Due to a quite picturesque array of neurological ailments, not to forget the increasing effects of advancing age, I have become considerably less mobile than I used to be. Where I used to be able to briskly walk for many hours, I now move slowly at a tortoises pace, for no more than one hour, leaning on either a cane or a crutch – depending on how I happen to feel that day. Yet I won’t complain: there’s nothing I truly lack in this life, and reduced mobility doesn’t really bother me.
Anyway, for the longer distances I nowadays use a mobility scooter, which kind of makes me feel like a prince or even a king! Relaxedly sitting in a comfortable seat, pleasantly but never haughtly greeting the breathless passers-by, I buzz along at either walking pace or double speed. When I feel social I “walk”, when I really need to be somewhere in time I crank up the little machine.
There are lots of people much worse off than me, when it comes to physical capabilities. I can, though with difficulty, still walk – but a lot of others can’t. Especially for those the mobility scooter is a great support, enabling them to be mobile again. There are 3-wheel mobility scooters and 4-wheel mobility scooters, and if you’re seriously considering buying such a machine, I would recommend the 3-wheeled variety. These tend to be considerably more manoeuvrable on account of their tighter turning radius, which is a definite advantage in crowded or narrow places. I also would recommend to go for batteries with a large capacity: it’s not only unpleasant but also quite embarassing to find yourself out of power when a long way from home!
Apart from electrical scooters, there are many more things and inventions that make the life of the disabled much more pleasant. Stairlifts, bed lifts, electric wheelchairs, walkers… they all serve to make life much more pleasant for the handicapped.