EDIT
- Sorry for the length. I often Blog about Mobility Scooter issues,
and get carried away. This is our experience with Via Rail - whom we
just LOVE for taking trips!!!
Below photo is my Big Foot "Eclipse" Mobility Scooter on the way home from Walmart and Home Depot.
This Photo: Note Frunk - front trunk. It now houses 2 Battery monitor screens I can read. Coffee Cup holder on Left, and one mounted on right side of tiller behind Frunk. I also have another horn/light now mounted next to the cup holder on the left, with a remote button more centered on the control tiller.
At my heels are 2 temp gauges for exterior battery monitoring as well. Back of my seat has sheep skin because our city uses sheep to keep grass cut in city parks. At rear is the roof frame - roof is folded behind my seat. The rear "trunk" is open and full of food and cat litter. I have a bunch of totes bought on sale, and I believe I also have a metal pole for a project in the Cat run. There are 3 speakers mounted to the frame, with battery connection to 5Ah batteries in back pocket. Scooter top speed is 10mph/16kph running on 2 x 12v AGM batteries. Dashboard is digital with many options to view while driving including outside temp, speed, odometer, trip odo, battery levels, headlights, signal lights, and so on.
Just
a note - VIA Rail might not take a full-sized 4-wheel mobility scooter,
as we took 3 on a trip to the coast, and they had to winch each one up
into the baggage car.
We may have spoiled it for future handicapped folks - but I don't think so.
So all during our trip planning, I innocently thought that there would be ramps at each station for cargo loading, so we'd just ride up into the cargo car.
Apparently that is not how it works. Read onward to find out why.
Outbound,
I was allowed to drive all 3 of the scooters onto the lift, then into
the train-car to a parking position indicated by crew. All 3 loaded in
less than 15 minutes at origin of trip!
On
the return trip, halfway, the train station master was apparently upset
that Via was taking Mobility Scooters that took up so much of the
ground staff's time.
I
say boo-hoo to her, but she insisted upon getting measurements,
weights, speeds, and other details, I imagine to do a complaint email
to Via Rail Montreal (Who approved this trip with our scooters, BTW!). I mean, the Via agent I talked to in Montreal actually laughed when I indicated my concern about the size of the scooters. I guess they thought that a measly 300lb scooter is nothing to take on a train.
Even
though I insisted to Via Montreal that these were 230 lb, full-sized
4-wheel electric Mobility Scooters (with included photo's in email), Via
Montreal basically said "No problem, it's a train - 600 extra pounds is
not going to cut into our bottom line".
But
the Jasper Master's attitude was more than "Professional", IMHO. It
was like "intense lurking" the whole time we were there. (1 day layover
to catch different train. So they had to unload one day, then reload
the next day).
The
problem is that she would not let me drive the scooters onto the lift,
nor while in the baggage car. I consider myself a near-expert on these
scooters, having utilized them for over 15 years. Via staff had
approximately ZERO experience on these scooters, therefore, there was a
bit of bumping around and not efficient movement onto/off of manual
lift. I backed onto the lift because the front wheels were literally
balanced on the lip of the edge of the lift - barely fit, FFS! But I
made it work.
Via Crew had no experience, and took forever to get the first scooter loaded - about 20 minutes, if I remember correctly.
And of course, the crew took turns cranking up the lift for each scooter. Up 3 times, down 3 times.
Took them 45 minutes to do a 10 minute job if I had been allowed to move the medical devices.
Then
she messaged the next station (our final stop) to not let me unload the
scooters, even though they allowed us to load on the outbound trip. BTW
- it took them almost an hour to unload 5 passengers luggage and our 3
scooters.
But
next time, I'll try again, and ask Via Montreal to give me a "clearance
letter" to load/unload my scooters myself next time. The crews can take
turns cranking up the lift. I'm not dealing with the Station Masters
shit when HQ said it's fine. She can take her issues up with them, not
me!
I
mean, an old furnace motor, a 110v extension cord, some cables and
pulley's, and everyone would have been in a much happier mood! I mean -
manual lifts in this day and age? Even a battery operated one would be
preferable, I guess. A smart dedicated Station Master could find the
funds to have a local shop "upgrade" the lifts to electric for a decent
price!
Anyways
- just to note - legally, in Canada, as I am told by the RCMP across
the street from me, Mobility Scooters are recognized as a "Pedestrian"
under the law (In Alberta, and several other Provinces). However, they
are allowed only a maximum speed of 10 mph - 16kph. One can see on the
control panel or control column a speed selector switch.
A
true handicap mobility Scooter will have TWO speeds. High and Low.
High max - 16kph. Low max - ~7kph. I use low in the store, and turn the
rheostat dial down to 50% to really lower my top speed while in a store
so I don't unintentionally hit someone!
A
"faux" mobility scooter, like the newer 3-speed Geo 3-wheeler scooters
(which we have also bought, BTW, but the original 2-speed version!);
Some larger 4-wheel "scooters", and most often, the enclosed scooters,
are NOT considered "Handicap Mobility Scooters" because they go faster
than 16kph. Some can even attain 30kph!!!
If you were to look at the control panel/steering, the speed switch will have THREE settings: Low/Medium/High.
So
the Low/Medium will be pretty much the same as a Mobility Scooter,
however the third speed, HIGH, can, in some cases, double the top speed
as high as 30kph!
For
the record, Handicap Mobility Scooters are allowed on sidewalks, trails
and in larger stores with appropriately sized aisles (Think
grocery/Walmart/etc) year round!
NON-Handicap
Mobility Scooters are FORBIDDEN from being driven on sidewalks, trails
and within stores. IN FACT, not only are they REQUIRED to be driven on
the road, they also require Insurance, Registration AND License Plate.
The Driver is also required to wear a helmet!
It's the law in Alberta, and I suspect most other Provinces!
This
is why I see a lot of enclosed mobility scooters 2 or 3 times while
going around town, then suddenly, they are for sale on local online for
sale sites, and suddenly, I don't see them any more. Hmmmmm.
This is why! Our enforcement officers are quick to sort these kind of things out in our small city.
If
anyone has any questions about handicap mobility scooters, drop me a
line - I do unusual, but legal things, to my scooters to make my travels
more comfortable or relaxing.
Drop me a DM!
