If questions from owners of mobility scooters were compiled, the query about the perfect and safe location to drive their mobility scooters will appear to be frequently asked.
Are you perhaps one of those people looking for an answer? Then you found the perfect article to have your questions answered!
Read further to know more about suitable places to drive your mobility scooter as well as license or registration issues you should know.
Where can I ride my Mobility Scooter? Is it safe on the road?
Mobility scooters aren’t vehicles for recreational use, hence, it is meant to be used as an aide or assistive vehicle for its owner. Although rules for riding it vary from city to city, country to country, it is important to have your own little research about driving mobility scooters before hitting the road. To answer your question, generally, it is not legally allowed to ride your mobility scooter on the main road or the highway. Since mobility scooters have a very low speed, it is a vehicle that is meant for pedestrians, that is why in most cases, this type of scooter is allowed on the sidewalks.
Rules for pedestrians are usually applied to you, the mobility scooter driver as well. However, riding it on sidewalks seems peculiar since scooters are still a type of vehicle, necessarily, mobility scooters are just an assistive type. Unlikely, bicycles have their own lane because their speed can be controlled, while mobility scooters, for safety purposes, should have a speed just up to three miles per hour.
Nevertheless, safety of both the rider and the walkers is the top priority. Extreme cautions should be observed such as preventing you from being in a rush, walkers cannot be at your speed that is why adjusting to their walking speed might be a better option and exercising original traffic rules.
Unfortunately, not all neighborhoods are the same and not every place you’ll go is pedestrian friendly so an absence in sidewalks will be an unpleasant sight to see. In these cases, the same precautions are applied.
Before we forget about it, let me tell you that bike lanes are not for mobility scooters. The difference in speed gives us quite a gap.
Is License and Registration required? How about a license plate?
As mentioned before, rules and ordinances for mobility scooters vary from city to city and country to country. In states like Alabama, Hawaii and Kentucky, a license is required for mobility scooters while registration is expected in states like Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts and Minnesota. However, this rule does not apply in states like Florida, Connecticut and South Dakota where neither license nor registration are expected from mobility scooter riders.
Aside from the fact that mobility scooters are meant for everyone, the legality of riding it will still be based on your location or the local government if rules and ordinances are imposed.
Furthermore, because of the fact that mobility scooters aid the handicapped in most cases, going hard on them isn’t something the government will tolerate. Aside from that, accident cases where mobility scooters are involved are very unlikely. That is why if there are rules involving mobility scooters, it is not well implemented since most riders are known to be disciplined.
Where to go with your mobility scooter?
While following all the precautions mentioned above, you can reach as far as you want to without breaking a sweat.
That is why, what are you waiting for? Maybe a mobility scooter is for you, it won't take long to purchase one though.
Can’t wait for the time when the handicapped can go wherever they want to, safe and secured.
We hope this article indeed helps in your decision making process.
Just choose what is right and suitable for you and you will be content with your decision!
Please let us know if you have any questions or if there’s anything we can help you with by contacting us!
Happy riding!
Mobility Shop Online Team