Life must present quite a challenge when you are no longer able to walk very far under your own power. Mobility scooters are a blessing for those who can afford one. They have much greater range today than predecessors that were powered for however long your arms could push.
In fact, I once checked on a man zooming down the side of the freeway in a shiny new one. The vendor had promised him a range of 17 kilometres and he was testing the truth of it.
Users of Mobility Scooters are Pedestrians
Pedestrians, and the law considers that disabled people using mobility scooters as being pedestrians, often take risks and fail to follow the rules. I've even seen mobility scooters being driven like a car, the driver calmly sitting in the middle of the lane at a four way stop, left hand signal light on waiting his turn. Of course, this is not how it is supposed to be done and invites a collision.
Following Pedestrian Rules
When the sidewalk is present and passable, this is where the scooter operator must be. Otherwise, the left edge of the roadway facing traffic like any other pedestrian is where to "walk."
Landscaping and Sidewalks
Having said that, I've noticed that many homeowners have planted trees and hedges at the edge of the sidewalk in front of their homes. If proper maintenance is not done, these plants soon encroach on the sidewalk and prevent scooter operators from using it.
I'm nimble enough to walk around, but there may not be an opportunity for the scooter operator to follow suit. Take a careful look at your landscaping and trim it if needed. There's no sense causing a problem for others or having bylaw enforcement knocking on your door.
Sharing
People walking on sidewalks are often intimidated by these scooters as they are large, heavy and fast. Operators of these devices should keep others in mind when they are moving on the sidewalk.
Learn More
- Articles on DriveSmartBC Related to Wheelchairs
- City of Nanaimo Traffic Bylaw Section 21 - Sample Rule Against Obstructing Sidewalk
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Otherwise, the left edge of the roadway facing traffic like any other pedestrian is where to "walk."
Methinks the right edge is where you'll be able to face what's coming at you? And surely, in this country, the wise place for pedestrians and other non-vehicular road users to be in the absence of a sidewalk?
I've noticed that many homeowners have planted trees and hedges at the edge of the sidewalk in front of their homes. If proper maintenance is not done, these plants soon encroach on the sidewalk and prevent scooter operators from using it.
One thing I'll say for the District of North Van where I live, is that if you complain about vegetative encroachment in front of a property, they'll act quickly; first with a note to the property owner asking that they deal with it promptly, and if this doesn't happen by bringing in their own crew to cut it back (probably because that is actually District land anyway even though they may not be eager to mow the boulevard every week).
Going back to the main thrust of this Thread, it is truly worrying how many older folks of questionable intelligence we're seeing these days driving their devices on the road, apparently assuming that an orange flag stuck in the back bumper will make them safe. Sheesh, and I thought wisdom was supposed to come with age?
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Hmm it's the point of view, I reckon. As the driver, I reckon the pedestrian should be on the right, facing me.
Were I the pedestrian, or scooter operator, whatever, then indeed I would choose what to me would be the left side of the road.
Did you hear about the dyslexic agnostic insomniac? Stayed awake all night wondering if there really is a dog ...
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You were commenting from the driver's point of view and I was writing from the pedestrians point of view. Walk on the left, appear on the driver's right.
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I have a real problem here. I would not even think about driving a vehicle without liability insurance. If you were to injure someone, the lawsuit could wipe you out financially. In this province, ICBC is the only game in town for liability insurance however, they state that they only cover "motor vehicles" and wheelchairs, electric wheelchairs and scooters are not classified as such.
Indeed, I think we've all seen examples of cussed old codgers with attitude in shopping malls going like a bat out of hell. Couple that with mobility and mental issues and it's a recipe for disaster. You could easily be hit, break a leg ... or worse. Or an unpredictible child run in front and be hit. Where is your recourse?
Sue the old codger? How would you feel destroying an old person's life? Of course, it's also entirely possible that they have no assets anyway, so where are you?
Before I leave this subject, it applies to electric bicycles and other such vehicles that do not require license plates. To me, these are highly dangerous on the roadways due to a large speed differential. Couple that with a total lack of training or license testing!
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I guess that we could carry that speed differential thought one further and include what is likely the slowest road user, the pedestrian. They can be a significant hazard because they cause a lot of damage to a vehicle when struck and they don't have to be licenced, insured or trained either. Yes, I know that I'm being silly when I say things like that, but it does highlight how we seem to forget that not everyone gets around in a motor vehicle and that they are also entitled by law to use the highway.
Insured or not, we have to share. It's both a legal and a moral obligation in my view.
Yes, bad things do happen and sometimes there is no justice when they happen to you. Everything is a balance and you decide to either turn the other cheek or pursue damages as a first choice. By the same token, the person who did wrong is obligated to try and make up for that too. The courts and legal actions are there when we can't decide on the appropriate remedies on our own. They don't always make it right either and you cannot get blood from a stone as you have already observed.
You cannot insure yourself for everything in life although there are some things that we must do. Scooters, cyclists and pedestrians aren't required to insure themselves to use the highway, perhaps because for the most part, they aren't the ones causing the majority of the losses.
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Does not the term 'Handicapped Scooter' refer to the three and four-wheeled variety also referred to as 'Mobility Scooters' ? As most of these are capable of speeds well in excess of the average pedestrian speed, would/should they not fall under the Traffic Act as do Bicycles and Motor Assisted Cycles, and therefore travel on the same side as does other wheeled traffic?
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The scooter is a motor vehicle as defined in the Motor Vehicle Act. However, when used by someone who is handicapped, it is specifically exempted from being regulated like a motor vehicle:
Application of Act
2 (2) This Act does not apply to the driving or operation of a mechanically propelled invalid's chair that is used only for the purposes for which it was designed.
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We had a fellow name Vern who had one of the highend mobility scooters. It had a top speed of 12 km. and a range of 40km. Now Vern used to travel in the middle of a lane like he had the right to, many times I saw him in the lane during rush hour. Now his scooter weighed 400 lbs. so travelling at 12km could cause a great deal of damage. Possibily killing him or someone else or both, or doing damage to a vehicle. I've seen him going full tilt through parking lots, barely avoiding pedestrians. How would you get someone like that to pay for repair to your vehicle? I forgot to mention that he did this winter and summer.
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About a month ago I was proceeding along a street in Nanaimo, probably slightly below the speed limit of 50 kph. Good thing I was alert, this kid (maybe 14-16 years old) scooted right across in front of me and I came to a complete stop. He rode through the intersection, without stopping as there was a stop sign on the road he was on. He was lucky I wasn't half a second sooner or he would have got hit. Now these kids scooters, adult scooters, E-bicycles and regular bicycles should be required to pay a license fee and have their means of transportation registered and licensed. This is not the first time I've seen cyclists run red lights and dart through intersections. Licensing of these types of transportation should be law required by the Cities, Municipal and Regional districts to administer. These cyclists think they have the right of way all the time, they must obey the rules of the road if they are riding on them.
RJB Nanaimo BC
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I find that the problem with (mobility)scooters, bikes, e-bikes, and other powered or mechanically advantaged devices that operate as "pedestrians", that is to say on the sidewalk or on the "walking side" shoulder, is that they are traveling too quickly.
When I conduct a right hand turn, as a driver, I do the following:
Scan the intersection as I approach and stop.
I check left to see if there is oncoming traffic or if there are pedestrians, bicycles, etc approaching from left.
I then check right to look for pedestrians, stopped traffic or other potential obstructions.
Then I make a final check to the left (repeating step 1) and if all is clear direct my attention right again and conduct my turn.
The final check to the left is for oncoming traffic that may have entered the roadway or the visible portion thereof during the time I was checking right. At least this is what I was taught when learning and have seen taught since then.
The problem is that if a scooter or other is traveling from the right, they may have entered the sidewalk/shoulder from out of view and approached at such a rate that when I pull forward they run into me (I've had it happen with a cyclist when I was still in my teens).
An obstructed view of the sidewalk that was fine for pedestrian speed travelers, was simply insufficient for me to see a cyclist traveling at a much greater clip.
IMO if you operate as a pedestrian you shouldn't be traveling a more than a jogging pace. Any faster and your a "vehicle".
(Note: in the case of a pedestrian who's running, they should plan well ahead to account for their speed, but nevertheless a running pedestrian can stop quicker than a bike or scooter).
That's my 2 bits.
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Where one should scoot. Or pedest.