If you see a motorized vehicle coming through, GET OUT OF THE WAY!
I was always taught that the pedestrian has the right of way......in all cases. An
ECV is a motorized vehicle and therefore should yield the right-of-way to pedestrians.......not the other way around. If I'm in the middle of a transaction, I'm not moving. Sorry but I was in this space first. If I'm simply carrying on a conversation or walking along the street/aisle, I'll be happy to move. No problem.
........often have little steering, acceleration, and braking quirks that sometimes don't reveal themselves during the nightly (?) PM checkout or the first half-day of a rider's familiarization.
How can I possibly get out of an ECV's way when it changes direction 15 times before deciding to go straight anyway? I can't read minds. I also can't tell you the number of times I have had to move quickly out of the way of a run-away ECV that's being driven by the grandchild of the person using the vehicle......or out of the way of ECV's being ridden by multiple people.
An ECV or motorized wheelchair is just that, a motorized vehicle. People who drive other forms of motorized vehicles are taught the 'rules of the road' and are required to pass written and driving tests before being licensed to drive. I am
NOT suggesting that ECV users be subjected to the same requirements....that would just be silly. I would ask the users to be aware of the people around them and be courteous, just as the people around them should be aware of the dangers of crowding around ECV's.
When I was growing up, I was taught to treat people with disabilities no differently than I treat non-disabled people......with respect and caring. They are people and have feelings just like I do afterall. I was taught to be courteous, to say Excuse Me when I want to get past someone and most of all to say Thank You when they move.
Just because a person is non-ambulatory and relies on a wheelchair/ECV to get around does not give them the
RIGHT to run into me if I don't move fast enough when they run up behind me. I don't have eyes in the back of my head, so I might not even know they're there. It does not give them the
RIGHT to move at the vehicle's top speed in crowded conditions and expect people to scatter out of their way. Ambulatory visitors to
Disneyland and WDW have just as much right to stroll down main street without having to constantly watch their toes.
I will make this promise to all ECV users though.........I'll watch out for you if you'll watch out for me.