Sidewalk scooter use

[Sparky]

^ Scooter rage....who would have thought?

The Brits dealt with a speed limit a few years ago. The comments after the following article are priceless.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-scooters.html

How about this story arising out of "tranquil Victoria"

http://www.thepassinglane.ca/2010/08...-incident.html

[sebberry]

I'm not sure I like the idea of microwaving seniors on scooters with radar guns...

What's next, spike belts for unruly seniors on their scooters?

[Szeven]

I hate how those 2 wheel electric scooters are legal on the goose trail. They are much faster than bikers and way less courteous!

[Holden West]

^Yes! They're fast as a motorbike but silent like a bicycle. And I haven't seen one with a bell. Most cyclists on the Goose are courteous and speak or ding as they are passing but the electric bike users seem to be a group unto themselves.

[jonny]

Three times in the past year I have seen an adult with down syndrome driving his scooter ON THE ROAD.

The first time I saw him he was travelling north on Shelbourne in that really narrow part in between North Dairy and Cedar Hill. I was shocked. It was so dangerous.

The second time was on Cook St in Cook St Village during a very busy afternoon and the third time was in Beacon Hill park.

[weirdie]

Originally Posted by jonny

Three times in the past year I have seen an adult with down syndrome driving his scooter ON THE ROAD.

The first time I saw him he was travelling north on Shelbourne in that really narrow part in between North Dairy and Cedar Hill. I was shocked. It was so dangerous.

The second time was on Cook St in Cook St Village during a very busy afternoon and the third time was in Beacon Hill park.

I see this guy all the time! I've seen him on Douglas and on Hillside. He completely takes up the bike lane on streets, forcing people on bicycles to go out into traffic to get around him. The last time I saw him he was on Blanshard waiting at the Caledonia intersection about three car lengths back from the crosswalk. I know a lot of other people who have commented on him as well.

[Barra]

I agree that the scooter user involved in the road rage incident should be charged with assault. and the Downs' guy who uses his mom's scooter should get a warning from the police followed by confiscation of the scooter (I don't think his mother uses it anymore).

[maniac78]

Originally Posted by Szeven

I hate how those 2 wheel electric scooters are legal on the goose trail. They are much faster than bikers and way less courteous!

I find the problem to be that the electric scooters are too slow and impede my progress and are larger than bikes and so I have to move over farther to pass them. Plus yeah a lot of them are complete douchebags and swerve all over the place and act like yahoos.

[Rob Randall]

Vic PD blog:

admin | March 16, 2011 in News

15 March 2011 - 0845 hours – Kings and Quadra – A woman came to the front counter at HQ and reported that she was walking to work when an elderly male on an electric scooter zoomed by her striking her on the left heel. This caused the woman to fall to ground striking her head in the process. The scooter driver made no effort to stop and assist and carried on down Quadra Street.

A passing cyclist stopped to assist the woman and suggested she go to hospital as he observed that she had received an abrasion over her eye. The woman however was able to get herself home and was assisted to the hospital by a family member. During treatment the woman learned she had received a scape to her nose and cheek, a black eye, scrapes to both knees and a sore ankle. Five stitches were required to close the cut on her right eyebrow area.

The scooter driver is described as an elderly white male, with white hair. He was wearing a cream coloured jacket and a golfer’s hat. He was driving a candy-apple red scooter which had the chair raised all the way up and did not appear to have side rails for arms. It is unknown if the man was even aware of what he had done in this incident.

[Nparker]

Originally Posted by Rob Randall

...The scooter driver is described as an elderly white male, with white hair. He was wearing a cream coloured jacket and a golfer’s hat..

That describes 50% of the make population of the region.

[kenjh]

the anger against the handicap ,downs syndrome, shown here truly let's me wonder if there is any compassion for persons around you..having mobility issues I fear the day I will depend on a scooter ...and 4 mph?? not likely ..

[Sparky]

kenjh, I think you are reading too much against "handicap, downs syndrome"

I read back and for the most part the comments were about one particular person.

The thread is about "sidewalk scooter use" and how the increasing use of these products might be affecting pedestrians sharing the same sidewalk.

As these products become more sophisticated the rules of the sidewalk may need to change.

Have a look at this bad boy parked in front of Heron Rock on Sunday. I was impressed with the technology, but I felt for the strollers at the same time.

[Holden West]

^I dig those little red scooters. They're like a Smart Car cut in half. I think it would be a cozy way to get about town!

Originally Posted by kenjh

the anger against the handicap ,downs syndrome, shown here truly let's me wonder if there is any compassion for persons around you.

There is no anger expressed here. Only concern for a mentally impaired person operating a sidewalk scooter on major arteries like Shelbourne and Yates St. contrary to the Motor Vehicle Act.

Actually, your idea that the disabled should be immune from criticism is itself condescending, and does them no favours.

[Sparky]

^ $6k

[kenjh]

one of your better ,,,tag lines,, safety through education ,not enforcement...sounds so hollow .....a great idea ,how ,if possible could we improve education and the safety for both sides???

[Sparky]

Originally Posted by kenjh

one of your better ,,,tag lines,, safety through education ,not enforcement...sounds so hollow .....a great idea ,how ,if possible could we improve education and the safety for both sides???

That's Sebberry's byline......why would you think that that person's opinion is hollow? I think when it comes to scooter use on the sidewalk, education is vital.

When I started driving there were no bike lanes. Now I have to be a lot more careful turning right than I used to. I had to educate myself about this subject.

[Barra]

I've heard of non-disabled people in Vegas using scooters, but it happens here too. I know a guy in his 80's - not disabled. In fact, he is a marathon runner. He likes to use his wife's scooter, supposedly to keep the battery up. He runs that thing really fast down the sidewalk! I told him that he has to slow down! i.e. slow down to walking speed.

[Holden West]

Clifford Allan Schmidt has been identified as the 78-year-old man killed Wednesday when his mobility scooter collided with a car in Nanaimo.

Nanaimo RCMP said Schmidt had unexpectedly steered across the roadway before he was hit. He died a short time later in hospital.
[...]
ICBC spokeswoman Michelle Hargrave said scooter-users should think like a pedestrian.

"They are to be treated just like a pedestrian, so they can be on sidewalks, walkways, crosswalks and paths, but not on the road".

Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Sc...#ixzz1pTrp3okF

I saw that fellow with Down's barrelling down Cook near Cloverdale on Thursday. Where the hell is that guy always going? Is he just touring the region every day?

[VicHockeyFan]

The guy that used to cruise near Caledonia and Douglas (he might be a business-owner nearby) on a Segway now has a souped-up scooter with raised seat. It goes plenty fast.

[arfenarf]

Originally Posted by Holden West

I saw that fellow with Down's barrelling down Cook near Cloverdale on Thursday. Where the hell is that guy always going? Is he just touring the region every day?

I saw him s/b on Quadra near Cloverdale a few days ago and deep in Oak Bay the day before that. It was twilight both times.

I worry about the guy.

[sebberry]

http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimes...5-27ae6063c9ca

CRD report opposes Segway use

Just say "no way" to the Segway.

That's the upshot of a Capital Regional District parks department report, which calls for use of the two-wheeled, single-passenger Segway to be curtailed, at least for the time being. The report, to be considered today, recommends that a request by the company Segway Victoria to conduct tours on regional trails be turned down, and that general use of the electric-powered Segways on the trails not be allowed until changes are made to the Motor Vehicle Act.

[...]

So if the MVA defines a Segway as a motor vehicle, then what about wheelchairs and personal mobility scooters? I see no reason why a segway shouldn't be permitted in the same places as a wheelchair, except for perhaps indoors.

[VicHockeyFan]

Originally Posted by sebberry

http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimes...5-27ae6063c9ca

CRD report opposes Segway use

So if the MVA defines a Segway as a motor vehicle...

It doesn't define them as a motor vehicle. They aren't allowed on roads, that's the point. So technically, they could be permitted on the trail, like they are on private property, but they can't cross the road crossing unless riders discount.

[sebberry]

Maybe I'm just confused then. Not the first time

[Dylan Leblanc]

The regional trails are to narrow to have a dozen Segways running down them all at once.

[kenjh]

well ..now to see what this scooter stuff is all about ..I bought my mom one ..her licence to drive was pulled because of her age ..83 ..might as well have cut her legs off..she say's ....but she's afraid of getting stuck somewhere with no power to get home ..so I am going to take it for a run out on a 4 mile loop and see how good bad or scary it is to ride in this town..I won't use the bike lanes when I am bike riding ..for a lot of reasons..now to a new corner ..does anyone else here actually use a scooter ??where can you find the rules on scooter use??are there any ??can yopu ride the bike lane or do you have to use the sidewalk ??the driveway ramps are scary ..feel like your getting thrown out into traffic..