The Quingo team were excited to hear a story on the BBC this week about David Bachini, a Quingo scooter user from Luton.
What’s the story?
According to the BBC, around 80,000 mobility scooters are sold every year in the UK, and the fact that this number is increasing means that the issue of vehicles blocking pavements is a problem that’s recently drawn greater attention in the media.
Police say it’s the responsibility of councils to deal with vehicles that are parked on the pavement, and that parking on the pavement is only illegal if there’s a ‘dangerous obstruction on the public highway.’
However, the problem of having to navigate around parked cars has clearly become a nuisance to Mr Bachini.
Disabled Against Drivers Parking On Pavements
Mr Bachini, 73, has set up a campaign group called DAD POP. It stands for Disabled Against Drivers Parking On Pavements – and it currently has over one hundred members.
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Bachini said: “Mobility scooter users that go out for an afternoon ride are often inconvenienced in such a way that their own lives are put in danger and they have to use the road, which shouldn’t be allowed.”
Class 3 scooters that can travel up to 8mph are designed for road travel, though they can drive on pavements too at reduced speeds. Class 2 scooters have a maximum speed of 4pm and are intended primarily for pavement use.
New legislation?
The Highway Code has a section of rules for powered wheelchairs and mobility scooter users, which refers to the difference between Class 2 and Class 3 scooters. The rules outline the different considerations for travelling on the pavement and travelling on the road.
There is no current legislation in place to deal specifically with the issue highlighted by Mr Bachini. That’s why Mr Bachini is calling on the government to change the law to give the authorities the power to remove vehicles parked on the pavement.
Safety is our priority
The Quingo team prioritise your safety and comfort above everything else. We work and comply with the Department for Transport’s Code of Practice; we want you to get the most out of your Quingo 5 wheel scooter by regaining mobility without compromising your well-being.
Our friendly staff will always carry out a comprehensive assessment on each of our customers to ensure that they are eligible to travel safely on their scooter. We only want you to enjoy the benefits of Quingo if you’re safe and able to do so.
The Blue Diamond Driver Check is a free Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) compliant safety assessment that illustrates you meet the required standards. It entitles you to display the Blue Diamond badge on your Quingo, signalling to those around you that you’re both safe and able.