The new pavement menace!

Recently I observed pedestrians fleeing from a

Quoted message said:

couple racing on mobility scooters. Each bore a name plate - Bonnie and
Clyde respectively. "

Brings to mind a recent article in the grauniad which revealed Warren
Beattie's battle with the UK distributors who wanted to launch his movie
over here under the title 'Bonnie & Clyde were outlaws', apparently fearing
that under its original title British audiences would assume it to be a film
about a couple of Scottish rivers.

fred2 said:

Readers letter in the Times today quotes:
"Sir, I find users of "mobility scooters" thundering along far more
intimidating than cyclists.

They're self-powered vehicles, after all, and there doesn't seem to be
any restriction on speed or mass. Even powered street-cleaners still
need to have someone walking along behind them.

--
You get a feeling on certain trails, when you're reacting like you and
your machine are just one thing. It's the feeling of physical exertion
and speed and technique all wrapped into one.
-- Ned Overend

"Roger Burton West" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

fred2 said:

Readers letter in the Times today quotes:
"Sir, I find users of "mobility scooters" thundering along far more
intimidating than cyclists.

They're self-powered vehicles, after all, and there doesn't seem to be
any restriction on speed or mass. Even powered street-cleaners still
need to have someone walking along behind them.

Not here they don't. They have like a seat with a wheel under it that is
fastened to the "hoover" type thing. They do however have registration
plates but are mainly used for pavements and pedestrian areas as are the
small sit inside ones with 3 spliing brushes on trhe front which are used to
sweep the pavents and powered by battery or sometimes diesel.

Dave

Roger Burton West said:

fred2 said:

Readers letter in the Times today quotes:
"Sir, I find users of "mobility scooters" thundering along far more
intimidating than cyclists.

They're self-powered vehicles, after all, and there doesn't seem to be
any restriction on speed or mass.

They are meant to be limited to a max speed of 4 mph when used on
pavements.

Roger Burton West roger said:

fred2 said:

Readers letter in the Times today quotes:
"Sir, I find users of "mobility scooters" thundering along far more
intimidating than cyclists.

They're self-powered vehicles, after all, and there doesn't seem to be
any restriction on speed or mass. [snip]

Actually there are two classes. One restricted to 4mph (I think) which
is allowed on teh pavement and not on the road and another less (un?)
restricted which is not allowed on the pavement. I doubt the
distinction is much policed

best wishes
james

marc said the following on 25/09/2007 14:21:

Quoted message said:

They are meant to be limited to a max speed of 4 mph when used on
pavements.

The key bit there is "meant to be", and it never seems to be policed.
Even 4mph is too fast in a shopping centre, for instance, but /some/ of
the users of these things seem to use the accelerator (or whatever it's
called) as just an on-off switch, scattering pedestrians left, right and
centre.

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

"[email hidden]" <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

Roger Burton West roger said:

fred2 said:

Readers letter in the Times today quotes:
"Sir, I find users of "mobility scooters" thundering along far more
intimidating than cyclists.

They're self-powered vehicles, after all, and there doesn't seem to be
any restriction on speed or mass. [snip]

Quoted message said:

Actually there are two classes. One restricted to 4mph (I think) which
is allowed on teh pavement and not on the road and another less (un?)
restricted which is not allowed on the pavement. I doubt the
distinction is much policed

Quoted message said:

best wishes
james

Cat B (I think) go up to 4mph and are for pavement use only.
Cat C go up to 8 mph and may use the roads. All the Cat C scooters I've
seen have a 4mph switch to allow lawful pavement use.

8mph is not much if you're on the road, especially if you have poor
acceleration.

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden]
Edgware.

Roger Burton West <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

fred2 said:

Readers letter in the Times today quotes:
"Sir, I find users of "mobility scooters" thundering along far more
intimidating than cyclists.

Quoted message said:

They're self-powered vehicles, after all, and there doesn't seem to be
any restriction on speed or mass. Even powered street-cleaners still
need to have someone walking along behind them.

There is. Pavement scooters are limited to 4mph, road scooters to 8mph.
The lead-acid batteries account for much of the mass...

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden]
Edgware.

Quoted message said:

Roger Burton West roger said:

fred2 said:

Readers letter in the Times today quotes:
"Sir, I find users of "mobility scooters" thundering along far more
intimidating than cyclists.

They're self-powered vehicles, after all, and there doesn't seem to be
any restriction on speed or mass. [snip]

Actually there are two classes. One restricted to 4mph (I think) which
is allowed on teh pavement and not on the road and another less (un?)
restricted which is not allowed on the pavement. I doubt the
distinction is much policed

Not quite right...

there are three classes of vehicle

two are restricted to 4mph , can be used on pavemements , don't need
lights or indicators, to be registered or taxed ( free) but can still be
used on roads ( as can a wheelbarrow)

the third is restricted to 8 mph, must be taxed (Free), registered, but
not insured, have lights, reflectors indicators etc... and have a cut
out which retricts it to 4mph for use on pavements.

Paul Boyd said:

marc said the following on 25/09/2007 14:21:

Quoted message said:

They are meant to be limited to a max speed of 4 mph when used on
pavements.

The key bit there is "meant to be", and it never seems to be policed.
Even 4mph is too fast in a shopping centre, for instance, but /some/ of
the users of these things seem to use the accelerator (or whatever it's
called) as just an on-off switch, scattering pedestrians left, right and
centre.

I was run over by one in my local indoor market last year. The old biddy
in charge of it ( hired from local council by the hour) was " You were
looking at the door, so that's where I thought you were going) I was
actually stationary at the time. 2 minuted later she had trapped her
grandson(?) between the buggy and the wall and was waving a stick at him
whilst berating him for being in the wrong place!

"fred2" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Readers letter in the Times today quotes:

"Sir, I find users of "mobility scooters" thundering along far more
intimidating than cyclists. Recently I observed pedestrians fleeing from a
couple racing on mobility scooters. Each bore a name plate - Bonnie and
Clyde respectively. "

Some time ago, in Dereham, at a point where the pavement narrows... two of
the b*gg*rs in stand-off mode. Old woman on one and old man on the other:
facing each other. Neither would budge. We peds were forced wot walk out
into the road to get round them. They may still be there, left as nothing
but skeletal remains sat in now defunct scooters, for all I know.

marc said:

They are meant to be limited to a max speed of 4 mph when used on
pavements.

The nun who scatters crowds of pedestrians in Cheltenham as she charges
through them must have papal dispensation then
:-))