4.5MPH ECVs -- Why?

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

...and I quote from a popular scooter rental company: "And with a cruising range of 18 miles and maximum speed of 4.5 MPH, you will have no problem getting round the theme parks and other Orlando attractions."

Why would a scotter or ECV ever need to travel that fast?

At a good clip, a very motivated walker can maintain 3MPH, while the average walker is closer to 2MPH. A woman at my office has transitioned to an ECV and outpaces co-workers by a two to one rate in hallways, and -- to be truthful -- she has her vehicle loaded down to some degree.

Now, I'm not suggesting that ECVs are all zooming about at top speed, but -- just the same as walkers -- impatience and a sense of urgency can both hit. The fact is, ECVs are capable of speeds nearly one-half that of the average marathon runner, but without the agility and stopping ability of a runner.

The question that should be at the heart of the ongoing and often testy ECV vs. walkers debate is: why so fast? Why any faster than the average walker?

Curious to have your thoughts.

 

[kaligal]

...and I quote from a popular scooter rental company: "And with a cruising range of 18 miles and maximum speed of 4.5 MPH, you will have no problem getting round the theme parks and other Orlando attractions."

Why would a scotter or ECV ever need to travel that fast?

At a good clip, a very motivated walker can maintain 3MPH, while the average walker is closer to 2MPH. A woman at my office has transitioned to an ECV and outpaces co-workers by a two to one rate in hallways, and -- to be truthful -- she has her vehicle loaded down to some degree.

Now, I'm not suggesting that ECVs are all zooming about at top speed, but -- just the same as walkers -- impatience and a sense of urgency can both hit. The fact is, ECVs are capable of speeds nearly one-half that of the average marathon runner, but without the agility and stopping ability of a runner.

The question that should be at the heart of the ongoing and often testy ECV vs. walkers debate is: why so fast? Why any faster than the average walker?

Curious to have your thoughts.

Are you seriously asking for all the reasons a person might need to move quickly?

 

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

Moving quickly in limited instances is one thing. Keeping an ECV at full throttle consistently is another. Besides, as I mentioned, 2MPH is an average walking speed. 3MPH is a very swift walk, which should suffice. Why, I ask again, 4.5MPH?

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm guessing in case you need to go up a large hill. Just like people who walk need to give it a little extra umph to get up a big hill, so do people in ECVs.

 

[saffsmom]

so an ECV operating at 2MPH is the equivalent of walking speed... at 3MPH it would be equal to someone walking briskly... and 4.5MPH is like someone running through the crowd?

how appropriate would it be for someone to actually RUN through other people/crowds? not very IMO...
yet most of us on foot are CAPABLE of running should the need occur.
just because someone has that capacity (including on an ECV) doesn't mean that they "have" to utilize it.

i think most of the problems come down to common sense, and common courtesy...or the lack there of.
(and maybe from people on ECV's who have not recieved proper instruction on how to use them...2 of my great aunts use them in daily life.
one is an excellent and courteous driver, the other never read her manual...you'd best better get out tha way!!!!)

 

[annieb727]

ECVs were not invented for Disney. They were made to help people get around. Disney is only a small part of mobility. People use them a lot in other situations. For some people that is how they get around. Driving an ECV 4.5 miles per hour down the street when you're going from your house to the grocery store isn't that big of a deal. That is the type of thing they were invented for.

 

[CandleontheWater]

I'm guessing in case you need to go up a large hill. Just like people who walk need to give it a little extra umph to get up a big hill, so do people in ECVs.

Just to put it out there, it is Florida, a state not exactly known for its hilly terrain. If we were talking about San Francisco, maybe 4.5 miles is needed to make it up hills of those size, but nothing in the parks will need that kind of power.

Unless, of course, you are actually trying to climb Expedition Everest with your scooter, then you might need it.

 

[annieb727]

Just to put it out there, it is Florida, a state not exactly known for its hilly terrain. If we were talking about San Francisco, maybe 4.5 miles is needed to make it up hills of those size, but nothing in the parks will need that kind of power.

Unless, of course, you are actually trying to climb Expedition Everest with your scooter, then you might need it.

Actually...you really DO need some of that power for some of the hills and ramps at Disney. A fairly small incline can take a lot of power for an ECV. You would need to go quite a bit faster to get up San Francisco hills.

 

[Orangeandwild]

That speed is not needed in the parks other than to get up a steep incline if you are rather pooh sized and need the power. However, you have to think that we who have to use them have to have that power as safety precaution, such as you are in a walkway with one and a driver does not slow down, you would need to run out of the way but without power we do not have that ability and would get hit by careless drivers. Or how about in a crime situation, someone is bothering you or threatening you (and it happens to disabled and elderly often) and you want to get away from the area, we need the power to move out of there quickly. Not to mention in a fire, you may need to get out of an area fast.

People use them far more than just in the parks even at Disney, and lots of situations do come up you need more than a slow walk worths of power.

 

[watkinsme]

Just to put it out there, it is Florida, a state not exactly known for its hilly terrain. If we were talking about San Francisco, maybe 4.5 miles is needed to make it up hills of those size, but nothing in the parks will need that kind of power.

Unless, of course, you are actually trying to climb Expedition Everest with your scooter, then you might need it.

heading up the hill to the land it's quite hilly IMO

 

[Hannathy]

I believe the OP was commenting on the add they quoted and is referring to that. and it says to get around the theme parks. OP you are right no one needs that speed in an amusement park.

I certainly hope that in order to go that fast you have to manually switch it or something or else there are going to be a lot of people going way to fast and damage done.

 

[bedogged]

ECVs were not invented for Disney. They were made to help people get around. Disney is only a small part of mobility. People use them a lot in other situations. For some people that is how they get around. Driving an ECV 4.5 miles per hour down the street when you're going from your house to the grocery store isn't that big of a deal. That is the type of thing they were invented for.

I agree with this. People bike faster than that.

My Son in Law uses his ECV for transportation around the neighborhood. 4.5 miles an hour is not very fast. How would you like your transportation to be limited to 4.5 miles an hour? Think of how long it would take you to get to work or any where else you needed to go!

 

[Hannathy]

I agree with this. People bike faster than that.

My Son in Law uses his ECV for transportation around the neighborhood. 4.5 miles an hour is not very fast. How would you like your transportation to be limited to 4.5 miles an hour? Think of how long it would take you to get to work or any where else you needed to go!

You are comparing it to a car. That is apples to oranges.

For your comparison to be valid you need to compare an ECV to walking and very few people can maintain 4.5 MPH for very long.

An ECV takes the place of walking not driving.

 

[kaligal]

Moving quickly in limited instances is one thing. Keeping an ECV at full throttle consistently is another. Besides, as I mentioned, 2MPH is an average walking speed. 3MPH is a very swift walk, which should suffice. Why, I ask again, 4.5MPH?

Ok, as stated, they need to get up a hill. They need to get away from a creep, chase after a kid, get out of a fire, get to food because their blood sugar is dropping, hurry to pick up their mom...whatever!

Sometimes people want or need to go faster than average. Obviously, you feel this is a perk for only people who can walk on their own and not for the lowly wheelchair-bound people.

Too bad, so sad, sucks for you.

 

[bedogged]

You are comparing it to a car. That is apples to oranges.

For your comparison to be valid you need to compare an ECV to walking and very few people can maintain 4.5 MPH for very long.

An ECV takes the place of walking not driving.

Both are vehicles. For my Son in Law, his ECV takes the place of his car because he can no longer drive. He uses it the same way that most people use their cars.

 

[appleorchard]

Sheesh, another "let's come down on the ECV people" thread? Maybe to move fast enough so the impatient people who cut in right in front of you because they think you're too slow will stop doing that.

 

[Mama Who]

...and I quote from a popular scooter rental company: "And with a cruising range of 18 miles and maximum speed of 4.5 MPH, you will have no problem getting round the theme parks and other Orlando attractions."

Why would a scotter or ECV ever need to travel that fast?

When the building you're in catches fire and you're taking your kids to safety, I presume you will promise to go no faster than 3MPH?

Top speed is not necessary or safe in most situations. Top speed should still be available for extremity.

 

[Hannathy]

Both are vehicles. For my Son in Law, his ECV takes the place of his car because he can no longer drive. He uses it the same way that most people use their cars.

It still isn't a valid comparison. Compare it to a walker then it is a valid comparison.

I mean I could say I have to drive and Trump gets to take a helicopter, that is the same sort of comparison. Not valid.

 

[bedogged]

It still isn't a valid comparison. Compare it to a walker then it is a valid comparison.

I mean I could say I have to drive and Trump gets to take a helicopter, that is the same sort of comparison. Not valid.

Well then, I guess you and I are just going to have to agree to disagree!

 

[pbrim]

Even if you never intend to drive it at that speed, it is an indication of the power of the ECV, and more power is better. They will quote numbers like an 18 mile cruising range, but that's kind of like the MPG advertised on a new car -- you will only get that under special conditions not normally found in real life.

For example, most battery life and cruising range assume a standard 120 lb person, on totally flat ground. Many of us weigh more than that and Disney isn't flat. (Think about it, mobility problems mean less exercise, meaning more weight problems.) My personal ECV has a top speed of 4.5 and a battery rating of 18 hours. But the reality is that after 10 hours in the parks, it's slowing down a bit on hills, and after 16 hours in the park, I had to put it in free-wheel and push it up the ramp onto the bus. If, instead of the Plus, I had the regular model rated as 3.5 mph top speed and 10 hour battery life, I wouldn't have made a full day in the park, much less the evening EMH.