Mobility Scooters
Comfort Plus and the great scooter conundrum
Aug 5th
The House of Common’s Transport Committee’s forthcoming ruling on mobility scooters can’t come soon enough. For those who don’t know, the UK Government has become increasingly concerned at the number of mobility scooters on the roads/pavements and the resultant increase in accidents. Later this year the Government will update its legislation which could mean either compulsory testing or, more likely, manufacturers having to offer driver training courses. We shall see…..you can read one of the recent Government documents on the matter here.
Whatever the ruling, the increase in accidents and fatalities has been on a steep upward trajectory. We’re only five days into this month and already an elderly lady from Kent has tragically died after a collision with a recovery van.
In the meantime it’s vital that elderly and mobility impaired individuals choose a solid, reliable scooter from a reputable and trusted source. Manufacturers like Quingo, TGA, Sunrise Medical and mobility specialists such as More Than Mobility and Comfort Plus are all excellent suppliers of scooters and are hugely experienced in the mobility sector.
Comfort Plus is a particular favourite of mine. A family run company based in Hertfordshire, Comfort Plus supplies a great range of scooters and, importantly, knows what’s required from one. How do I know this? The company labels its road going scooter range as ‘Heavy Duty Class 3”. That’s precisely what’s needed – firstly, any road going scooter needs to be more robust than a bulldog’s jaw and secondly it needs to be Class 3 which is the Government’s labeling of a road-legal 8mph mobility scooter.
The company’s heavy duty mobility scooter is a sturdier model than its smaller counterpart and can support greater body weights. And true to the manufacturer’s specifications, the scooter can hit speeds of up to 8 miles an hour and cover 35 miles on a single battery charge. It also has high-quality direction indicators and hazard flashers along with head and tail lights. The tyres are large and offer good grip on the road.
rugged and dependable – the Cadiz mobility scooter
The controls are impressive too. The hand controls are simple and there is a good range of adjustment settings. The scooter is also fitted with the supremely comfortable ‘Captain Seat’, a must-have if you are planning trips of more than a few miles.
All in all, Comfort Plus’ range of heavy duty road-legal scooters can’t be faulted. Most importantly, this is a company that knows the mobility sector inside out and knows what its customers need, not just what they want.
Comfort Plus can be reached by calling 01462 678050 or by emailing the following address: info@comfortplusproducts.co.uk. Its website can be found by clicking on Comfort Plus.
Sir Stirling Moss drives again at The Mobility Roadshow 2010
Jul 13th
Still recovering from broken ankles following his recent and unfortunate fall down his own lift shaft, Sir Stirling Moss had the privilege of opening The 2010 Mobility Roadshow last Thursday in Peterborough. Following an opening speech that contained Sir Stirling’s usual sharp wit, he relaxed and enjoyed a chauffeur-driven tour of the show on a 2-seater TGA Supersport courtesy of TGA Electric.
Apparently Stirling was ‘absolutely fascinated’ with the variety of mobility products on display and ‘marvelled at how technically advanced many of the solutions are these days.’ In fact, pound for pound modern day mobility scooters are more advanced technically than the Formula One cars Stirling drove in the 60’s. Obviously not as fast though.
Tim Ross of TGA said, “We were delighted to welcome Sir Stirling onto our stand and assist him around the show. He explained to me the marvellous and inventive mobility solutions he had seen on our stand and around the show and concluded that his recent accident proved restricted mobility can happen anytime – hence experiencing The Mobility Roadshow was a must.”
It’s difficult when you’re a retired Formula One driver
The Mobility Roadshow was held earlier this month at the East of England Showground, Peterborough. Free to attend, the Roadshow is the only event of it’s kind in the UK where visitors can test drive a whole range of mobility products and adapted vehicles before purchasing. There was plenty to get involved with at this year’s show which included wheelchair basketball, rugby, tag rugby, sledge hockey, wheelchair dance and skills sessions for younger visitors. Plus in the Activity Zone you could try your hand at laser clays, archery, the climbing wall, adapted go-karts and a 4×4 experience.
The weather was great for all three days, which was fantastic for visitors, but left a few exhibitors red-faced and white-strapped from a lack of suntan cream.
Many exhibitors launch new products at the Roadshow, which means you get to see the latest innovations in mobility technology before they reach the market. My favourites? There were some good offerings from Aquasoothe especially its unbelievably light portable scooter called the TravelLite which splits into 3 parts (so it can easily be taken on trains and planes); More Than Mobility with its stunning range of electric wheelchairs; TGA and its Supersport; Portaramp (lightweight wheelchair access ramps); and Q’Straint (world leader in wheelchair passenger safety solutions) – all launched new products this year that resulted in high levels of interest, especially when visitors could touch and test products before purchasing.
Aquasoothe’s TravelLite which weighs just 25 kilogrammes
As ever, The Mobility Roadshow provided a great day out (for the whole family) and will do the same next year. Just remember to take your suntan cream!
Rambo wheelchair – the Scout Crawler
Jun 28th
Hot on the heels of last week’s post about the forthcoming Mobility Roadshow 2010 in Peterborough, in my in-tray arrives a press release from Otto Bock, one of the best hi-tech orthotics and mobility companies in the world.
Coming straight after the England World Cup defeat it’s not easy to sing the praises of a German company but, unlike our players, I will strain to remain utterly professional and I’ll certainly never stoop so low as to mention the war.
Anyway, Otto Bock has announced that it will showcase the prototype of its latest innovation, the Scout Crawler, for the first time in Peterborough. The all-terrain ‘’platform’ as they like to call it, features two rows of robust tracks and has been designed to take manual wheelchairs from pavements and firm surfaces onto rugged and challenging terrain such as sand and snow. Its versatility is said to enhance movement for standard wheelchair users and enable them to traverse more freely and enjoy a wider variety of outdoor activities.
The jury’s out on this. On the one hand, it’s a great innovation that will allow the mobility impaired to venture out into places they would never otherwise be able to visit – snowy terrain, rough hiking paths and trails, beaches and so on.
The drawback is that it is built like a tank. Call it the Rambo wheelchair. Here’s a photo:
The Otto Bock Scout Crawler
Talking to a mobility impaired friend of mine who resides in Teddington, London, his view was that you’d need serious resources to be able to use a ‘wheelchair’ like the Scout Crawler – a big vehicle or trailer to carry the darn’ thing, a big garage or outside area to store it, a physically strong carer and, above all, enough money to buy the contraption and all its accessories. For those with limited resources, it’s a straight toss-up between investing in a Scout Crawler or having a two week holiday in the Maldives each and every year. That’s perhaps a little trite but it rams the point home.
Overall, though, it’s difficult to be too critical of the Scout Crawler. Otto Bock continually pushes the edges of innovation and crucially gives those who are mobility impaired more choice. It’s the same with the Scout Crawler – it might not be to everyone’s taste or means, but for those who miss the outdoor life it opens up new opportunities. For this reason alone Otto Bock should be applauded.
If and when it goes into production no one knows – I’m sure it will depend on initial reaction and feedback from focus groups and audience reaction at exhibitions like the Mobility Roadshow 2010. Watch this space…..
Finally, for more information on mobility scooters (which are a handy alternative to powered wheelchairs), one interesting resource is Mobility Compare’s mobility scooter price comparison guide which gives tips and advice on using and buying a mobility scooter.
Get ready for launch at the 2010 Mobility Roadshow!
Jun 21st
At the East of England Showground Peterborough, 1-3 July, the 2010 Mobility Roadshow will again be the location for you to find all the latest mobility products under one roof.
All the leading specialists will be there with new products and you have the unique opportunity to test-drive many of them before purchase within the outdoor arena. This is the only event of its kind in the UK and will be opened by Sir Stirling Moss. Go along and maybe you can see whether you can beat Sir Stirling round the racetrack!
There will be a vast selection of new products on display, everything to help you with mobility and includes stands from specialist companies such as TGA, Portaramp and Q’Straint and Otto Bock to name a few.
TGA, the market leading scooter specialist from Suffolk will be launching the new funky Vita 3 which is a real eye-catcher. Its 4 wheel sister model has proved so popular for people who want a modern, stylish scooter that is really cool-looking, TGA knew they had to launch a more manoeuvrable 3 wheel version. Engineered with components from the automotive industry, the Vita 3 would look at home on Top Gear as it is so radically different – go and have a test drive but try not to wheel spin as much as Clarkson!
TGA’s Vita 3
Also on display from TGA will be the rest of its outstanding range that includes the latest Breeze 3 and 4 Midi’s, the enhanced Eclipse car boot scooter that can be personalised and the revolutionary, redesigned wheelchair powerpack.
Perfect for relieving the strain of pushing a wheelchair-using-friend or relative, the new Powerpack from TGA is even easier to drive, has better traction and is simple to fit to any wheelchair. Copied but never equalled, this latest generation model looks great and is fantastic for tackling grass, gravel and hills. Even Clive Burr the ex drummer from Iron Maiden has one and says it’s the best thing he has ever bought – how’s that for a unique endorsement!
For some added celebrity glamour, ‘Marilyn Monroe’ will be appearing on the TGA stand on the first day. Not only will there be a competition to win movie tickets, if it’s your birthday you may even be lucky enough to receive a rendition of her infamous song!
In addition to mobility scooter specialists such as TGA, there will be exhibitors demonstrating all the other latest products to keep you mobile. Portaramp for example will be launching two new ramps, which are high quality, extremely durable yet lightweight and give access to your home, work or vehicle if you use a wheelchair, scooter or powerchair.
Q’Straint is an international leader in wheelchair restraint systems for all types of transport and will be launching the new QLK-150 wheelchair docking system. This enables less able individuals who can drive a car with the ability to safely secure themselves without the need to transfer into a standard vehicle seat – very impressive.
So all in all, everyone going to this event should have a great time. Just remember however much you enjoy your test drive, don’t drive off onto any dual carriageways as that guy did in Essex last week. Avoid an Asbo, enjoy the Expo instead!
Finally, for more information on mobility scooters, don’t forget to visit Mobility Compare’s mobility scooter price comparison guide. Also, don’t forget to download Mobility Compare’s scooter buyer’s guide!
Thanks to Jon for the guest post…..
Renting Mobility Scooter from Forbes is Totally Secure and Safe
Jun 10th
Have you ever considered purchasing a mobility scooter because of mobility impairment? If so, then cost is possibly the biggest hurdle to overcome. No pun intended.
It’s not just the upfront cost of the vehicle, however – some of the big costs come with maintenance, servicing and insurance. Servicing costs in particular can be quite daunting, especially as mobility scooters start to deteriorate after a few years.
Did you know, for instance, that fixing a simple puncture on the specially made wheels of a mobility scooter can cost more than £40? If you opt for an annual servicing plan, then the cost may be reduced somewhat, but you will still have to pay anything between £80 and £150. This may be even higher in some cases, depending on how many conditions are covered in the service plan.
For this reason, quite sensibly, many people consider renting a mobility scooter. This is certainly a viable option if the scooters were always perfect.
But they’re not!
Most are second hand scooters, which have been returned because of some kind of mechanical failure during the warranty period. The manufacturers often fix up these scooters and rent them out to people looking for mobility scooters. The result is sub-standard equipment and defective vehicles that have a higher chance of breaking down. Not only that, the chance of accidents is also quite high in these vehicles, due to the defective conditions from the outset.
This might be alarmist, and in some cases it is unwarranted – there are reputable manufacturers who ensure their scooters are always in Grade A condition – but suspicions remain that many rented vehicles are substandard, defective or re-conditioned in some way. Hardly ideal.
This is why Forbes Mobility has such a high industry reputation. Forbes takes care of the scooters for the entire rental period. They take the financial risk by offering you a warranty on the scooter, which covers a wide range of clauses including most kinds of servicing. The best part is that the company offers a 10 day home trial for free, so that you can try out the scooter and decide whether it would be the right one for you. If it isn’t, you can change it.
At Mobility Compare, the UK’s leading comparison website for mobility aids, I am in a unique position to hear industry gossip from a wide range of manufacturers and mobility specialists. Time after time I hear on the industry grapevine of other industry insiders who rate Forbes highly. What was the key word? Integrity.
Typical prices? Take the Cadiz model above. You’d expect to pay approx £86.62 a month (VAT free price) over an eighteen month contract. That’s not bad. If you want to get in touch with Forbes Mobility click here or call 0800 834 115. You could do a lot worse…..and that’s the ‘insiders’ speaking.
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