Bit of background first, in case anyone doesn't know Weston Super Mare the main route into town is down a long, straight dual carriageway from the M5, punctuated by roundabouts for about 3 miles or so. Drove to the local sorting office on Friday along this route. Just going past the local sports centre spotted someone trundling along in his mobility scooter at about 5 mph.
What made me so incredulous was that there is a very large combine footpath/ cyclepath running parallel to this road. Does this gentleman have a death wish or just completely oblivious to the danger he was exposing himself to? The road can be like a racetrack at any time of day, and following traffic completely blocked any view of him to approaching traffic.
Subject line adjusted a bit - PU
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Yes, quite incredible. I live about 1 mile from nearest shops and would not drive a scooter down our relitively quiet lane let alone a dual carriage. I am disabled and would love a scooter to nip to the shops but I would not risk it, as there are no footpaths etc. So to ride along on the road and ignore a footpath, well............
culmhead
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By all means use the cycle track,but I would rather they are on the road than using the "road speed"(8mph) on the pavement as so many do.
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I did some research on these things when my MIL wanted one.
Surprisingly, there is a class that are allowed on the road, but restricted to 8 MPH. They must be restricted to 4 MPH when used on a footpath.
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A paper delivery person (Let's leave it at that) in our village used one for deliveries - in all weathers.....the person had to cross the very busy and poorly lit main road twice, a total nightmare, I used to worry when the paper was late - heavens I'd have to park the BM on the DYLs - well I'd have to travel at least 9 miles to find a paper shop with lines outside it...think what that would make to my day :-)
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I posted this some time ago
"Driving up A46 dual carriageway north of Leicester at lunchtime today. Road not very busy but still a good few cars doing 70 or more, when up ahead of me, about 300 yards I spy a small vehicle occupying middle of the inside lane and I was gaining on it very quickly (doing about 60 having just come up a slip road). As I got closer I realised it was one of those invalid/shopping things driven by old bloke at about 5-10 mph. It was one of those little things with 6in grey tyres, maroon "bodywork" covering the batteries etc and steered with handlebars with a shopping basket on the front- the sort of thing you see IN Sainbury's. Is it illegal? Is it just a silly thing to do (no pavements or cycle tracks mind). Should I have rung the police? Did the old bloke survive? Did he cause an accident? Would you have done anything?"
Replies suggested it was perfectly legal, but it still struck me as very dangerous - much the same as me walking up the middle of the inside elane - probably perfectly legal but not a wise thing to do!
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Phil
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yes i find amazing aswell, iam sure some people in wheelchairs never drove a car, or rode a bike in the last 50 years but some how get the idea to go driving down the highway oblivious to the danger.
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no need of training,insurance either.
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Why do motorists think they are the only ones who should be able to use the roads.
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Why do motorists think they are the only ones who should be able to use the roads.
Quite so. I had to stop for a herd of cows yesterday. Not one of them had insurance or paid road tax, and I don't suppose had ever taken a driving test or even ridden a bicycle.
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Andy, not sure if you have misinterpreted my sentiments for posting this.
OK, so the speed limit along here is a theoretical 50mph. I say theoretical is because it is 2-3 miles of straight dual carriageways, no cameras but a few roundabouts. In a seaside resort full of modified boy racer cars. There are quite a few accidents along this road, and have seen quite a few cars being pulled over by the Police. Also get to hear the boy racers going up and down racing each other at any time of day from my garden.
Have even seen some of these scooters with registration plates, and as someone with a handicapped family member fully endorse giving everyone the chance for being self reliant and independent.
But by the same token, common sense dictates where I should ride my bike safely, and which roads to avoid. The presence of a large cycle path adjacent to this road, primarily to get the more vulnerable out of harms way and slower, quieter roads running parallel not too far away made me think this was total lunacy.
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"Why do motorists think they are the only ones who should be able to use the roads"
I don't think any of the above posts express this - they express a concern that the individuals concerned may be placing themselves in a dangerous situation.
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Phil
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had ever taken a driving test or even ridden a bicycle.
And yet those cattle had better fundamental road sense than many of the drivers scowling at them, no?
Goats are cool too. Even sheep. People are more of a problem.
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i just get scared for some of these lovely old soles when they drive along a roads with juggernaughts going pssed them at 40 mph.
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I was driving through Aylesbury on Sunday & i saw a woman in her mobility scooter on the main road (A41) on the single carriageway, whilst walking her dogs with leads, on the pavement. How stupid is that?
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Its not what you drive, its how you drive it! :-)
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I expressed the same concerns here preview.tinyurl.com/37yjmq
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Lud - you aren't welsh are you:-
'Goats are cool too. Even sheep. People are more of a problem.'
Sorry. I try to avoid too much sarcasm and insults at other 'races', but I'm allowed the odd dig at the Welsh.
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I try to be a bit tolerant of this sort of thing because I know that one day it could be me. But before I buy one I'll have a word with Frank Williams. I bet his is capable of more than 8 mph.
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L\'escargot.
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Old boy used to use one on the road near us in Norfolk, often sharing it with Artics and Tractors. He seemed to think that the flag that he had tied to the back gave him some kind of dispensation!
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Greaves(of Thundersley)used to make the Invacar-little three wheeled contraption powered by a Villiers engine.Their workshop fitted one of them with two high output motors off their trials bikes.A milk delivery company round here also had a somewhat overpowered milk-float-it was a four wheeled one tho'-suprized a lot of vehicles when they were overtaken.
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But before I buy one I'll have a word with Frank Williams. I bet his is capable of more than 8 mph.
I've only ever seen Frank in a manually operated wheel chair.
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>>Greaves(of Thundersley)used to make the Invacar
Didn't they have an AC badge on the front, as in Cobra?
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There were four firms made them to a government specification but just single seaters.AC(Autocarriers) also made one.
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Some of these elderly carriage pilots are either very obstinate or are somewhat removed from reality.
Several weeks ago a supermarket in the pedestrianised centre of Chesterfield burnt to the ground in a 9 hour blaze. I happened to the passing in the early stages; the police set up a cordon about 100 yards away with blue and white tape, while the fire brigade set up a telescopic platform, with a bit of a crowd of onlookers around the cordon.
Some old chap arrived in his electric carriage. Seemingly completely oblivious to the commotion, he drove through/ under the police tape right next to a policeman and motored straight across the middle of the cordoned off area. The copper had his back to him talking to someone and didnt notice until the old chap was 30 feet away, so he just shook his head and laughed. It was quite amusing.
Of course he wasnt in any danger, the fire was not close, but I wondered, does he realise what hes doing or is he just being narrow-minded? (Probably the latter.).
It would have taken him 30 seconds extra to go roung the perimeter of the cordon, but he must have thought, "stuff that, I'm going that way, like I always do"..
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A few years back on Southend front heard a horrible noise-saw an elderly car with an elderly couple in it driving along with a traffic cone jammed under the front of the car-people were waving,shouting,headlights were being flashed but they carried on.
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It would have taken him 30 seconds extra to go roung the perimeter of the cordon but he must have thought "stuff that I'm going that way like I always do"..
A bit like cyclists blatantly ignoring red lights.
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L\'escargot.
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