I love the "give it some welly" and "go for it like on a motorcycle" no hypocrisy there at all
Perhaps the disabled ramblers are some kind of hip young splinter group?
They have a good point about the gates etc. though. I tried some bicycle touring with a trailer recently and the number of stupid turnstiles and horsey gates you come across and have to disassemble your trailer to get over is unreal.
Its hilarious that authorities can find the resources to cover the countryside with galvanised eyesores that inconvenience everybody, but cant find the pittance to properly signpost rights of way well enough that you can actually stay legal on a ride/cycle/canter or stroll without months of research before hand
-- Edited by Albert on Monday 21st of April 2014 09:26:10 PM
I did email them and received this. I mentioned TRF and tread lightly as allies
Dear Philip
Firstly, apologies if you were offended. As you know, it only takes a few incidents to get all such activities a bad name, and there is often plenty of bad press about mobility scooters also. In Disabled Ramblers we pride ourselves for our safety and consideration for others, as I'm sure you do.
Thank you very much for the two websites you provided, we will look at those and see if there is any information or suggestions that may help our cause. It was very kind of you to reply and we do appreciate it. Thank you.
Yes that would mean motorcyclists would trespass onto footpaths
I am a little confused here, i may have missed something but they are presumably referring only to scooters getting access to footpaths by having physical barriers removed or redesigned. How would this affect the situation for motorcyclists at all?
I gather there is some issue in that they are riding road legal vehicles on footpaths, it seems the appropriate thing is for the law to allow disability scooters on all footpaths provided they don't exceed a certain power/max speed and are used only by blue badge holders.
Im not sure ive ever heard any "bad press" about mobility scooters, it seems like anything that gives more freedom and access to the disabled should be applauded?
My much loved late Aunt had a mobility scooter to get out as she was unable to walk due to serious illness. The scooter would top out at 6mph if you are lucky and the trip to the town was 1/2 mile of wide pavements. She was stopped by the Police once who said she is only allowed to ride it on the road..... on appeal and taking it further she was allowed back on the wide pavement.
Let the disability scooters use them is my opinion if they are registered disabled and legit users.
the comment 'Yes that would mean motorcyclists would trespass onto footpaths' was made by the BBC reporter to the Disability Rambler'
I have put in a complaint to the BBC
Im not sure ive ever heard any "bad press" about mobility scooters, it seems like anything that gives more freedom and access to the disabled should be applauded?
Obviously not, because it is insensitive and politically incorrect to criticise anyone with a disability ticket, no matter how appalling their behaviour. Newton Abbot is blighted by dickheads using Shopmobility scooters which drive at speed along the pavements causing people stepping out of shop doorways onto the pavement to take a considerable risk. These appear mostly to be people who are simply too fat to be bothered to walk, rather than the elderly or infirm they were supplied and intended for.
If you don't think 10-12 mph is fast try running into a wall and see how you feel about it then.