Mobility Scooter FAQ
Q1. Is it safe for the children to ride on these items?
Children
should be closely monitored and supervised by an adult at all times. Children
should always wear protective gear such as helmets, knee and elbow pads while
riding. See our safety page for further safety instructions.
Q2. Is it legal to ride these mobility scooters in my area?
We strongly suggest our customers contact your local law enforcement
for regulations in your area concerning your mobility scooters prior submitting
an order. You see, different countries get different policy.
Q3. How much assembling required?
Most of our mobility
scooter come 95% assembled .For some models, you need to assemble the seat by
yourself.
Q4. What is the maximum speed?
Since it is suggested for
old person or disabled person used, the normal speed for the mobility scooter
should not be two fast, about 10km/h, but we should have larger models which can
up to 18km/h.More or less depending on optional power sizes.
Q5. Where can I get the replacement parts? Are they expensive?
We carry most of the common spare parts in our warehouse. You can
order some wearing parts together with the products for the maintenance. It will
not cost so much, but some important parts cost a little expensive.
Q6.Can I ride my mobility scooter outside?
Yes, scooters are
designed to be ridden inside and outside
Q7.How far can I go on one full charge of the batteries?
That
depends on the type of terrain you’re on, your weight, the temperature, and
other conditions, but you can count on a range of approximately 25 to 30
miles.
Q6.How long will a set of batteries last?
That depends on how
often you charge them, and the type of use you give your scooter, but generally,
a set of batteries should last one to one and a half years if you charge them
daily.
Q7.What if I have problems with my scooter?
All our mobility
scooters are covered by a comprehensive warranty.
Q8.Are spare parts available?
Yes, a full selection of spare
parts is on hand.
Q9.Can I ride my scooter on the road?
The scooter is a
"pedestrian mobility device", and is intended for use on sidewalks. You should
only ride on the roadway when no sidewalk is available. Always ride with
care.
Q10.Do I need a license for my scooter?
No license is required
to operate a scooter.
Q11.Can I carry passengers on my scooter?
No, the scooter is
rated for just the driver.
Q12.Is there any maintenance required with the scooters?
The
only user maintenance is to charge the batteries daily, check tire pressures
weekly, and keep machine clean with a damp, soft cloth.
Q13.Can I ride the scooter in the rain or snow?
Yes, with some
conditions: Do not ride if rain is heavy and may possibly soak the control
panel. Ride very slowly through puddles. Do not ride if snow is deeper than 1/2
the height of your wheels.
Q14.Can I park the scooter inside my home?
Yes, the scooter is
equipped with sealed lead acid batteries designed for indoor use.
Q15.Can I take my scooter on an airplane or cruise ship?
Yes,
but you will probably be asked to equip your scooter with "Gel cell" type
batteries.
Q16. What are the Medicare requirements for mobility products?
Medicare requirements change frequently but have more recently become
more stringent. The following information is provided as a courtesy only. It is
the customer’s responsibility to verify the accuracy of the information.
Q17: How long will it take to receive my spareparts order?
A: It depends
on the destination place. Some of them we must order from factory. Some pars are in stock.
Q18. Can the Mobility Scooter go up hill?
Yes. The Mobility
Scooter can easily travel up inclines of up to 10 degrees. This is more than
adequate for day to day, urban, use.
Q19. Can the Mobility Scooter go up curbs?
No mobility scooter
on the market is capable of traversing a full, roadside curb yet like other
mobility scooters.
Q20. Can I overcharge the battery?
No. The battery
automatically stops taking charge when maximum capacity is reached.
Q21. Can the Mobility Scooter go backwards?
Yes. It even
sounds an audiable alert to warn passers by that you are in reverse motion.
Q22. Can the mobility scooter be easily repaired should anything go
wrong?
Yes. We carry an extensive range of spare parts which covers
virtually every component of the Mobility Scooter.
Q23. Can I part-exchange my current mobility scooter?
Unfortunateley, no.
Q24. How will I know when the battery is almost dead?
The
Mobility Scooter has a battery guage built into the handlebars indicating the
amount of charge left.
Q25. Is it easy to put together and take down?
Yes. Full
instructions with detailed, easy to follow diagrams are provided with each
purchase.
Q26.How do I get my mobility scooter/power wheelchair into a car?
Almost transportable mobility scooters are designed to fold or dismantle
into a few easy to manage pieces, which will fit easily into most cars. You
simply dismantle the scooter and lift the pieces into the boot or back seat.
There are various systems for dismantling and some are easier to use than
others.
Larger mobility scooters may well need a different approach. Some will
dismantle in much the same way as transportable scooters but you must remember
that the component pats will be heavier to lift. Larger mobility scooters
generally have larger batteries, motors and seats and as such are more
comfortable to use but will be less easy to transport.
Q27.How do I get the best out of my Mobility Scooter batteries?
There are a few very simple rules that can help you get the maximum life
out of your mobility scooter batteries. Once you have bought your scooter we
recommend that you take really good care of your batteries. If you look after
them well they can last you several years.
Keep your scooter batteries fully
charged at all times.
Even if you only pop down the road, or next door, put
your scooter back on charge!
Once your scooter is full to the top the
charger just slowly releases a very small amount of power into the scooter
battery. That is called a "trickle charge", this is very good for your scooter
battery and is very inexpensive.
Keep your batteries cool.
When you charge your batteries try not to leave them next to a radiator
or fire. It will not break them or stop them from working if they get warm so
don’t worry. This is just to help you get the most life out of your scooter
batteries so you don’t have the expense of replacing them.
Make sure the
terminals are greased.
This will be checked on your service but if you do
have anyone around who can just keep their eye on your batteries that would
help. Again this will not break them or stop them from working.
Ensure your
batteries are kept clean.
If you go out in the wet or the mud, just wipe
them down with a clean, dry cloth. This stops any damp getting in and causing
damage.
Q28.Choosing a Mobility Scooter - Which one for me?
It is important to that you take time to consider which type of mobility
scooter you should buy in the same way that you would with a car.
Firstly,
you should consider what type of journey you expect to take on your new mobility
scooter. Is it likely to be very short journeys close to home on good flat
surfaces or will it be more long journeys mostly over bad pavements or rough
ground?
Do you need to put your mobility scooter into the car to take with
you on journeys to the shops or on holiday?
What is your body size and
weight? It is important that you choose a mobility scooter that will accommodate
you comfortably.
What are your feelings on three or four wheel mobility
scooters? Do you want something that will give you maximum stability or would
you be better off with a scooter that will give you better maneuverability
around your local shops?
There are easy answers to all of these questions
and if you give them due consideration you will be likely to find the right
product for you.
Q29.Mobility Scooter maintenance - General
Modern mobility scooters require very little maintenance but it is still
prudent to take certain measures in order to get the best from your mobility
scooter.
We recommend an annual service, which will go a long way to keeping
your mobility scooter in good working order, but there are certain small things
that you can do to help;
Keep your mobility scooter clean. Not only will
your scooter look better, but by keeping it clean you can stop grime and grit
from getting into any moving parts of your mobility scooter and causing
premature wear.
Don’t let your scooter get too wet. You will almost
certainly get caught in the rain at some stage. When you do, make sure that you
give your mobility scooter a wipe down when you can. This drying will stop any
premature corrosion. Pay particular attention to soft areas such as upholstery.
You can go a long way to protecting your mobility scooter from the elements by
having a wet weather cover, you can see a range of these in our Mobility scooter
wet weather wear section.
Battery charging. Always pay attention to your
user handbook for your battery-charging guide or click here to read our guide to
charging your mobility scooter. A considered charging routine will go a long way
to ensuring a good performance from your mobility scooter.
Storage. If you
can, store your mobility scooter in a dry, and clean environment. Your mobility
scooter will perform much better if it is not subjected to extreme temperatures
or damp. You can look in our scooter accessories section for other storage
ideas.
Basic maintenance. If you can, take a look at the underside of your
mobility scooter every few weeks or so and check that there are no obstructions
or any excessive build up or dirt, particularly around the battery terminals and
steering rack.
Consult your user guide. For any specific product
requirements please consult your mobility scooter user guide book for direction.
DON’T PANIC! Your mobility scooter will probably perform well without any
input from you at all but these measures will help.
Q30. Where can I go on my Mobility Scooter?
Basically all mobility scooters can be driven with care on any pavements
and public pathways. However, the larger mobility scooters that go at 8 miles
per hour are legally allowed on the roads. Though we do suggest that you
exercise caution when using the roads and only do it when you need to!
Please read to the end of this section if you would like to read the
official Highway Authority wording on where you can use your mobility
scooter.
Shopping
The whole point of having a mobility scooter or a powerchair
is to enable you to live your life to the same quality as you did when your
mobility wasn’t such a problem.
When you go shopping look out for places
that have good access for wheelchairs that will suit you on your mobility
scooter too! In fact as of October 2004 it is a legal requirement for shops,
hotels, cafes, in fact anywhere that the general public want to go, to have
disability access, which is fantastic news for all you mobility scooter-users
out there!
Days out!
On sunny days there is nothing better than getting out in
the fresh air on your mobility scooter. A handy hint when you are trying to
decide where to go for a ride round is to find places that have good
cycle-paths. If a place is good for bikes then it will be great for your
mobility scooter! As more people are getting mobility scooters places of
attraction are taking scooter-users needs more seriously. If you are at all
worried about using your mobility scooter somewhere then you can always ring
ahead and check that you will be ok.
Another place you can ring is the
Tourist Information Centre. Tell them you have a mobility scooter and ask them
what they would suggest. They are usually very helpful!
Enjoying your mobility scooter!
Mobility scooters are designed to
enhance the quality of your life. They can give you back the precious freedom
that you maybe in danger of losing. Once you have made the decision to buy a
scooter (that is the biggest step) enjoy it!
Scooter speeds-explained
Most class 3-mobility scooters have two speed settings, usually changed by a
switch.
12.8kph - 8mph maximum speed
Permitted only on the road. Not for
use on the pavement or footpath.
6.4kph - 4mph maximum speed
Permitted
on the pavement or footpath.
The law requires all class 3 vehicles to be fitted with Lights,
indicators, horn, rear view mirror, rear reflectors and a manual handbrake. A
flashing beacon can be used when driving on the road to warn other road users of
their presence, and must be used if driving on a dual carriageway.
Insurance is not legally required for any powered vehicle in any
category, Class 2 for pavement use or Class 3 for pavement and road use.
However, it is recommended that the purchaser have at least 3rd party/public
liability Insurance, covering accidental damage to other people and property.
Remember, no matter how good a driver you are, accidents happen!
Q31.Mobility Scooter maintenance - How do I look after my scooter?
Now you have your scooter! You’ve made a huge step and you can start to
enjoy getting out and about.
Scooters are generally very reliable and do not
need much looking after but there are a few things that you can do.
Keep it
clean and tidy. By doing this you will contribute towards the smooth running of
your mobility scooter and overall reliability.
Think about your battery
charging. By having a sensible charging regime you will limit your chances of
ever running out of power and help to protect the long term life of your
batteries.
Have a regular service. Modern mobility scooters are very reliable but,
in order to get the best from it, you should have a service at least once a
year.
Avoid getting your mobility scooter too wet. You will probably get caught
out in the rain from time to time but you can take care to protect your scooter
with rain covers for you and your machine.
Take your keys with you. When you are out an about and you need to leave
your mobility scooter say outside a shop, you should be careful to take your
keys with you so that your scooter is safe.
Don’t overload! You should take care not to overload your scooter with
too much heavy luggage. Remember tinned goods and potatoes can be really heavy
so don’t try to take too much as this could affect the balance and performance
of your scooter.
Q32.Where do I store my Mobility Scooter?
People store their mobility scooters in all kinds of places. Some keep
their scooter in the luxury of the living room or kitchen and many people store
them in the hallway. Others keep them under a cover at the front of the
house.
The best place to store your mobility scooter really is an outdoor shed
or garage. Ideally your storage place should be large enough for you to drive
into and get off the scoter, even better if you have enough space to turn around
so that you are facing the right direction the next time you want to go out.
The main thing is that the facility is dry and protected from extreme
cold and heat.
Also, you will need to think about a power supply so that you can charge
your mobility scooter. Ideally, you would have a power point in your garage or
shed so that you can plug it in to charge after you have used it. That way it
will be full of power and ready to use the next time you need it.
Many people who do not have access to a garage or shed will keep their
mobility scooter under a cover. These covers are great if you have limited space
and need to store your scooter close to your home. If necessary, power can be
fed via an extension lead to the scooter when it is safe to do so.