I hate mobility scooters

[yeahdisney]

I was almost pinned in the doorway at AKL in the Safari line. Luckily the line was not crowded I watched the lady coming at me , moved out of the way, she was on the phone, swerved again towards me I decided to leap ( and I do mean board jump leap) from that area. She slammed into the door area, the back wheel came off the floor! And goodness gracious she dropped her phone. Female in her group later told me in line, that the women said it malfunctioned, hmmmmm. But no sorry you raked your leg hitting it jumping out of the way. She probably would of broke my shin.

 

[SMD]

So if she had not used the ecv and walked even slower and slowed you up even more than the scooter issues that would have been ok? You are right, life isn't always fair. Sometimes you have to wait for someone to catch up because their scooter is broken. Do you think they were thinking "this is awesome, this thing is broken and I'm slowing things down."? No, they were upset by it, but put on a happy face to placate people like you who think they are deserving of perfection.

People also need to be responsible for their own limits and request accommodations if necessary. If I pay for a 2 hour tour with 7 points of interest it's really not fair for me to only get 6 or for my tour to take extra time because someone couldn't physically keep up with the pace. At the very least I deserve a warning that my tour will be altered due to someone else's mobility issue. Maybe I have a non-mobility related disability that does not allow me to spend the extra time, and that's why I picked the 2 hour tour.

 

[NotUrsula]

The poster from the UK has probably seen more abuses than most Americans; they are commonly used on streets there, and some people deliberately jack up the speed capability and use them as more-stable motorcycle substitutes.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...week-injured-crashes-five-drivers-KILLED.html

There have been reports out of the UK of people replacing the motors to run on gas instead of batteries, so that they can actually hit interstate highway speeds: http://metro.co.uk/2011/12/07/supercharged-mobility-scooter-seized-by-doncaster-council-246913/

I don't find that WDW is adequately policing safe use. Security needs to step in when children get onto them; just having a CM suggest not doing it isn't enough -- the guest should be ejected if caught after a warning.

 

[cjbcam]

I think that with the crowds of people at disney the use of ecv are too dangerous. You are literally in a huge croud with heavy machines that can not stop fast enough for the area they are used in.
I get that some people need them. I just think these things need to be redesigned and lighter. Able to stop faster. Just because someone has the right to use one, walking people also have the right to be there without being hurt by one.
Are motorized wheelchairs the same way? Or are they easier to control? Maybe people should use those? Do they stop faster? It just seems something else that's lighter and more easily handle would work better. Maybe someone here could make something?

 

[codimouse]

Most like me use scooters because wheelchairs are heavy and bulky and require a lift for a vehicle.
Some scooters are quick and easy to break down and put in your trunk.


I will be on a snap AT Disney and US July 8-15. Just a heads up.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I work in rehab And mobility scooters are hated by all the Physical Therapists.

They say the scooters make disabled people more disabled and plain old lazy people disabled.

My daughter works with girls with special needs in the summers and plans to study special education and eventually be an OT--she is always saying the same thing.

We also see first hand what a huge difference there is in quality of life and retained mobility in the population here in Germany, where use of such scooters is almost unheard of and older people or people with other issues will slow down, use a cane or rollator, etc but they keep moving, and boy does it make a difference in the number of issues you see as people age here versus when we return to the US on visits.

 

[NHdisneylover]

what about people like me who are dependent on power chair for any mobility. i wish those who are against this stuff be stuck in a chair themselves with splints on there legs and arms that prevent most movement and send them down an hill and offer no help and see how well they do. i used to use an manual chair and ended up with an broken arm in three spots cause my arm sliped between the wheel and the frame while trying to slow down on a decline cause other students cut in front of my chair. there is no way to stop or slow down right on the spot like there is with walking. ecv help those who are not yet needing the level of an power chair. i had many friends growing up who use an ecv outside for independence while using an manual chair in the house to save on there shoulders as we have been in wheelchairs since we were toddlers.

People who own their own, cutomized chairs/scooters, etc due to serious mobility issues, are not even remotely in the same category as those renting the basic EVCs at a theme park or hopping on one at Walmart, etc. Totally different thing.

 

[smokeyblue]

I'm a childless adult, so I can find just about anything at Disney annoying, ECV's, babies, strollers, bad parents, etc, but I'm usually pretty tolerant. The thing I think about ECV's are what if it was me? I have trip booked for November and I don't know if I can go at this point since my vestibular system is so messed up from a car accident. I get dizzy just going to the grocery store or walking down the hall at work. The future is so uncertain right now I'm worried and it's upsetting. For people with major issues like MS or cancer diagnosis or whatever else is making them worry about life I can't even imagine! To those people go on your trip, use your mobility aid and who cares about what anyone has to say about it. It is unlikely that you will ever see them again in your lifetime. Do whatever you need to do to enjoy your life.

 

[BagOLaughs]

Come on guys and gals this whole thread is mean.

The main problem being, you're lumping every ECV driver into the same category. Accidents happen and sure, its annoying when people hit other people. This happens with EVC's, push chairs (strollers) and people walk into one another too.

You don't know that person or why they're in the chair. I'm totally for free speech but if you can't say anything nice why say anything at all?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Sorry; "over here" refers to the UK... if you believe the news. Mind you, I believe it was an article in the FT, so probably reliable.

I don't know where the line is drawn TBH... it is only logical that some people will abuse the privilege and THAT is where I have a problem.

Lots of things get abused. The problem is the abuse. Not the item getting abused.

Making a generalized statement that you hate a medical device probably was not the best choice.

It is horribly offensive to people who do need those devices and it unintentionally causes a circumstance where people will alter their behavior to avoid judgement. And I am not referring to being nicer when using them. I am talking about suffering in pain or avoiding a destination all together because people like you post that you hate them while others post that it is only for fat and lazy people.

Using medical equipment is not a "privilege".

 

[gwynne]

People who own their own, cutomized chairs/scooters, etc due to serious mobility issues, are not even remotely in the same category as those renting the basic EVCs at a theme park or hopping on one at Walmart, etc. Totally different thing.

But of course there are people dealing with serious illness (not laziness, not deliberate avoidance of spazieren...)
that do use a basic ECV at times. Not all illnesses are linear. And some illnesses are progressive. It's a wonderful thought that one could exercise or positive think progressive neurologic disease away, but most neurologists would think that was a bit unrealistic. Some folks might choose to travel when they have a little more strength and mobility rather than waiting until they have much less. (And would be utilizing a more acceptable customized chair.)

I think it's kind of sad that it is rather controversial for someone to rent a ECV on vacation.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Maybe 'you' didn't but the person ahead of us most certainly did. If you're holding things up it is inconsiderate. Life isn't always fair.

Darn those people with disabilities who have equal access.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Saw the worst thing in line at Radiator Springs Racers. Three adults in a caravan on ECVs - small children walking. One girl crying cuz one of the adults hit her. Then another girl peed her pants. When another child needed to use a restroom, and all the people in line were already upset with the first accident, a miracle happened. One of the adults actually got off the ECV and walked out of the line to take her to the bathroom. But they put the 8-ish yr old boy on the thing, and he proceeded to ram into the scooter in front of him over and over. That lady would get up and yell at him and then sit back down.

The whole thing was drama beginning to end. These are your people, ECV riders. Do with them what you will.

No one excuses this behavior.

I should not that people on ECv's aren't parapalegic. Many can and do walk. They aren't renting them because they lost use of their legs. Your miracle comment is offensive despite their rude behavior.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

People also need to be responsible for their own limits and request accommodations if necessary. If I pay for a 2 hour tour with 7 points of interest it's really not fair for me to only get 6 or for my tour to take extra time because someone couldn't physically keep up with the pace. At the very least I deserve a warning that my tour will be altered due to someone else's mobility issue. Maybe I have a non-mobility related disability that does not allow me to spend the extra time, and that's why I picked the 2 hour tour.

Do they have a walking pace requirement like the Disney marathon? Not being sarcastic. But if there is no time requirement, then that is the chance you take signing up for the tour.

Are the 7 points of interest guaranteed? Or are efforts made to get to up to that many?

You aren't entitled to much due to the ADA and privacy laws. No way to know at the beginning of the tour how members on the tour will affect the tour anyway.

 

[Disneylover99]

The main problem being, you're lumping every ECV driver into the same category. Accidents happen and sure, its annoying when people hit other people. This happens with EVC's, push chairs (strollers) and people walk into one another too.

I've been hit by an EVC, a stroller, someone's big backpack, a manual wheelchair, etc....But it's more then annoying when you get hit by an EVC. It can take you down pretty quickly. That's the difference.

 

[Bilberry]

We bought one of those electric scooters for my grandmother. She hated it! Wouldn't sit in it! And with that, it sat unused. So eventually my father and I tore the scooter down, placed the engine into a Shriner Corvette body and gave it to my nephews. It was finally used then, racing up their street, and occasionally into hard objects, resulting in body work repair.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My daughter works with girls with special needs in the summers and plans to study special education and eventually be an OT--she is always saying the same thing.

We also see first hand what a huge difference there is in quality of life and retained mobility in the population here in Germany, where use of such scooters is almost unheard of and older people or people with other issues will slow down, use a cane or rollator, etc but they keep moving, and boy does it make a difference in the number of issues you see as people age here versus when we return to the US on visits.

Well--my mother has been disabled for a while. At present she refuses most mobility aids but now uses a cane on occasion in her ordinary life. Her condition is degenerative. It won't get better. It will and does get worse.

For the past 14 years, she has used an ECV at Disney? Why? Well, because stopping to rest evey 10 minutes became extremely impractical. The walking put her in a lot of pain. There is no training for the miles at Disney for her.

So her options are ECV (can't wheel her own chair due to the medical issue and prefers independence) or not go at all.


I am sure folks are well meaning in sharing what a therapist would say. I don't know about your OT's and PT's, but if one had a medical issue that slowed them down in life and caused great pain would get the green light of they asked to walk 30 miles over 4 days?

ECV's are used as a temporary device.

I recall last year when I had broken my ankle. Once I finally condo walk, I got around okay everywhere I went. I graduated to a medical boot and was driving. I flew down for a convention and brought my crutches just in case. Not 2 hours into my attendance, I began having bad issues. I was ready to negotiate for someone's scooter. It was awful. Glad I had the crutches, but they did not help much. Despite me getting use out of my leg in my daily life, I couldn't last 2 hours.

Now, take that to a condition a person will not heal from. That is what the ECv is for. It isn't because they gave up on life. It was to make the unusual amount of activity easier on them. It isn't going to make a long term difference in their condition just because they ride in an ECV at EPCOT. But not renting a device and walking it because folks hate ECV's just might.

And not everyone owns a hover round. So it isn't like the grocery store is plagued with them.

So while I see the point you are making--Disney is not a good litmus to determine what people do in their everyday lives.

And it isn't the ECV that is contributing to the observations you are making.

 

[sam_gordon]

Wheelchairs hurt as well when toes are run over by accident. But no one complains about those.

How often does it happen compared to how often ECV's hit someone?

Was ECV not an option?

No.

Most like me use scooters because wheelchairs are heavy and bulky and require a lift for a vehicle.
Some scooters are quick and easy to break down and put in your trunk.

Wait a second. Are you really claiming a manual wheelchair is heavier and harder to transport than a motorized scooter? No way.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Wouldn't that mean you're following too close though? If you take this to the automotive world... if you rear end the car in front of you (regardless of whether their brake lights were working or not), you're going to be "at fault".

You're traveling at the speed of others. People do bump into each other, when the ones in front stop suddenly. It's just not usually memorable.

I wish Disney would make a lane for scooters and strollers, and a rule that they can not drive them on the sidewalks.

Interesting. So, first, this wish of yours only applies to the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, right? Because the other parks are either all sidewalk or no sidewalk, depending on one's POV. Even in those parks, the number and length of actual sidewalks is limited.

There is a wheelchair/stroller lane outside The Land. It's well-marked. People on foot still insist on using it.

There also should be a rule that kids can't drive the ECV while the adult sits.

There is. It's in the contract when you rent from Disney, and likely in the outside vendors' agreements as well. Plus it's common sense. There just aren't enough CMs around to police it.

no you can still go into the shops, but you would not be able to stay on the sidewalk. there would be an ECV/stroller lane next to the sidewalk

Well, why? Why would walkers ge the sidewalks and wheels be relegated to the street? Why not the other way around? Have you ever gotten your foot stuck in the racks on Main Street? I've gotten stuck in both a wheelchair and an ECV. Not fun.

they should only allow manual wheelchairs in the parks that would fix a lot of issues

People should test suggesions before making them. Pushing a wheelchair en or so miles, even with breaks, isn't easy. Propelling one even a enth as far would defeat most people who don't normally use one.

This might be for someone a daily use basis. But for someone like me who only needs it for extreme conditions, my arm strength is not built up anymore than my ankle is for going an entire day in a manual chair.

I don't need a wheelchair right now, bu could probably manage my daily life in one. BTDT. But a theme park, or even a shopping rip? Uh-uh.

Does anyone know why they DON'T put brakes on ECVs?

http://power-scooters.com/2011/05/28/brakes-in-mobility-scooters/

 

[sam_gordon]

You're traveling at the speed of others. People do bump into each other, when the ones in front stop suddenly. It's just not usually memorable.

If getting hit by an ECV wasn't painful, I wouldn't have a problem with them.