Getting around these days has never been easier. We have traditional bikes, electric bikes, cars, mopeds, and even electric unicycles. And one of the most ubiquitous forms of personal transportation often seen in grocery stores and shopping centers is the mobility scooter.
These usually small, electric carts are often used by elderly and psychically challenged customers to help them shop, save energy, and enjoy life outdoors. But do you have to be disabled to enjoy using a mobility scooter? What advantages can a mobility scooter offer someone who is physically fit, and why would you buy one?
Ease of Use
Mobility scooters offer a variety of benefits, including being simple to use and drive. Their controls are generally very easy to understand and require minimal training and comprehension. In contrast, many more complex vehicles such as mopeds, cars, and even electric bikes require at least some skill, certification, balance, and nuance to be able to ride and maneuver then successfully and safely.
In contrast, the controls of a mobility scooter are usually a simple throttle to control forward motion, a dial to control speed, and an easy-to-use steering mechanism with handles to point you where you need to go. Taking relatively little time to learn how to drive a mobility scooter can make it a simple and safe choice for anyone who needs to get out of the house and wants a ride that is straightforward and intuitive to learn.
Ease of Charging
Mobility scooters are also simple to charge and ride. Whereas electric cars may require a special charging station and need a garage, a mobility scooter can generally fit inside of one’s home and charge conveniently using a wall socket. They run on electricity, not gas, and are therefore cleaner than a car or moped and will save you extra money on fuel.
They can be charged anywhere you have access to a plug point and require no extra equipment, attachments, modifications, or tools to plug in. They charge within a few hours and can be regenerated at home, at work, or even outdoors in some locations. Recharging overnight is best, allowing you a full battery pack to get on with your day the next morning.
Range
While the range of mobility scooters varies, higher-end scooters can get you as far as 43 miles on a single charge when driven on flat terrain. If you decide to go for one of these beautiful, moped-style mobility scooters, you’ll be treated to impressive battery life, as well as a stylish and fun way to get outdoors. What’s better, they’re safe and legal for sidewalks, inside of buildings, and in parks, too. You can get outside, get fresh air, and visit a wider range of places throughout your day.
A smaller range mobility scooter can still get you an average of seven to ten miles on a single charge, and that’s not bad, either. If you’re looking to make a quick trip down to a nearby convenience store, café, or park, the shorter-range mobility scooters can take care of you, too. Just be sure to check your battery life before leaving for the day, and charge overnight for added security and maximum range.
Convenience
Ever tried riding a bike through Walmart? Did you get kicked out? I bet you did. Would that have happened to you if you were on a mobility scooter instead? Absolutely not!
One of the great and often overlooked benefits of a mobility scooter is how easy it is to drive almost anywhere. You certainly couldn’t take most rides into a crowded store; you’d have to park outside, walk in, and then search for your ride in the parking lot once done.
A mobility scooter, on the other hand, can get you to a nearby store, can contain your groceries (no squeaky, pulling-to-the-left shopping cart needed!), and can get you back home, too. No parking, no figuring out where you parked, no accidentally trying to enter someone else’s identical-looking car, no loading up your car trunk with groceries (they’re already in your cart’s basket), and no fumbling with a bike lock, either. Win!
Economical
Mobility scooters are a relatively cheap alternative to a car or moped if you’re only going short distances in town. Obviously, you can’t ride a mobility scooter on the road choked with car traffic, but they’re fine for riding on sidewalks, and many models can get you around town on a single charge.
Need a way to get around a little bit quicker but don’t have tens of thousands to throw down on a car? Try a mobility scooter, instead. A higher-end mobility scooter will cost you about $4,000. Contrast that against the price of many other vehicles, and that’s a very reasonably priced ride, especially for something brand new. More basic models range between $1,000 and $2,000, making these options another possibility for those needing a small, economical way to get around town.
Compact
Looking for a way to get around that fits neatly inside most homes? Most mobility scooters can store safely and neatly in a living room, and even the larger ones will take up less room in your garage than a car or a motorcycle. They’re perfect for those with limited space and can back into corners impossible for anything much larger to fit. They’ll take up minimal room in public, will fit on a sidewalk or a bike trail, and are easy to park and walk away from, too.
Fun
Perhaps the easiest to consider reason to go for a mobility scooter is the novelty and uniqueness of riding around on something that is unexpected and a bit quirky. A mobility scooter is definitely that! It’s cute, fun, and a bit unusual, but is still a perfectly valid and safe form of transport.
Looking to make some new friends, strike up conversations, and get to know your neighbors? The speed and approachability of a mobility scooter can help accomplish all of this. It’ll be a likely conversation starter, can make you immediately recognizable in your neighborhood, and will allow you to cruise at a more leisurely speed, making it easier to stop and talk to folks along the way.
Conclusion
So, what benefits can getting a mobility scooter to add to your life? Plenty! It can get you some extra fresh air, save you time and energy, make nearby shopping trips more convenient, and allow you a unique, fun, and simple way to get outdoors and see more of the world. There are several variations of the best mobility scooters to choose from, depending on your needs. Mobility scooters aren’t only for one demographic: they’re easy for anyone and everyone seeking a safe, fun, electro-charged, and compact ride.
About the author:
Trevor Fenner is the founder and owner of Mobility Paradise, a one-stop shop for mobility scooters, electric scooters, electric wheelchairs, wheelchairs, oxygen concentrators, lift chairs, saunas, steam showers, massage tables, exercise equipment, electric bikes, massage chairs, and bathtubs. Years ago, Trevor’s grandma had an accident that made her dependent on a wheelchair; this forced Trevor and his family to put her into an elderly care facility. Since then, Trevor would visit her to take a walk around the neighborhood. Mobility Paradise was created because Trevor couldn’t find an online store that offers a wide selection of mobility equipment and educational resources. What started as a business focusing on mobility scooters grew to include all kinds of mobility products. You can shop for the most reliable mobility products at Mobility Paradise.