Make your life easier

From bathing and dressing to cooking and cleaning, living aids make even the simplest of tasks quicker and easier. Read my advice on different types of easier living aids:

Getting Dressed

Even the simplest of tasks can be very frustrating when you’re getting dressed in the morning. One of the dressing aids I find most useful is the button hook. It assists you by passing the button through the button hole and over the button. I also find zip pullers useful, if you have a weak grip then it can really help to raise awkward zips.

Bathing

For me, bath lifts and rails make getting in and out of the bath much easier. If you prefer to shower, then you may find shower seats useful. They make showering much more comfortable as they have padded seats and height adjustable legs.

Kitchen and Dining

One of my favourite kitchen aids is the cordless kettle tipper. The metal plate secures the base of the kettle and the frame keeps the upper part of the kettle in place. It definitely makes my life easier when I’m making a cup of tea!

Top 10 Scooter Accessories for 2008

1. Scooter bag

A scooter bag is a strong, durable and extremely spacious bag designed to accommodate scooters with head rests. It features a large front compartment for additional storage, a box lid for easy access and strong velcro side fastenings.

2. Scooter Seat Cover

Protect your scooter seat against the rain. The scooter seat cover is designed to fit scooters with and without headrests. It fixes securely across the back of the chair with strong velcro straps.

3. Scooter Storage Cover

A lightweight, seam sealed, fully waterproof scooter storage cover which protects your scooter from rain and dust. The scooter storage cover comes with elasticated corners to secure.

4.

Universal Walking Stick Holder

The universal walking stick holder is a weatherproof, powder coated stick carrier that fits the universal bracket on the back of most scooters. It has a self-draining retainer on the bottom for the ferrules and the top has a captive bracket secured with a velcro strap. It is suitable for two walking sticks or crutches. It has a compact design and is secured with either the locking pin or handwheel supplied with the scooter.

5. Rear Basket

The rear basket easily attaches to the seat to provide extra carrying capacity for the scooter. It is compatible with most makes of scooter that have a square tube fitted under the seat.

6. Padded Travel Bag

This bag has been manufactured for numerous travel scooters and is ideal for protecting your scooter when travelling keeping all parts together. It has a zip running the entire length of the carrying bag making it easy to use. The scooter gets pushed on to the open bag and then zips up over the top with the seat and basket positioned on the footboard. The anti tip wheels are left exposed to allow the scooter to be lifted on to these and pulled along.

It features a front carry handle for pulling the scooter along on its anti tip wheels and also two other lifting straps. The bag is well padded attractive and easy to use. The padded travel bag can be used with many travel scooters including Wispa,Go-Go,Little Gem,Ultralite,Rio,Cruizer and Cameo.

7. Deluxe Heavy Duty Scooter Garage

This heavy duty deluxe scooter garage is designed to keep your mobility scooter protected from the elements. The all weather garage made from heavy duty PVC has hinges to allow access for the scooter so that it can then be closed to keep out the wet weather.

Drive your scooter on to the base plate, fold the cover over and secure the straps. It also features an easy access charging flap to put the charging cable through.

8. Walking frame Holder

The walking frame holder fits most scooters. It has a neat and convenient way to carry your walking frame when out and about. Suitable for use with most models of scooter.

9. Deluxe All Weather Canopy

The deluxe all weather scooter canopy fits a large selection of mobility scooters.
It is supplied with clear side windows. It is made from heavy duty fabric and a maximum size front window for best visibility.

Front and rear brackets require bolting on to scooter chassis. All brackets and fixings are supplied. Comes flat packed with full fitting instructions. A choice of colours is available. (Not suitable for smaller travel scooters).

10. Scooter Cosy

The thermal fleece lining of the scooter cosy will keep you extremely warm. Featuring an easy to use heavy duty zip, a nylon shoe protector to keep your feet dry and an inside pocket for extra security. The scooter cosy is available in navy or navy/burgundy. 2 sizes are available.

Where Can Scooters Be Used

TYPES OF CLASS 2 SCOOTERS

Legally these scooters can travel up to 6.4kph (4mph) on pavements and
are allowed on the road to cross from one side of the road to the other.

TYPES OF CLASS 3 VEHICLES

The main difference between Class 3 and Class 2 vehicles is that

Class 3 vehicles tend to be larger and can be used on the roads
where they can travel up to 12.8kph (8mph).

It is usually possible to drive at 6.4 kph (4mph)and switch to
12.8kph (8mph).

Class 3 vehicle users do not require a driving license but should
obey the highwaycode at all times.

This includes complying with
relevant eyesight requirements and not driving under the influence
of alcohol, drugs etc.

Class 3 vehicles are not allowed on motorways, bicycle tracks or
bus/cycle lanes.

Although legally allowed on dual carriageways, this is not
recommended.

Speed

Two speed settings, usually changed by a switch.

12.8kph - maximum speed
Permitted only on the road. Not for use on the pavement or footpath.

6.4kph - 4mph maximum speed
Permitted on the pavement or footpath.

Lights/indicators/horn/rear view mirror/rear reflectors
The law requires class 3 vehicles to be fitted with
all these features.

Flashing beacon
Optional - can be used when driving on the road to warn other road

users of their presence, and must be used if driving on a dual
carriageway although we do not recomend this.

Insurance is not legally required for any powered vehicle in
either category, Class 2 for pavement use or Class 3 for
pavement and road use.

However, it is recommended that the purchaser have
at least public liability Insurance, covering accidental damage
to other people and property.
See our information page on Scooter Insurance.

The legislation governing vehicle registration, licensing and the payment of

vehicle excise duty (VED) is contained in the Vehicle Excise and Registration
Act 1994 (VERA)(as amended).

Under the provisions of VERA, all mechanically
propelled vehicles used on a public road must be licensed (i.e. display a tax
disc) and registered.

However, because class 2 invalid carriages have limited
road use, the Department exempts them from these requirements on an
extra-statutory basis.

No such exemption exists for class 3 invalid carriages.

Schedule 2 to VERA, exempts from the payment of VED any vehicle which does not
exceed 508kgs unladen and which is adapted, and used or kept for use, for an
invalid.

The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 provides the
requirements for displaying registration plates. Vehicles that meet the
definition of an invalid vehicle within these regulations are exempt from
displaying registration plates. “Invalid vehicle” within these regulations
means “a vehicle, the unladen weight of which does not exceed 254kgs and which
is specially designed and constructed, and not merely adapted, for the use of a
person suffering from a physical disability and solely used by that person.”

In short, this means that class 2 invalid carriages are exempt from the
requirement to be licensed and registered. Class 3 invalid carriages, however,
should be registered for road use, licensed in the exempt “disabled” taxation
class and display a nil duty vehicle licence (tax disc).

There is no requirement
to produce a VED exemption certificate when licensing an invalid carriage.

In order to first register and license a class 3 invalid carriage, the user
needs to complete form V55/5 (for used vehicles) or V55/4 (for new vehicles) -
and take or send it to their nearest DVLA local office (addresses can be found
in DVLA’s information leaflet V100 - available from post offices that issue tax
discs - and on the DVLA website). Evidence of the vehicle’s age (or newness)
needs to be submitted with the application together with documentation
confirming the keeper’s name and address.

Link to DVLA What you need to know about Mobility Scooters Page

Link to more information from the Department of Transport

We now register all class three scooters sold direct with the DVLA saving you the trouble.
and yes you get a tax disc .

Electric Mobility Scooters - What to look for...

Electric mobility scooters are available as three or four wheeled machines. Three wheelers have a smaller turning circle but four wheelers may offer more stability.

Some mobility scooters now have four wheels but the front wheels are closer together then a true four wheeled scooter, these scooters sometimes offer more stability then a three wheeler and more manaurvrability then a true four wheeled scooter.

Remember that a smaller mobility scooter that folds very small may not have as much leg room.
Check the weight limit for the scooter, does it have the capacity to carry you?

Your mobility scooter will need regular charging so you must have access to electricity. If you are charging your machine outside a plug-in circuit breaker will provide extra safety.

You will need to keep your machine somewhere safe and dry . Inside a garage or house is ideal, although many people quite successfully keep them outside under a waterproof rainproof cover.

Charging most electric mobility scooters indoors is extremely simple, plug it in, just as you would a kettle.

With some mobility scooters you can also charge the batteries on there own (off of the scooter, this is often found on travel scooters). This is ideal if you are keeping a mobility scooter in a car for use on days out.

Consider what you want the scooter to do for you. Do you want it to take you up very high kerbs and over rough ground, or just normal pavements and smooth grass? If you wish to go over rough ground you should look at the larger type of machines with larger wheels. These can be more difficult to store because of their size and will cost more than smaller machines.

How does an electric mobility scooter operate?

You make an electric scooter 'go' by pushing a small lever called a wig-wag.

It is shaped like a teaspoon with two handles. Push the right lever with your thumb, and you ease forward, push the left lever and you very gently move backward. When you push the lever in just a little you move very slowly. Push in more and you go faster. Some of the electric scooters featured on this site will have this reversed offering finger control this may be preferred and is just as smooth, look for a electric scooter with master speed control, a dial that restricts how fast the scooter will go no matter how far you push the wig-wag.

You steer a mobility scooter just like a bicycle - by turning the handlebars in the direction you want to go. On a electric scooter, the handlebars and instruments are incorporated into a unit called the tiller. For ease of use, the tiller is adjustable so it can best fit your height and arm length

You make a mobility scooter stop by doing nothing. As soon as you stop pressing the wigwag, the brakes automatically activate and bring the scooter to a gentle stop. This is called passive braking, and it works even if all the power to the electric scooter is cut off. It is the safest braking system possible and will stop the scooter even on a steep hill.Some scooters will also come with an emergency brake (most class three scooters have this)

You can learn to operate an electric scooter in five minutes, and design features that make it easier to use will let you enjoy riding it for years to come.

Electric mobility scooters come with a freewheel lever to permit easy rolling of the scooter when there is no power; long range batteries, so you can travel longer and further without running out of power; non-marking tyres, so you don't mark floors; larger wheels for greater outdoor traction and ground clearance, a tiller mounted recharge plug so you don't have to bend down to plug in the power cable; and colour indicator lights to tell you the status of the battery.

Riding electric scooters can improve your safety. When you ride a mobility scooter you don't have to worry about tripping or losing your balance, or getting tired and having to sit down.

Most models have an anti-tip device behind the back wheels for increased safety on steep gradients. They have a powerful electric motor to give you the power you need for going uphill. Make sure the motor drives the rear wheels for maximum traction.

Some other safety features to look for and consider:

• Master key operations so no-one can ride your scooter except you.
• A locking seat and tiller for better stability when riding.
• Reflectors so you'll be seen in low light conditions.
• Front bumpers to absorb minor impacts without damage.

Electric scooters must remain comfortable not just for a few minutes, but over several hours of operation. Some seats are made from orthopaedic foam for maximum comfort and support. Most seats can be adjusted both up and down and back and forth. They may also rotate into four positions for easy entry and exit, then lock in the straight ahead position for safety while riding. Armrests are often adjustable for width.

Once you think you know what type of scooter you require, Shop around at your local showrooms or shopmobility scheme to select a scooter which suits your needs. You can always ask friends or neighbours about their machines, even strangers can be keen to give you information about their scooters or maybe even encourage you to have a try.