Forum Topic

Joys of traveling & using a Mobility scooter or Wheelchair.

I live in Ealing. I own a Wheelchair accessible vehicle. (WAV),  an Electric Mobility scooter which is road taxed & has a number plate, an Electric Wheelchair, and Manual wheelchair.Between these I try & get around.I use the Electric Mobility scooter with the manual wheelchair on the back for longer distances. Because it is Taxed & registered as a road vehicle. (Max 8 MPH) I cannot use Pavements, cycle or bus lanes.If I use say the Uxbridge road Hanwell to Ealing Broadway, I get Buses, manual & powered cycles. And some time mostly L plated scooters. passing on my left. Plus, Cars, lorries, and yes, I also get manual & powered cycles, & scooters. Overtaking me even if there is not enough room. Unlike a cycles other vehicles do not need to give me 2 Meter safe clearance. Very frightening at times.The Electric folding Wheelchair for shorter distances, (5 Mile there & back plus shopping when you get there).List of issues:Poor Quality of the Pavements.Width of Pavements in mostly local side roads.Tree foliage not being cut back a lower levels.House foliage blocking some or all the Pavement area.Personal working & blocking Pavements with no save way round them.Poor Quality of Drop Kerbs, or no Drop Kerbs.Blocking of Drop Kerbs by vehicles & hired cycles.Which means I must go out into the road. Most wheelchairs do not have lights.There are times when I just give up & go home.Wheelchair accessible vehicle. (WAV) (With Blue Badge)I use this to get closer to the shops, sometimes short distances, because of the above & so that my career can come with me to help me.But also, to get to Hospitals, & shops, where I may need to use a manual folding wheelchair. The manual wheelchair is smaller than the Electric Wheelchair.All Wheelchairs.Have a look round & see how many shops of all types plus cafes & restaurants where a wheelchair cannot access.Or if you are Lucky to find one. There is very little room inside so need to fold the wheelchair or to be told there is not enough room & not to come in.

Peter Jones ● 458d9 Comments

As I said, I use a zimmer for even athe shortest trip and pavement parking is simply not an issue. Cyclists and scooterists are and will become even more so if nonsensical shared pavement schemes proceed. There is historical pavement damage and excessive weed growth which has been neglected for years

N V Brooks ● 454d

Pavement parking and driving over the kerbs in today's heavier and larger motor vehicles creates the damage and hazards that can put someone in a wheelchair or worse.

Philippa Bond ● 454d

No, I use a zimmer frame to walk and encounter zero issues with pavement parking. I do though encounter able bodied adult morons on their cycles. I guess that you kast post Ben was just your regular bout of opening your mouth to change feet

N V Brooks ● 456d

You probably don't push a child's buggy or use a wheelchair to even notice the large amount of pavement parking. Imagine what it must be like to be forced into the road as a result of someone courteously parking their motor, with hazard lights considerately placed on, in your right of way.  Pavement parking damages the paving stones, creating trip hazards, all leading to costly repairs.

Ben Owen ● 456d

There's not that much pavement parking in LBE, it's the usual hyberbole from the usual suspects.

Rosco White ● 456d

Although illegal in many cases, pavement parked vehicles would not normally affect someone whose disability scooter is used in the carriageway. Forcing them onto narrower roads by the imposition of unnecessary cycling infrastructure however, IS an issue

N V Brooks ● 456d

Surprised at no mention of vehicles parking on pavement. Or are you forgetting this?

Ben Owen ● 456d

I am surprised at no mention of the VERY dangerous use of bicycles, e-scooters etc.on pedestrian footpaths. There should be ZERO tolerance on this but no-one in "Authority" seems to give a toss?Until, of course and as usual, someone is killed.

Rosco White ● 457d

That’s a distressing list of issues. Have you contacted the council and highlighted the areas of concern? It is responsible for pavement maintenance and also ensuring thoroughfares are clear of overhanging vegetation. The council can compel householders to cut back shrubs in their gardens.

Simon Hayes ● 457d