Due to a quite surprising range of neurological ailments, not to forget the increasing effects of advancing age, I have become considerably less mobile than I used to be. Where I used to be able to briskly walk for many hours, I now move slowly at a tortoises pace, for no more than one hour, supporting myself with either a cane or a crutch – depending on how I happen to function that day. Yet I won’t complain: there’s nothing I truly lack in my life, and reduced mobility doesn’t unduly bother me.

However, for the longer journeys I nowadays use a mobility scooter, which kind of makes me feel like a prince or even a king! Relaxedly sitting in a cusioned seat, pleasantly but never arrogantly greeting the breathless passers-by, I buzz along at either walking pace or double speed. When I feel relaxed I “walk”, when I really need to be somewhere at a certain time I rev up the little machine.

There are many people much worse off than me, when it comes to mobility. I can, albeit with difficulty, still walk – but a lot of others can’t. Especially for them the electric scooter is a great help, enabling them to be free again. There are 3-wheel mobility scooters and 4-wheel mobility scooters, and if you’re seriously considering buying such a contraption, I certainly recommend the 3-wheeled version. These are considerably more manoeuvrable due to their smaller turning radius, which is a definite advantage in crowded or narrow spots. I also would recommend to go for batteries with a lot of capacity: it’s not only unpleasant but also extremely embarassing to find yourself without of power when a long way from home!

Apart from electrical scooters, there are many more contraptions and inventions that make the life of the disabled much easier. Stairlifts, bed lifts, electric wheelchairs, rollators… they all serve to make life much more normal for the handicapped.

Comments are closed