My DH was run over by an electric scooter!!!!

[AdamsPrincess]

perhaps the people who don't like scooters/wheelchairs should try it for a day. They are very heavy and need a lot of space, people stop dead in front of you and worse still pust infront at parade times.
As for the woman who said if she gets hit her DH will attack the person thats pretty sick, my DH can't walk has chronic pain and will never get better. If he accidentaly knocks you he will be very sorry but it happens. How dare you threaten to beat someone up

yeah, ok, I think she was saying it more for the reason that she would be 6-months pregnant. I don't think he would actually beat the person up. But my husband would say the same thing if someone ran into me.

 

[shellybaxter]

Many ECV drivers are not using them for medical reason, only for "Convenience" (hence the "C") and really don't know how to drive them, because they've never driven one before. So where's a perfect learning ground? Why, one of the most crowded places on earth!

I respectfully disagree with your opinion. I do not believe that "most" people use them for convenience. I think a small percentage might be using them for cnvenience. In order for a person to have a medical condition they don't have to a cast on their leg or stay in the ECV the entire time. Sometimes medical disabilities are "invisable".

 

[drogerstn]

....Using one hand shes pretty good but there are times when she slips and hits the foward button instead of staying still and we yell for innocent bystanders to warn them and we do take it seriously ,we dont laff when it happens. ....

This is dangerous and may open your mother up to some serious liability issues since she knows she has a tendency to lose control; more than "just an accident".

 

[drogerstn]

I respectfully disagree with your opinion. I do not believe that "most" people use them for convenience. I think a small percentage might be using them for cnvenience. In order for a person to have a medical condition they don't have to a cast on their leg or stay in the ECV the entire time. Sometimes medical disabilities are "invisable".

many<most

 

[shafke]

You don't really need a driving test.

Just set up a little obstacle course where you rent them. If the guest makes it through the obstacle course without hitting any obstacles they get to keep it for the day.

Here's my thoughts... first have all the ECVs parked head in. The guest must be able to back out of the spot without hitting anything else. Next would be a course with some cones and cutouts of people. The exit would then look like a parking area at an attraction you get through this and you are on your way.

 

[KPeveler]

you cannot "make" a person pass a test to use an ECV. Many of the ECVs are from off-property, not disney. while i agree that people need to be much more careful, people use ECVs as a result of a disability, and disney cannot "test" people if they need something to get around!

i think everyone needs to be more considerate and aware. while there are people who use ECVs recklessly, sometimes the fault lies with the person walking. it is very hard to maneuver a wheelchair, even if you are used to using one. and then people do inconsiderate things like hang on my chair, or lean on me, or walk directly in front of me. since i use a manual chair, my braking system are my hands, so i cannot stop on a dime.

these conversations have happened before, and what is usually concluded is that if more people are aware of their surroundings (both walker and rollers), and more considerate, then there would be a lot fewer problems.

 

[Piper]

We just returned from WDW on Saturday. Well anyway, we were walking down Main Street USA in our daze from being in The Magical Place on Earth and out of know where comes an ECV that literally ran him over. !!!

The being in a daze part runs up a red flag! Are you sure he didn't step in front of her? You'd be surprized how many people just walk right in front of a WC or ECV. Unfortunately, they don't stop instantly. It's not like walking where you stop on the spot. It takes a few seconds to stop!

 

[Princess Stitch]

you cannot "make" a person pass a test to use an ECV. Many of the ECVs are from off-property, not disney. while i agree that people need to be much more careful, people use ECVs as a result of a disability, and disney cannot "test" people if they need something to get around!

i think everyone needs to be more considerate and aware. while there are people who use ECVs recklessly, sometimes the fault lies with the person walking. it is very hard to maneuver a wheelchair, even if you are used to using one. and then people do inconsiderate things like hang on my chair, or lean on me, or walk directly in front of me. since i use a manual chair, my braking system are my hands, so i cannot stop on a dime.

these conversations have happened before, and what is usually concluded is that if more people are aware of their surroundings (both walker and rollers), and more considerate, then there would be a lot fewer problems.

And why not? Driving an ECV should be a privledge much like driving a car is. If you are going to drive a motorized vehicle around the park that could potentially cause injuries to other guests, I don't see anything wrong with making sure that you are able to operate it in a safe way. If you can't then you get a manual wheelchair. If you are in a position where you cannot use a manual wheelchar and absolutely NEED an ECV, chances are that you already know how to use one so this shoudln't be a problem.

Now, us pedestrians also need to watch where we're going as well. If I step in front of someone who hits me, then it's my fault. If you don't know how to control the vehicle you're driving, or are being rude and trying to cut ME off, it's your fault.

 

[KPeveler]

I agree people need to learn to drive them, but some people do not need them at home. For example, I cannot walk around disney but i can make it through a quick trip to the grocery store. i cannot use a manual chair in disney, due to my medical condition.

the point i was trying to make is that making people pass a test is too close to discrimination based on disability. do you also test people who bring in their own wheelchairs? so if i come in with a manual chair that i own, are you going to make me do the test too, because I have wheels? that is discrimination.

yes, people definitely should learn to drive their ECVs better, but i was a little apprehensive at the idea of a test being given...

 

[Jrabbit910]

glad your husband is okay and you guys can laugh about it.... If my mil comes w/ us on our next trip to WDW, she will have to ride in one of these, I will let everyone know now... Watch out... shes not the sharpest knife in the drawer! We would really have to make sure that she knows what she is doing before going in it... She would probably run over us first!

 

[drogerstn]

Users need to practice loading and off-loading on the buses as well

 

[Princess Stitch]

I agree people need to learn to drive them, but some people do not need them at home. For example, I cannot walk around disney but i can make it through a quick trip to the grocery store. i cannot use a manual chair in disney, due to my medical condition.

the point i was trying to make is that making people pass a test is too close to discrimination based on disability. do you also test people who bring in their own wheelchairs? so if i come in with a manual chair that i own, are you going to make me do the test too, because I have wheels? that is discrimination.

yes, people definitely should learn to drive their ECVs better, but i was a little apprehensive at the idea of a test being given...

People who have vision problems are made to take a road test every year or more often. I know because my grandfather had glaucoma and other problems. It's not discrimination, it's safety. I think you can agree that manual wheelchairs are in general not as dangerous as ecvs. I don't think people should be allowed to drive electronic vehicles dangerously around the park. I don't see how this is descriminating against people. You have a right to an ecv if you need one, but not if you're in a position where you could cause serious injuries to someone else.

 

[hightown]

We just got back with my mother driving a scooter (74, unsteady walking). I was AMAZED at the people walking into her; stepping in front or someone pushing a stroller blindly into her path; and pedestrians that SEE her and try to beat her out stepping very, very close; and people standing and then backing up and not looking what is behind them.

To the gentleman that backed up as we were trying to pass behind him and who got his heel run over--sorry but look where you're going next time.

A previous poster is correct, too often the collision is caused by the pedestrian not looking and then they are mad at the scooter driver.

Mom quickly found out that if she waited for people to see her and let her by, she'd still be sitting in the park in that scooter! You have to try to make your way, hope people will see you and when they don't stop quick and then let the people behind you run into you.

ITS NOT EASY FOLKS!

 

[KPeveler]

now i am working on getting a manual chair and right now my bf pushes me in one, but even so, it is difficult to stop short!

and oh lord, i get so sick of looking at people's behinds!

a wc is not a cool new toy (ok, it can be but that is not its purpose). it really annoys me when people lean on my chair or try to squish by me or ask me to move sideways (wheelchair, not crab, people. they do not "sidestep"). at the mall the other day a kid grabbed the handle of my wheelchair and pulled, like she was messing with the benches and plants there too. i felt like growling at her, or putting a bumper sticker on my chair that reads "beware of wheeler - she bites."

just a note of consideration, if you see someone in a chair or ECV, do not touch it... it is not there for you to lean on or put your coats on, or sit on, or climb over. a chair is an extension of my body. no touchy!

 

[drogerstn]

We just got back with my mother driving a scooter (74, unsteady walking). I was AMAZED at the people walking into her; stepping in front or someone pushing a stroller blindly into her path; and pedestrians that SEE her and try to beat her out stepping very, very close; and people standing and then backing up and not looking what is behind them.

...

Maybe she needs a speed limiter on that thing; slow down grandma.

 

[KPeveler]

btw, i totally agree that ECvs should go no faster than a walk, and granny needs to lay off the horn!

 

[daandcb]

There were a few different times when I had to pull one of the boys out of the way of those electric scooters....there is no reason for it. I understand we all want to get there but that doesn't mean its okay to run over someone!

 

[MouseEars1973]

A couple of years ago an elderly lady drove over my foot with a scooter while I was watching the afternoon parade at Magic Kingdom. I guess she just thought it was a big bump in the road because she never stopped or looked at me or anything. Those things are incredibly heavy and let me tell you that I felt lucky not to have wound up with a broken foot. I limped for the rest of the day and was not a happy camper. These days I am very vigilant and never assume that the driver on a rental scooter knows what they're doing. But it is scary to think what would happen if someone struck a small child.

 

[allysmom1218]

When I started this thread is was to warn people to watch out for each other and to be considerate of other people. I didn't want to pass blame on anyone. I just wanted to let people know what happened to my DH so that they could watch out. I was especially concerned about what would have happened if the lady driving the ECV would have struck my DD instead of my DH?

As to the response about us being in a "daze" walking down main street, I was trying to say that we were totally enjoying the moment of actually being at the MK after all the planning and saving of money. We did not walk in front of the lady driving the ECV. We were on the same side of the street and in the same path of walking that we started out from as soon as we entered the park. It was perfectly clear that the poor lady on the ECV had NO clue on how to drive it and that she had never driven on before.

I wasn't trying to start a flamefest because of my post, I was wanting to tell people to watch out!!

 

[madenon]

MouseEars1973; for the smaller kids I think the "only" real risk are those not used to handling an ECV, power or manual wc (and yes; also those who push the chair can be very dangerous!). Those who are used to rely on those aids KNOW small children are running around and can suddenly step in front of you at a unexpected moment. I've used an ECV for some years, used a manual (an still do) since 7 years and am a newbe in a powerchair.

Being in crowded places, or any place with younger kids, I watch them and expect them to jump in front of me at the last moment. (might have something to do with my manual being too cool and attractive to them with all the colours and lights ) Because of the fact that I know they're just kids and can't be considered capable of knowing the risks involved, it will very rarely happen that there will be any physical contact. Never even happened, know on wood. I give small children more leanway (as they deserve) and would never mind waiting a bit longer for them.

Adults are a different story all together! While some are great, most simply don't have a clue about the possibilities and more important; boundaries thereoff of these aids. They jump in front at the weirdest moments, literally run into me looking me in the face!, stopping out of nowhere to look at something while I'm just behind them, stand talking right in the middle of an aisl in the shop so you can't pass them at either the left or the right etc. They really do think that I can just stop in half a second, where it simply takes the aid (or my hands in case of the manual) some time for being at a stop. Not because I don't want to or react slower, but simply because it's technically impossible. Nor does any "walker" seem to realize that sitting down at a lower level than those surrounding me, gives me very poor visability and less time to see (possible) problems coming for some extra meters. I simply can't see past the first bumm in front of me.

It isn't "walkers" wanting to be rude or being a pain in the you-know-what, it's simply being uninformed. With most of those with any form of wheels under their bum it's just the same. They aren't rude, they aren't blind to their incapability, it's plain and simple lacking knowledge.

And than again, you've got those rude annoying people. As we're all people, they come in every shape and form including the "walkers" and "wheelers". If you ask me, there could be some more etiquette from both sides. I consider it plain rude if anyone drives down busy places like mainstreet at a speed higher than the slowest possible speed for their aid. There's no need to speed and it increases the risk of problems. Just like I consider it rude if people jump in front of me when I am pulling up to a waitingline just a bit earlier, just because they know I'm not as fast and flexible with the chair as they are walking and it'll safe them like 1 whole person in line waiting.


In the case of the elderly mother using an ECV and KNOWING she has problems controlling it regularely, I would find it offensive to run into those persons in a public place that's either busy or where there are likely to be small kids. It's plain dangerous. It's very hard to be dependant, but independence never should compromise the safety of oneself or anyone else. If she has moments of her hands slipping; the EVC she's using isn't right for her. There are very many extra aids and possibilities on the market to help so these "slipping out of control" is unneaded. For instance; they can change the gashandle to a footpeddle, they can change the standard gashandle to one that fits the persons function of the hand. Might not get everything covered and something are no way near cheap, but that's simply no excuse for me.