HELP PLEASE
Anyone know Which are the best Go-4 or Mobility Scooters in Aus for long distance shopping etc.
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Hi @Gerty, welcome to the community.
I have moved your post to an existing thread about mobility scooters. There has been discussion above about mobility scooters which you may find useful. Also, if anyone has information specific to your question, it will value add to this existing thread as well.
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If its going to be your only transport, and you donāt have any financial constraints, Iād recommend the King Cobra which has an 80km range. Its awfully expensive though. How far do you want to go.?
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Hey here Sue. I do go on longer rides to various shopping centreās but alsoā¦ I am needing a more realistic speed so I can get to these places ā¦ One of the Main reasons really is running my big Doberman dog. I need to keep up with him. Dobes do an easy 30kph & run a good 20 with stops & starts.
If you plan to purchase one which can go faster than 10km/h, it generally will need to be registered. There are road rule implications as wellā¦seeā¦which is worth reading for those considering to be speedy gonzales on oneā¦
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Itās worth reading the online guides for your state on the conditions of use for mobility scooters. @phb posted doc is a useful comparison.
Each state has more detailed guides to their legal requirements. Mobility scooters and motorised wheelchairs are often referred to collectively.
Hopefully your mobility needs are consistent with the regulations in your state. Depending on your state of residence as a user you may be restricted to only using the footpath except where there is none to use. Some states mention maximum permitted speeds of 10kph.
The ACCC has a brief guide on Mobility Scooter Accidents and safety noting 62 fatalities. The ACCC pointed out that scooters are classed the same as pedestrians providing they operate at speeds of no more than 10kph.
If your need is to travel to shops up to 30km distant thatās a 3hr trip each way at a max of 10kph. Add more time to wait to cross at the pedestrian crossings. Hopefully you are a fan of soft serve ice cream?
Motorised wheelchairs and Scooters are intended to replace pedestrian mobility. They are not intended to replace a motor vehicle, nor operate on a public road in the same way as a motor vehicle.
Eg
NSW guidelines.
Or Victoria
Or Qld
Common to all is advice that not all potential users are able to use a mobility scooter safely. The assistance of an OT is recommended in assessing ability, needs and suitability before committing to a purchase.
Good lord!! There is NO way I would want to travel faster than about 10kph. I did a test drive fairly recently and it scared the bejesus out of me. Iām happy driving at regular road speeds in a car, but I would never consider doing that on a mobility scooter. Its smaller, you have no external protection, and if you notice that you are seated over the rear wheels, which is why scooters have small wheels behind, so you donāt do an āendoāā¦ they are actually quite badly balanced.
If electric kick/sit scooters are legal in your state, maybe one of those, but they arent legal in NSW, nor is having someone change the speed of your mobility scooter. You could maybe get one like the posties have here in NSWā¦ electric, 3 wheel, faster (scary according to my postie) but it will need to be registered. Not sure if thats allowed everywhere anyway.
Your Dobie needs to walk, instead. O maybe you could pay someone to run him if thats what he needs.
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You would get from A to B at the wink on an eye on this oneā¦
As mobility scooters have a very high centre of gravity, they are generally unstableā¦and extremely unstable at higher speeds especially when cornering or on sloping/uneven groundā¦
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Something to be considered before your purchase is the ground it would need to cover. If there are no good footpaths on your likely frequent routes (to the shops for example) a scooter may be a bad choice.
I witnessed an accident where an elderly gent was tootling down the side of the road on his scooter as the footpath was unpaved and very rough. He came to a traffic chicane that intruded into the road where he tried to avoid going out into the carriageway. Sadly he misjudged it and the kerb-side wheels clipped the sloping concrete edge of the structure and flipped the scooter over on its side.
The car behind him was only doing about 20 kph and was alert and stopped quickly. I was about 3 cars back and we all jumped out to help. The scooter was righted and the old gent restored to his seat rather shaken and with cuts and bruises but he was able to get home. If the car behind had been going anything like the speed limit or was less aware there would have been serious injury or death when it hit his head.
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Noticed the extreme extended rear dolly wheels. Many electric wheel chairs also have a similar feature, but not sure they are designed for assisting world speed record attempts? Itās unlikely the two stroke will be allowed in Woolies etc, but perhaps itās a hybrid?
That opens another useful discussion point.
Bicycle riders need to wear approved head gear. Road users on two or three wheels are required to wear approved protective helmets. On level shop floors mobility stability is due to being level and low speed. In the real world footpaths of hilly Brisbane, Sydney, etc must offer many challenges including crossing slopes.
For the elderly every fall or tumble is potentially life threatening. Head trauma, broken hips and skin that bleeds but will not heal easily.
Observation of family members and elderly relatives is a general decline in some motor skills. One notable still retained the ability to hold a great conversation and remember life events without loss. But now banned from the scooter after driving under the back of a parked truck. The previous week it was the washing machine that had leaped out into his path. Unfortunately there are no loyalty bonus or mileage points in hospital emergency. (Pay by card excepted, Card surcharge likely.)
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Thanks for you input Sue. Like you I realise just how badly balanced these things are. Even now is 2020 these things are fitted with the heaviest seats. Why are they not made of more composite materials is beyond me. Not on all but at least to have a choice would be good. Cut the weight & extend the battery life also.
Yes, there are some folk out there who are simply 'An Accident waiting for the happening". 
ā¦ But for the more normal āOldieā who has been there & done all that so now know our limitations, lol.
Sue, I have experienced a number of times trying to cross the roads at the lights & almost being KILLED because of not being quick enough at 10kph full speed.
I donāt know what conditions you ride in but here I ride mostly in the open where I run my Dober. Built up areaās are always at a reduced speed, one must ride to the Conditions, Always.
Having had Dobers since 1974 - they NEED to run just like the horse they are. Finding an area Safe to let them do so now I canāt drive my car is my problem everyone.
Please people, I really do need your help to find what I ā¦ NEED!
It might get a better response if you ring a few sellers in your area or some online specialists and ask for their recommendations. Yes, each will recommend something they sell but it will be educational as you ask them āthe questionsā. When you have a few come back to the .community and list those that meet your budget and appear to meet your needs, for our more focused comment.
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Thank you Phil, that was helpful.
I am still hopeful others on here might have had experience doing the same & willing to share with us.
Yes mate, I will share if I find anything.
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Australian law says no more than 10kph. motorised and registerable something is what you need. a mobility scooter isnt going to do the job you want.
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You need to:
- do long distance shopping
- run your big energetic dog
but you canāt drive a car and a scooter wonāt do the job.
Instead of searching for a vehicle that doesnāt exist how about considering outsourcing the tasks?
Grocery delivery service?
Dog walker?
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Recumbent bikes are quite popular down here.
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Or electric tricycle. In which instance the Motor Vehicle rules for a bicycle apply.
If itās a mobility scooter it should have a Qld rego plate. The rest are in those rules I posted a link to.
They include using the footpath or when not possible riding on the opposite side of the road facing opposing traffic the same as for a pedestrian.
I did not see the rear so I do not know if it had a number plate.
It was the service road outside the racecourse which has no footpath and is too narrow to ride facing the traffic.
It appeared from the end of that road so I expect that it must have come from the bike path nearby.
The rider was wearing a helmet whilst eating his lunch.
