Beware mobility scooters in Whakatane

[vgcspares]

Colour unknown, but driven by an old biddy who recently claimed a 250cc bike by popping out from behind a parked car - he came a cropper avoiding her while she successfully made off. Witnesses say she is responsible for several accidents in the area, may have a souped-up vehicle (24v ?) and appears to bear an ill will towards road users. This is not entirely unfunny, but is entirely serious - the rider's insurance excess has been waivered as a consequence.

[sunhuntin]

mobility scooters need to have some serious rules imposed on them. we have a collection of what must be pensioner flats across the road, and theres on old guy who zips out of their driveway and back up ours without even looking beforehand. i nearly collected him the other day as i was turning into my driveway. had he been closer, he would have copped a hail of foul words.

i have all respect for older generations, but when they start pulling stunts like this, they lose it.

[Ixion]

I hate it when they tailgate me, and then undertake on the inside.

[vgcspares]

I checked with the local rozzers and they are apparently unaware of this menace, but then again I only spoke to one

[LilSel]

At least they aren't still trying to drive vehicles on the road. Albeit mobility scooter vs bike is not good at all, for the most part (from what i've seen) they stick to the footpaths...

[naphazoline]

mobility scooters need to have some serious rules imposed on them. .


i agree totally.
i've seen several just scoot out to cross a road at full speed,as if they have the right of way over everybody,regardless of circumstances.

it's o.k for an old person to go out and drive a mobility scooter,however they see fit,yet we test our elderly annually for their drivers license skills.

more of our governments infinite wisdom :oi-grr:

[wbks]

To be fair, a mobility scooter doesn't way 1 or more tons and isn't capable of over 200km's per hour

[The Pastor]

They should stick to footpaths only.

[Gareth51]

Beware of them in Kapiti as well,very nearly ran over one yesterday,I could have left a nice 4X4 imprint all over him ,shot out from my left, in front of a van,quick reatction time and I managed to stop,then he wave his fist at me as I was picking up everything that had flown off the seat.I thought f..k next time I just run him over.:2guns:

[madbikeboy]

They should stick to footpaths only.

Fuck no, they should stay off my footpaths so I can use them to create mayhem on scoot... Just the other day I almost ran over a sad looking gentleman with a zimmer frame. I used by elbow to push the cheeky fker out of the way. The gall of some people.

[sunhuntin]

At least they aren't still trying to drive vehicles on the road. Albeit mobility scooter vs bike is not good at all, for the most part (from what i've seen) they stick to the footpaths...

not here... mostly they stick to the roads. some seem to the think they are racing cyclists and stay as close to proper vehicles as they can. if they are going to be on roads, they need to be registered and have safety rules imposed... helmet/seat belt, lights, indicators etc. same as any other vehicle.
used to bug the hell out of me when i was at school cos they insisted on riding the thing in the cycle lane to cross the bridge. wankers. thats the only time when they need to go faster.

they need to be limited in speed mostly. the ones on footpaths are going a lot faster than the surrounding foot traffic and they expect everyone else to move. remember the person who got hit by one and ended up with a broken leg??

[LilSel]

not here... mostly they stick to the roads. some seem to the think they are racing cyclists and stay as close to proper vehicles as they can. if they are going to be on roads, they need to be registered and have safety rules imposed... helmet/seat belt, lights, indicators etc. same as any other vehicle.


Holy crap!!! :stupid: Very dodgy.

I agree that if they want to ride on the road amongst other traffic then the road rules that apply to every other vehicle apply to them too. Can only imagine the problems they must cause down there!!

[sunhuntin]

yep. i nearly hit one on my push bike after school a few years back. was coming back from the library and it was just getting to dusk. silly cow didnt have ANY lights and she was on the road. how she expected anyone else to see her i dont know.

[naphazoline]

To be fair, a mobility scooter doesn't way 1 or more tons and isn't capable of over 200km's per hour

so that means it's o.k to plough through them when they dart out in front of you on the road?
or it's o.k to crash your vehicle trying to avoid hitting them?

:no: i don't think so.

[wbks]

You've got me all wrong, man. I was just saying that a little mobility scooter, although capable of lots o damage in the wrong elderly hands, is not really comparable to cars that you need licences for. Therefor, I can see why the Govt. isn't paying a terrible amount of attention to them

[Ixion]

.. Just the other day I almost ran over a sad looking gentleman with a zimmer frame. I used by elbow to push the cheeky fker out of the way. The gall of some people.

:Oi: . I been looking for you. Bloody young puppy. I got a big bruise from your elbow. Elder abuse, that's what it is, I'm gonna report you to Age Concern. :angry2::bash::spanking:

[AlBundy]

A mobilty scooter is but a tool.

The issue results from the mental state of its driver.

[slofox]

Many years ago I had an elderly aunt who drove the predecessor of a modern day mobility scooter. Back in them thar days, electric wasn't much chop so hers was powered by the dreaded internal combustion engine......kind of like a three wheeled motorbike with a lay back kind of seating arrangement and a zip up cover to keep her "pore ole knees" warm......
She rapidly became notorious on the streets of Christchurch....this thing was capable of some considerable speed - which she used to the fullest effect. Before long she had the LEO's after her in force, the neighbourhood lived in terror of her passing and eventually she binned it - several times in fact. It appeared to be somewhat unstable in cornering but she never slowed down - she only had two speeds - flat out and stop. The stop usually happened with the buggy on its side on a street corner somewhere, the air blue with her gentle admonishment of the fates that caused her such ill luck.....
After a while she was forbidden to drive it any more - despite their best endeavours, the LEO's could not prosecute her because the machine did not quite fit any category of vehicle or somesuch, so they just told her she was a menace to society and to leave it alone or else....(nothing actually specified). I think she really gave it up because when she carted it she could not get up without help........did I mention that she was a West Coaster? With a fiery temper? And an attitude?...Ahhhh well perhaps I don't need to mention that.....

[Ixion]

You mean that the drivers of said devices are in general geriatric hoons? My kind of people ! Just think what they would be like on motorbikes.

I wonder how much one could hot up a mobility scooter? There is an interesting challenge.

Mobility scooter racing. I like the sound of it.

[wbks]

Put an rgv250 engine on a four wheel mobility scooter, add drag bars and viola- A 200k/ph sidewalk legal performance scoot...I wonder how long you would get along without being arrested for doing burnouts and such up and down the main street dressed up like some scenile pensioner that just ran out of perscription pills

[vgcspares]

Be a bit like Rainbow's End dodgems set lose onto our streets with 36 volts and lightweight lithium batteries

[naphazoline]

a little mobility scooter, although capable of lots o damage in the wrong elderly hands, is not really comparable to cars that you need licences for. Therefor, I can see why the Govt. isn't paying a terrible amount of attention to them

true that.
i just hope that it aint me who nails one :eek5:

[wbks]

Yea. I wasn't saying they don't need more attention, either. I was just saying its understandable why they haven't seen to imposing many rules

[naphazoline]

too hard to impose any rulings.

can ya imagine busting some ol' coot on his/her scoot? lol
ya couldn't argue with them,coz they're always right. :rolleyes:

[Ixion]

Well, fuck me with a duck and call me a feather duster. They have turbocharged models (http://newsbiscuit.com/board/12/32/0//Gumball-race-for-wrinklies-collapses.html)