General Chat

Depending on the area and usage, divided paths may not work out quite as expected.

The sea front in Deal is like that, with the cycle section closest to the beach. Since we were looking more at the beach than our feet or into the distance, we frequently drifted over into the cycle lane.

Just as well there weren't that many cyclists around while we were there :-D

The path used to have a dividing line and a picture of a bike and a pedestrian to keep the two separate but since resurfacing their is no line now, and no speed limit. The worry is that a) it is the route home for many younger children and b) it is the route home for many olde children on bikes.

Surely if a pavement is split part pedestrianized, part cycle path, shouldn't the cyclists have a speed limit?
I think it was Brighton Seafront that had this. The problem is, with crowds of people, they will inevitably spill over onto the cycle area, and being hit by a cyclist at speed can cause serious injuries.

Some now have split use Sue, part pedestrian and part cycle path.

People with a hearing loss should not be 'punished' with an air-horn surely?

I thought pavements were for pedestrians anyway. :-0

Might be a good Idea to fit them with "Air Horns" then people will be able to hear them. :-D

Mau, when we were in Spain it was a very flat, and fairly quiet area and the main attraction is a very long and flat promenade. This is well used by people walking, both holiday makers and local people. It is also used by cyclists, both tourists on hire bikes and Trikes and local people on bikes and trikes. For somebody like me who doesn't hear well whhat is happening behind it is a bit of a nightmare. I lost count of the times that T grabbed me and pulled me out of the path of cyclists who seemed to be practising for the tour de France. :-(

I am sorry to read about your late Uncle's accident that caused his death, the person who hit him must feel very guilty but so they should, and the nursing home should have been more in control of the way electric scooters were used within the confines of the home.

My partner was able to use his house insurance which has legal protection, to chase the driver who knocked him off his bike last May. They are often in the news, Irwin Mitchell, and despite a slow start they acted very efficiently and got my partner good compensation for his injuries, loss of our holiday and loss of earnings etc etc Got the cheque a couple of weeks ago, so yes it took a year but was worth while and didn't cost him anything as part of the service provided by his insurance company. It's worth checking what is available from your own House insurance.

Lizx

By sheer coincidence Ann that actually happened to me today.

Was out walking this morning along sea front and a cyclist pedalled quite fast around me. He gave me such a fright that I shouted after him "use your bell"...he shouted back that he didn't have one, so I then said "well buy one so folk can hear you coming!" he wore a crash helmet, but I didn't :-P

I got some abuse back ( didn't hear as he was by then too far away) grrr :-|

When you are hard of hearing, even if you do wear aids, anyone approaching from behind is usually not heard. This applies to mobility scooters, cyclists and even runners. We have one part that is dual use cycles and pedestrians (and mobility scooters of course. It is often a shock when somebody whooshes past at speed faster than my walking speed. I always think, I could have stepped sideways there, not knowing they are coming past. I wish they would have bells or something. (By the way, despite my age I am usually a fast walker).

Away at a conference and so busy over the last few days . . .
but looking in again now . . . :-)

Joeva: so sorry to hear that your uncle met his demise after being hit by an electric scooter. :-(

I think the lessons learned from the programme have been said on here . . .
thanks to everyone who has contributed, btw . . .
(1) watch out for other people who can't hear you coming (even if you are tooting) and
(2) watch out for people who are not concentrating. :-D :-D

My 96 year uncle died after being knocked over by an electric scooter, broke his hip and and he passed away 2 days after from pneumonia............ not on the the pavement or on the road but in the corridor of his nursing home when he stepped out of his room into the path of one being driven by a fellow resident.

Ironically, he had been a London cab driver for at least 50 years without an accident. :-(

It's great to see so many users out & about. Who wants to be stuck at home all day, every day?

But, they shouldn't drive faster than their Guardian Angel can fly.

Relative rents a mobility scooter in town and he is covered by their insurance.

Mine is a max of 4 mph - do not think it is as fast as that and I drove up to 6 years ago - I do miss my lovely BM.

Must check on the public liability - we used to have it I know.

I would add, that in the High Street of my nearest town, most of those who think they are another Lewis Hamilton, are those on scooters with adverts on the front & back that say - "This scooter has been hired from" then giving the name of the shop that hires them out.

I also think that if a scooter user has been a driver in the past they probably have a better understanding of how pedestrians think (or not!)

The problem is often those who have never driven and just do not understand the 'rules of the road'. Clamber on their scooter and off they go on merrily on their way without any consideration for those who they share the pavement and roads with.

Whether a pedestrian or a mobility scooter user, it is all down to showing consideration and respect to others. I have been using a mobility scooter for nearly 5 years and like to think I do both of these.

I agree that some mobility scooter users think they are doing a circuit at Brands Hatch or Donnington Park, that said, I have found those users to be in the minority as most of the users I have come across - behave in a responsible manner.

Many users, including myself, are pensioners on low incomes and paying for insurance could be, the straw that breaks the camels back, resulting in them becoming housebound because they cannot afford the insurance premiums.

There is supposed to be a speed limit of 4 mph for scooters on pavements.

Unfortunately the 'road' models can travel at up to 8 miles an hour, so if someone decides to use one of them on the pavement., they can easily break the 4 mph speed limit if they choose to.

EDIT: Road models should be fitted with a device that will limit their speed to 4mph ( ie for when they're used on the pavement), so users really have no excuse for excessive speeds on the pavement.

What most owners of mobility scooters are not aware of is that it is THEIR responsibility to make pedestrians aware of them and not the other way round.

Guinevere, that is only feasible for the scooters which can only be used on the pavement. Those which are 'roadworthy' have to travel at a faster than walking speed.

Personally I beleive all should have insurance and have to take a short course in how to use them correctly. As for being covered for liability with your house insurance, that is a problem as you could end up having to sell your house if the claim spirals out of control like that poor lady in the show. Yes I know she had no insurance and is living in a B&B but because she still has her name on the deeds to the house she shared with her ex-husband they may have to sell the house to pay her debts. This was through an ambulance chasing firm obviously as the personal injury payment was £5,000.00 and £16,000.00 to the solicitors (who should hang their heads in shame). 'NO WIN NO FEE' for the claimant 'NO HOME' for the accused!!!

I would hate anyone who has one to lose it and thus lose their independance, which is paramount for all users.

But many of the drivers of these scooters seem to lose all sense of responsibility when they sit down on one...... ;-)

Scooters also travel at faster than walking pace which causes a lot of problems, I think. The speed they can travel at should be limited and that would avoid some collisions.