Flag On Scooter...

[bouncy54]

Do any of you use a flag on your scooter to warn pedestrians that you are there? I thought about buying on of those that fold down when not in use but was wondering why no one has ever discussed it here.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If they are in front of you they wil not see it. And if they are anywhere else in relation to you they will not realize what it is and collide anyway.

 

[Holoshed]

I can tell you from personal experience this will not change anything. You will usually have a horn on your ECV and that is your only decent means of warning for people if you use it in the appropriate situations.

If they are not looking where they are walking, even a stobe light usually wont help as far as I have seen. An auditory stimulation seems to work for those people. Just be sure to be nice to them when you honk though and most people just let it off like "hey its all good" and keep walking.

 

[POOHsie]

Flag won't help. What will help is a scooter about the height of a John Deere riding mower, making the same amount of noise, with a cow-catcher in front, and an Obi-Wan Kenobi force field around the rest. Not sure even this would work.

Just remember, easy does it. The heat makes everyone cranky. The able-bodied will sometimes run in your path and, because of lack of exposure to people on wheels, they will blame you for their missteps. Decorating your scooter in a friendly way (Disney icons, baseball/football stuff (cheap print-outs from computer), glow in the dark) is eye-catching and helps you to be noticed, especially by unpredictable kids (and some kids are older than me!). I have a solar light string I tape to my scooter for Disney trips that I feel calls attention to my scooter after dark, and kids really like it! The solar piece I just stick in my front basket, and it recharges itself during the day. You can tape glow in the dark bracelets (very cheap) to your wheels, and put a bunch on your handle bars. Then give them away to kids who notice them. I believe the more you engage the strangers around you, the less likely you will be "invisible" to them.

 

[tww369]

I have to agree my Mom uses an ECV while at Disney and even with me walking infront to "clear the way" it still happens. Nothing short of having a Police "light bar" will work visually. People are just too busy looking arround..

 

[Holoshed]

I have to agree my Mom uses an ECV while at Disney and even with me walking infront to "clear the way" it still happens. Nothing short of having a Police "light bar" will work visually. People are just too busy looking arround..

What is funny is "normal" people would never understand it until they experience it. "You" are always the blame for not seeing them dart in front of you at that last minute.

I really do try not to sound bitter about it but it is one of those things that even with a light heart will get old after about 10 minutes

 

[bidnow5]

Nothing helps I tried all kinds of things now I try to have eyes all around my head. I say excuse me an awful lot to people walking sideways toward my scooter. The more I pay attention the less people I hit

 

[SueM in MN]

I've seen a couple of people with them over the years and I agree with the other posters that guests won't notice a flag. It,s not like being on a street or even a sidewalk where people are all sharing a defined roadway. People are coming from all directions and going in all directions (even sideways, as one person mentioned).

I would not recommend a flag, not only because people won't see it, but because it becomes a hazard in itself. The ones I've seen were close to eye level for some walkers and I have seen another guest almost get it in the eye.

We have decorated DD's wheelchair with glow in tne dark stars and also with solar lights ( make sure you ate able to turn them off in dark shows and rides). The lights and glow in the dark stuff have gotten us lots of positive attention. I wouldsuggest staying away from strobe or flashing lights. Those tend to annoy other people and the strobe lights can cause problems for some guests.

 

[KPeveler]

I am pretty sure that I DID put police bar lights on my wheelchair. My powerchair sits higher than an ECV, and they STILL do not see it!

I attached headlamps under the seat of the chair to act as headlights, and I am going to put reflective tape on the back and on the caster housings, so perhaps people can see a little bit. BUT, that is mostly just to make me look cool - I am pretty sure they still will not see me!

Also, I am putting a "doom buggy" license plate on hte back of the chair, but I do not think that will help with visibility!

 

[bouncy54]

Thanks for all the replies and helpful hints. When leaving DL after the fireworks last summer I had several people step out in front of me but I've never actually hit anyone. It got particularly crowded when trying to leave the Fantasmic area and had to cross over the bridge in front of POTC. That was bad for people on foot let alone a scooter. In hind sight I should have just waited for the area to clear but once I was up there, I couldn't do anything but just go with the flow.

I tend to drive my ECV like my car... with enough room between me and the next moving object for a couple of ECVs between us. But just like driving a car that seems to be an open invitation for some to cut in front of you.

 

[Momelie]

Flag won't help. What will help is a scooter about the height of a John Deere riding mower, making the same amount of noise, with a cow-catcher in front, and an Obi-Wan Kenobi force field around the rest. Not sure even this would work.

Boy, ain't that the truth!!!!!

I can't tell you how many times I've wished for a cow catcher!!! My family usually serves as my force field - we usually look like some kind of macabre military reenactment group, LOL! Especially if I'm in the wheelchair instead of the scooter and I'm having to use the cane as a defensive weapon to keep somebody from falling into my lap!

The only time I've ever had a flag work on a scooter was the time I found a Marvin the Martian bicycle flag at Walmart that had a lime green figure of Marvin at eye level on top of the flag with red blinking eyes. It worked pretty well (especially after dusk) until the batteries ran out and I couldn't find another one. It worked REALLY well during one memorable evening at a Food and Wine Festival when many people had imbibed a little to much and the band was a tribute to some psychedelic one, LOL!

Other than that, the flags get stuck on things in shops, then come back and hit you (or others). They can also be, depending on height, a PITA when going through entrances or elevator doors, especially handicap bathrooms. And, as Sue mentioned, they are definitely a danger to other people who will NEVER look where they are going, then blame you for it, since you are below their eye level.... but your flag won't be.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Years ago I had been thinking of buying a portable boat horn that worked on compressed air. Unfortunately, they were rated to be very audible at 400 yards, and we decided that using one in close situations would be extreme overkill.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I try to use humor whenever I can. I had a bike horn on my scooter that was loud but was so funny to hear that when I used it -- usually one or two toots-- and had a big smile I didn't have many problems. I ended up gifting it to a crew member on a cruise (long story) so now I have an old fashioned bike bell that I need DH to install.

Cruise the bike sections and the Auto Parts stores. You can get a horn at the auto stores that makes a "ooooooga" noise like an antique car and lots of other things. I also have lights on my wheels that are supposed to be for bike tires. Not for visibility but just for fun. You can find all sorts of light options at the Auto Store, and that is also where I get my scooter decorations. They make "rhinestone" stickers that are easy to apply and also the things that you rub on and peel off the backing. Tinkerbell is easy to find. If I had more frame on my scooter I would probably have put flames.

The sideways walkers are the WORST! Those are who I have the most problems with and I have had to actually put my hand or leg out to stop people that were headed right for me.