Scoota Safe Campaign
After two decades of operating a number of services involving mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs including Shopmobility, scooter hire, sales and repairs, we were aware of the growing concerns relating to the need for greater awareness of the potential dangers of mobility scooters.
We also identified the necessity for:
- Greater awareness of users health requirements
- Practical training for users of mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs, including safe manoeuvring in restricted space (pedestrianised areas, shops, buses, taxis and minibuses)
- Tips on general maintenance.
The Scoota-Safe Campaign
Through Scoota-Safe we aim to meet all of the needs identified above by offering an informal training course and specially designed mobility training track, with an optional safe transport session that will include the opportunities to use a bus supplied by Network Warrington. The training sessions will include:
- Background to safe use of mobility scooters powered wheelchairs,
- General maintenance.
There is also a test track session which provides:
- A practical guide to safe use
- Practical experience of different surfaces, manoeuvring in tight spaces and reversing.
Bus Travel
Recent years have seen a huge rise in people using mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs to get around. However in Warrington, as in many towns and cities across the UK, there was uncertainty about whether mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs were permitted to board a bus. This is due to the wide variety of sizes and designs of mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs, and the different sizes of the space available within buses. In reality some mobility scooter and powered wheelchairs users had been using buses – but faced uncertainty every time they travelled as to whether they would be allowed on or not, or if their vehicle would fit onto the bus.
Warrington Disability Partnerships “Scoota-Safe Campaign” is aimed to make things clearer. Scooter and powered wheelchairs users will now be able to call WDP’s Scoota-Safe Team who will ask a series of questions to check that the scooter and powered wheelchair is suited to bus travel. WDP’s staff have identified a number of mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs that can fit into the wheelchair space on Network Warrington’s buses. If deemed suitable, free training will be offered, and a Scoota-Safe card and wallet, and a Scoota-Safe sticker for their vehicle will be issued once a number of assurances have been agreed. The card, wallet and scooter sticker aim to inform bus drivers that the scooter and powered wheelchair can fit into the space and the driver has the ability to board and alight from the bus safely.
Scooters and powered wheelchairs will be permitted on buses if they are Class 2 vehicles (i.e. boot scooters or and powered wheelchairs not for road use, with an upper speed limit of 4mph) and it has the following dimensions:
- Maximum width: 600mm
- Maximum length: 1000mm
- Maximum turning radius: 1200mm
The Scoota-Safe scheme may also be used by people with manual wheelchairs, mobility walkers or shopping trolleys, where these are used as a mobility aid.
Network Warrington have actively supported the development of this new scheme which will give the thousands of local people who rely on mobility aids much more freedom to travel around Warrington and the surrounding area. WDP will be working with Network Warrington to ensure all drivers will receive the correct training and communication associated with the scheme. All sessions are undertaken at the Centre for Independent Living. We operate an open referral system; participants can apply independently or via family and friends.
If you would like more details or you would like to sign up to the Scoota-Safe Campaign, please contact WDP on 01925 240064 or email today.