course, like all motorized mobility aids, mobility |
| be on the lookout for the most affordable (yet | | | | scooters also come with the added advantage of |
| properly functional) mobility aid they can get. The | | | | giving the user enhanced independence, as compared |
| difference in cost between mobility scooters and, say, | | | | to the non-motorized mobility aids; which make the |
| powered wheelchairs will often turn out to be huge | | | | user dependant on other people pushing him or her. |