Category Archives: Quingo Scooters

Attractions, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Christmas Market Series – Lincoln

Your Quingo means going out is much more pleasurable and safe during the winter months so we thought we would find you some great ways you can use your scooter to keep active and enjoy the wintertime.

With the run up to Christmas fast approaching, the team here at Quingo Scooters wanted to share with you some of the best Christmas markets to explore on your mobility scooter.

In the first of the series, we thought we’d start with the Lincoln Christmas Market. Lincoln is a beautiful city with a well-known traditional Christmas Market, where you will be able to enjoy cultural entertainment and discover around 200 stalls nestled within the medieval square and surrounding area. The market runs through the weekend of Thursday 3rd December until Sunday the 6th.

Lincoln Christmas Market has developed dramatically since it began with just 11 stalls. The market gives visitors and residents a truly festive experience, with a traditional, high quality event for all the family.

 

The Highlights

There are some not to be missed stalls at this year’s market:

Stoneglow: Visitors to the stoneglow tent will find homemade, reusable candles at the Stoneglow stall, as well as other unique gifts. The stall is run by David from Essex and has been trading at the market for 10 years.

Moonlighting: Moonlighting products are handmade in Shropshire. The stall features handmade lamps made using recycled material and bottles. Each light is unique and the stall is certainly a highlight of the craft tent.

Susan’s Farmhouse Fudge: This stall can be found in the Castle Square food court selling a colourful array of homemade fudge, sweets and mulled wine. It is run by Andrew and Susan and has been a staple at the market for 15 years!

John Bangay Artwork: This stall is one of the original 11 at the first Lincoln Christmas Market 31 years ago. John Bangay sells a collection of Lincolnshire prints, tea towels, coasters and cards. 

Mobility Scooter Accessibility

Lincoln Christmas Market takes place in the historic quarter of Lincoln with some parts on cobbled streets. In area such as the Castle grounds the walkways and public spaces have been made as even as possible, with ramps on to raised areas.

The Christmas Market takes places at the top of a hill, which at its steepest is a 1:7 gradient. However, a Park and Ride scheme is available for disabled visitors that drops passengers off at the top of the hill.

There are also other buses services from the town centre that will do the same. Most bus services operate from the bus station which is just opposite Lincoln train station. The Walk and Ride service operates from Silver Street up to the market.

Accessible toilet facilities are available on site including at the park and ride site at the Lincolnshire Showground, and there are medical and welfare facilities on site for all visitors.

Park and Ride

There is no parking in the vicinity of the Christmas Market, so all cars should use the dedicated Christmas Market Park and Ride service which operates from the Lincolnshire Showground on the A15 just north of Lincoln. The park and ride site is well sign posted on all approach roads and for those using a sat-nav the postcode is LN2 2NA.

There is also a dedicated service for people with disabilities, using specially adapted vehicles which also run from the showground. Pre-booked tickets are open dated, so can be used on any one day of the 2015 event and are £12 per car. You need to keep them safe and show them as you leave the car park. On the day ticket prices depend on the day and range up to £15. More information can be found on the Lincoln Christmas Market Website.

 

About Quingo

The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. For more information on the Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Quingo are proud to work closely with Age UK and feature regularly in local press.

 

Maintenance, Quingo Scooters, Wellbeing

Preparing for the Darker Evenings

Your Quingo can be a vital lifeline during the cold winter months but you do need to take a few precautions when using any vehicle at this time of year.

Following the end of British Summer Time and the clocks going back, the team here wanted to share some advice about keeping safe now the evenings are darker when out and about on your scooter.

One of the major considerations when out and about in the winter is low visibility. When the sun goes down at 3:30pm there’s precious little daylight, but there are a number of simple precautions you can take to make sure that you are safe and sound.

 

Clothing

With the dark nights drawing in, it’s essential to make sure that both you and your mobility scooter can be clearly seen. The simplest and most effective thing you can do is to make sure you are wearing high visibility items especially if you are riding your mobility scooter in the dark.

You can buy high visibility bibs like this one to put on the back of your scooter, however a high visibility vest put over the back of the scooter works just as well too.

Lights and maintenance

If you’re using your mobility scooter on the roads when it is dark, you should have some safety lights already on the front and rear of your scooter, the only Quingo model that doesn’t feature lights is the Air 2, as well as a set of indicators. But if not they are definitely worth investing in, as this ensures that you remain fully visible to other road users at all times.

It is also important to remember to check the bulbs and also clean the lights regularly to ensure that you can be seen.

Crossing Roads

If you need to cross a road, try and do so at a designated crossing if possible as these will be well lit and may feature traffic lights to make you even safer. If in doubt wait for any traffic to have come to a complete stop or clear at pedestrian crossings.

If a pedestrian crossing is not available make sure you have plenty of time to cross the road and that you have a clear exit point to mount the pavement on the other side, if possible pick an area without parked cars.

Keep in touch

It’s essential that you carry a mobile phone on you whilst out and about in case of emergencies. Hopefully you won’t need it, but you have it just in case you need to contact anyone.

Make someone aware

It’s equally important in the winter to make sure a loved one or someone else, such as a next door neighbour, is aware of the fact you are going out for a ride and where you are going.

Plan your route

Preparation is key to going anywhere in the darker evenings. It’s a good idea to consider altering your normal route or making journeys during daylight hours if possible.

Your safety when driving your Quingo is our main priority. That’s why we recommend all of these points to ensure you are fully prepared for the darker afternoons and evenings. If you have any questions please call customer services on 01582 430 900.

About Quingo

The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. For more information on the Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog.

Quingo are proud to work closely with Age UK and feature regularly in local press.

Quingo Scooters, Wellbeing

You, winter weather conditions and your Quingo Scooter

As the end of the year draws ever closer and winter approaches, the team at Quingo Mobility Scooters share advice on how to prepare and cope with the worsening weather.

Protective Measures

The great thing about having a mobility scooter is it allows you to get out and about in the bad weather. It goes without saying, but the colder it gets the more layers you’ll need when out and about on your mobility scooter, particularly as you will be sitting still and more likely to feel the cold.  Lots of thinner layers and thermals are advised. Hoods on your outerwear or a hat are a very good idea, and a waterproof anorak or cagoule would probably be your best bet for the changeable and unpredictable weather. Waterproofs can also reduce any wind chill. Gloves and thick socks with waterproof boots will help protect those extremities that suffer so much from the cold and poor circulation.

Heated handle grips are an option for the Toura and Vitess models helping to keep your hands warm when going out on cold and frosty mornings.

To protect you and your Quingo there is the all-weather removable canopy. It has roll up doors and protection from the wind and rain when you need it. The canopy consists of a sturdy metal frame that is attached to the chassis of your scooter. There are two types of canopies – those for the Quingo Classic and Plus and those for the Quingo Toura and Vitess. See our earlier post where we discuss the Quingo all-weather removable canopy in more detail.

Route Planning

The safety a Quingo can bring on your journey is key, especially in potentially difficult weather, manoeuvrability and supreme stability are going to make your journey so much easier and give you much more confidence.

As the weather worsens, it’s essential to make sure the route you plan to take on your mobility scooter is safe and that a friend or relative knows where you are going along with your estimated time of arrival home or at your destination. It is also wise to take a mobile phone if possible in case of any difficulties.

No matter how stable your scooter is, when the ground is icy, it’s worth considering whether the route you plan to take has any steep inclines or other hazards. It might take a bit longer, but it’s safer to consider an alternative, flatter route.

The Quingo team always advise to put off any unnecessary journeys if particularly treacherous weather is forecast.

About Quingo

The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. For more information on the Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Quingo are proud to work closely with Age UK and feature regularly in local press.

 

Maintenance, Quingo Scooters, Wellbeing

Seat Belts for Mobility Scooters

Hello and welcome back to the Quingo scooter users blog. In this blogpost the Quingo team want to share some safety information about seat belts and mobility scooters. We’ll also discuss the law surrounding seat belts and we’ll look at when’s best to use your seat belt while on your Quingo scooter.

Clunk, click

The only time you’re required by law to wear a seat belt while on a mobility scooter is when you’re taking it on the road. If you’re travelling on a road you must abide by the Highway Code like any other vehicle, and that means that you must wear a seat belt.

Only class 3 mobility scooters are permitted on the road, this includes the Toura, Vitess, Plus, Toura 2 and Vitess 2. All of these Quingo scooters have seat belts fitted as standard.

Quingo

Other times a seatbelt is recommended 

Although the only time you’re required to wear a seat belt on your Quingo is when taking it on the road, there are other times it might be wise to wear a seat belt.

Generally, the Quingo team recommend that you keep your seat belt fastened when riding on your Quingo as it provides some natural benefits:

  • Good for posture: by wearing your seatbelt you are kept sitting in the correct ergonomic position reducing the strain on your back.
  • Improved comfort: the seat belt on all Quingo scooters is adjustable for your comfort, by staying in the correct position it will keep you more comfortable for long periods of use.

We recommend wearing your seatbelt when getting out and about. The seat belt will keep you securely in place if you encounter any potholes or steep kerbs, or if you need to suddenly apply the brakes.

We also recommend wearing your seatbelt if you are on board public transport, as the vehicle may stop suddenly. By wearing a seat belt you’re kept safe and secure on your mobility scooter.

Safety and mobility

Your safety when driving your Quingo is our main priority. That’s why we recommend all of our customers regularly refer to the Highway Code – the number one resource for road safety. If you have any questions about your Quingo’s seat belt please contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Quingo Scooters, Wellbeing

Quingo Advice on Mobility Scooter Users and Alzheimer’s

The Quingo team fully understand the potential implications that Alzheimer’s may bring to mobility scooter users.

This blogpost aims to offer advice and information for both sufferers and their carers in order that sufferers can continue to use their mobility scooter safely and with confidence for as long as possible.

Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease affects almost 500,000 people in the UK. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s include impaired thought, impaired speech, and confusion. The exact cause of the disease is unknown and work is on-going by numerous charities to help find a treatment and a cure.

Mobility Scooters

Mobility scooters often give people with limited mobility a freedom and independence to get around, but a user’s ability may be affected if they are suffering with Alzheimer’s. This can mean they become a danger to themselves and other people.

It’s recommended that people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s who are still using their mobility scooter should use familiar routes and carry appropriate identification on them, along with contact details of someone who can help if they get lost while travelling alone.

Quingo

If the scooter user is too unwell to drive a car, they are probably not safe to drive a mobility scooter. This might be the case if the following begins to happen:

  • Frequently getting lost.
  • Trips taking a lot longer than they should.
  • A person not recalling details of the trip.
  • Forgetting the purpose of the trip before they arrive.

If you are worried about someone who is developing Alzheimer’s and insisting on driving a mobility scooter you could perhaps look at the following precautions.

GPS

If you’re worried that you or someone you know may go out on their mobility scooter and get lost, or be unable to return home. It could be worth fitting their scooter with a GPS device so you are able to track their whereabouts. This way you can find someone who is lost, or if you are lost you can call someone and they’ll provide help and assistance.

Phone

Make sure the mobility scooter user has a phone on them at all times so they can contact someone if they require assistance.  

Getting Help

Once diagnosed with Alzheimer’s it is important to discuss driving your mobility scooter with your doctor and/or carer, as they will be able to best advice on what steps to take.

There are several charities which may also provide support and answer a few of your queries, this includes the Alzheimer’s Society, Age UK and NHS Choices.