Important Road Safety Tips for Scooter Users

Safe Choices Begin With Your Choice of Scooter
Before buying a scooter, be sure to check with an occupational therapist or physiotherapist to ensure that the model you select best meets your needs. Most suppliers will bring different scooters to you so that you can try them before making your purchase.

Three-wheel scooters are designed for maximum manoeuvrability and are mainly used indoors. Because three-wheel models are not as stable as four-wheel models, four-wheel models are recommended for outdoor use where you are likely to encounter uneven terrain.

Considerations When Purchasing Your Scooter
Before you purchase a scooter the following should be considered:

Size - Consider ease of operation, turning ability, suitability of the wheel size for the terrain you will be travelling on (i.e., indoors, outdoors or both), and the size of elevator doors and the width of hallways and doorways at the places you travel frequently.

Power - How far can you travel before the battery needs re-charging?

Braking System - How long does it take to stop the scooter?

Parking/Storage - Where will the scooter be stored? Is there an electrical outlet available in the storage area for charging your scooter?

Transport - see the "Transporting Your Scooter" section for more details.

Learn to Use Your Scooter
It is essential that you know how to operate your scooter properly before venturing out into the public. When you first purchase your scooter, find a quiet parking lot and practise there. Once you feel comfortable that you can safely operate your scooter, find a friend who will travel with you on foot or scooter for your first few trips.

In addition, make sure you read the manual and any other safety information that may be supplied with your scooter.

Think Safe! Obey Rules for Pedestrians
By law, a person using a motorized scooter is classified as a pedestrian. Therefore, when you are operating your scooter, you must obey all the rules for pedestrians such as:

• Use sidewalks wherever possible. If there are no sidewalks or if sidewalks do not have scooter accessible curb cuts, travel on the far left side of the road facing traffic.
• Cross at pedestrian crosswalks. Check for traffic before crossing.
• If there is no crosswalk available, stop, look both ways, and proceed only when all approaching vehicles have come to a full stop.
• Make "eye contact" with motorists or pedestrians before crossing their path to confirm their intention to stop.
• Obey all traffic control signs and devices.
• Operation of scooters in bicycle lanes is prohibited when a sidewalk is available.

Be a Courteous Pedestrian

• Slow down when travelling around pedestrians and avoid travelling too closely behind or obstructing them.
• Keep to the right on sidewalks and avoid honking your horn. Ask people to let you pass.
• If you meet a friend on the sidewalk, pull to the side to let other pedestrians pass more easily.
• Use caution when travelling close to store fronts. If you are too close to a building, someone could walk into you as they are leaving the building.

Transporting Your Scooter
It is important to choose a scooter that can be carried easily by car, van or transit. Ask the vendor the following:

• Can it be transported by car, van or taxi?
• Does it require disassembling in order to be transported in the trunk of a vehicle?
• Is it transportable by transit buses or HandyDART? The maximum outside dimensions recommended by TransLink are:
  • Length: 122 cm (48 in)
  • Width: 61 cm (24 in)
  • Weight: 364 kg (800 lbs) - combined weight including driver, assistant & mobility aid
• Does it have anchors so it can be tied down in a taxi, transit bus or HandyDART vehicle?

Want to practice getting on the bus with your scooter or unsure if it will fit? Coast Mountain Bus Company offers training sessions for using your scooter or other mobility aid. Call the Training Department at 604-264-5420 to make an appointment.

Safe Manoeuvring of Curb Cuts
Take curb cuts, driveways and ramps "head on" and always drive on the most level area of the curb cut, even if it means moving outside of the crosswalk lines. If you drive sideways on a curb cut, you could tip over.

Know Your Area
Get familiar with the most navigable routes in your neighbourhood. Be aware of the locations of curbs that do not have curb cuts or streets that do not have sidewalks so you can avoid these routes if possible by planning ahead.

Allow yourself plenty of time as you may need to take an alternative route if unforeseeable circumstances arise, such as construction. You may need to cross the street, take another route, or even back track.

Be Visible
Be aware that when you are travelling by scooter you are at a height disadvantage to the other users of the road and sidewalk. Make sure you and your scooter have the following safety features:

1. Brightly coloured and/or reflective clothing
2. Reflective strips on front, sides and back of scooter
3. Light on front of scooter
4. Light on back of scooter
5. Fluorescent orange bike flag attached to the back seat of the scooter 

Be Prepared for Unexpected Circumstances
Carry a cellular phone or enough change to make a phone call from a pay phone and carry phone numbers in case you encounter unexpected circumstances. You may want to tape emergency phone numbers onto your scooter.

In an emergency situation, attract the attention of a passers-by and ask them to phone for help. In the Lower Mainland, you can dial "911" for emergency assistance.

Who to Contact for Further Information

City of Richmond Transportation Department	604-276-4000
TransLink/Coast Mountain Bus Company
Access Transit	604-453-4685 access.transit@translink.ca
Training Department	604-264-5420
HandyDART	604-575-6600
Accessible Bus Stop Inquiries	604-953-3333
Richmond Health Services	604-278-9711

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Road Safety Tips for Mobility Scooter Users