Tag Archives: mobility

Maintenance

Simple maintenance for your Quingo

Today we want to look at some simple maintenance checks you should regularly do on your Quingo. These are to ensure safety and optimal performance of your scooter. We’ve also shared some brief tips on how to clean your scooter, and keep it looking its best.

Making sure your Quingo’s in top shape

Here are some general points that apply to all of the scooters in the Quingo range. These are quick and easy examinations that can be done regularly. For a full list of details on how to maintain your scooter, please refer to your specific model’s service guide and handbook:

  • Visually check the machine for damage – You should be aware of any noticeable damage to your scooter, regardless of whether this affects its performance.
  • Check pressure & visually check the tyres for damage – If your scooter has inflatable tyres, you should check the tyre pressure regularly (please refer to your scooter handbook for recommended tyre pressure). If the tyres are below the recommended pressure the steering and range of the vehicle may be affected.
  • If you opted for solid tyres– These don’t need inflating, but it’s still good practice to examine them visually for any irregularities.
  • Check the throttle – You should check to make sure that your throttle has full and free movement and there’s no change to its functionality.

    Quingo Scooters
    The throttle mechanism on the Quingo Flyte
  • Check the steering – You should regularly check to see that the steering is moving both freely and smoothly.
  • Check the batteries – You should ensure that your batteries are fully charged before journeys. If battery life is becoming a concern, for advice please complete the enquiry form or contact our customer service team on 01582 430 900. We have also written a brief guide on  battery care.
    Quingo Scooters
  • Check the armrest and seatbelt operation – Make sure the armrests are tight and secure and ensure the seatbelt engages and releases before travelling on your Quingo.

    Quingo Scooters
    The lap belt on the Quingo Plus

In addition, here’s some advice on keeping your Quingo clean.

Cleaning your Quingo

Here’s a quick run through of things to bear in mind when cleaning your Quingo:

  • Only use a damp cloth and gentle detergent
  • Don’t use any abrasive or scouring liquids
  • Don’t use high-pressure cleaning devices

Your safety and comfort

Customer safety and comfort is our priority and we want you to get full use out of your Quingo. For a full list of details on how to maintain your Quingo, please refer to your specific model’s service guide and handbook. Alternatively, please get in touch with our friendly customer service team on 01582 430 900 and they’ll be happy to help.

Public Transport

Taking your Quingo on the Train – Part 1

In the second of a series of articles about accessible public transport, today the Quingo team present our guide to trains.

Getting out and about

You already know how easy it is to get out and about on your Quingo, but did you know that more and more people with limited mobility are now travelling by train?

The government’s ‘Railways for All’ strategy came into effect in 1998 and has already gone some way to improving the rail travel experience. This means it’s now easier than ever to take your Quingo on a train and by 2020, the government aims to have a totally accessible rail fleet.

The regulations regarding travelling by train with your Quingo vary, so it’s important to check with your train company for full information. The National Rail website has a comprehensive list of all Train Operators.

Passenger Assistance

By far the easiest way to plan your journey is to make use of the Passenger Assistance scheme. This free service is provided by train companies to anyone who needs help with any part of their journey.

Staff can help you to plan your journey, book your tickets, make reservations and assist you at the station and when boarding trains. They will make sure that you have the assistance you need at each point in your journey, even if this involves multiple train companies.

Bookings should be made at least 24 hours in advance, this gives the train company time to provide you with the best possible experience on the day.

To book, you need to contact the train company you are using for the first leg of your journey. You can find contact details on the National Rail website, or if you prefer, you can call National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 and an operator will connect you to the Passenger Assistance team for your route.

Coming up

It’s not always possible or desirable to make a booking in advance. Look out for our next post, which provides tips on how to plan and book your journey yourself.

Finding out more

We want you to have the best possible experience when using your Quingo and hope you have found this blog post useful.

If you have any questions about your Quingo, please complete the enquiry form and one of our friendly and knowledgeable team will get back to you. Alternatively you can call our customer service line on 01582 430 900.

Wellbeing

Exercises you can do on your Quingo

The Quingo team want to help you to improve your mobility and overall wellbeing whilst helping you to keep active and get out and about. With this in mind we want to highlight some gentle and effective exercises you can do whilst seated on your Quingo.*

Quingo scooters offer supreme comfort

As a Quingo scooter user, you’re already sitting in the best anatomical position which will help to prevent aches and pains from sitting down too long. If you also want to keep active while on your scooter here are some gentle exercises to help improve circulation and reduce stiffness.


Whilst the Quingo team would always advise that you check with your G.P. before undertaking any form of exercise, having limited mobility may not necessarily mean that exercise is not for you. It just means that you have to make sure you choose an exercise routine that’s right for your own level of mobility and fitness.

Start slowly and increase your activity level little by little. You’ll soon start to reap the benefits.

A few exercises you can do whilst seated on your Quingo

Here are a few quick and gentle exercises you can perform on your Quingo:

  • Write the Alphabet with Your Toes: This is an extremely effective exercise. Using your feet, point your toes and write out each letter of the alphabet. Do one foot at a time then repeat with the other. The different shapes this exercise forces you to make with your toes makes you stimulate ankle motion in every direction. This is a great way to get the blood flowing and to keep your feet warm.
  • Rotate Your Feet: This simple ankle exercise will help reduce stiffness in your ankles after long journeys. Rotate your foot clockwise for 15 seconds, then anti-clockwise for another 15 seconds.
  • Foot Pumps: This exercise will work really well with your adaptive footplates. Place your feet flat on the footplates. Keeping your heels on the footplates, point your toes up as far as you can. Then keep your toes on the footplates and raise your heels. Repeat five times.
  • Neck Roll: This exercise improves circulation in your upper body. Gently drop your ear to your shoulder then roll your head around to the other shoulder. Repeat 10 times.
  • Shoulder Roll: Gently roll your shoulders forward five times, then roll them backwards five times.

Stay Active

Staying active can help to reduce stiffness in muscles and can go a long way towards improving blood circulation, which will also help you to keep warm. Just a few minutes exercise a day can make a noticeable difference to your overall wellbeing.

*Please do not attempt any of these exercises whilst driving your Quingo. Make sure the engine is turned off, the key is removed, and that you have enough room to do the exercises without coming into contact with anything around you.

Public Transport

Taking Your Quingo on the Bus

In the first of a series of articles about accessible public transport, today the Quingo scooter team present our guide to buses.

Freedom and independence

We know our customers are delighted that their Quingo gives them the freedom to travel as they please, whether this means visiting friends or family, doing their daily shop or simply going out for some fresh air.

However, for longer journeys involving public transport, there are often a few more things to consider.

Travelling by bus with your Quingo 5 wheel scooter

The regulations regarding travelling by bus with a mobility scooter vary so it’s important to check with your bus company for full information.

According to the Research Institute for Consumer Affairs (RICA), a charity whose information is cited by the Department for Transport, if you and your scooter meet certain criteria you may be able to take it on low-floor buses. You can find more details on the requirements below:Quingo Scooters

What are the requirements?

  • Your scooter must be Class 2 type and meet certain size limits. Your bus company must also be running a scooter permit scheme, such as the one developed by the Confederation for Passenger Transport (CPT) or the one run by Transport for London (TfL).
  • Your bus company will need you to demonstrate that you are able to manoeuvre your scooter on and off the bus safely and that you can reverse into the wheelchair space. They should offer you training and can also advise which local routes you can travel on.
  • Bus companies who are signed up to the CPT scheme will issue credit-card sized permits which show that you are allowed to travel with your scooter. Make sure you have this to hand when ready to board the bus, so you can show it to the driver to highlight that you’re permitted to bring your Quingo on board.
  • If you’re not sure whether or not your local bus company has a permit scheme, you can check The Rica website which contains a handy list of bus companies who have signed up. If yours isn’t on the list try asking them about the CPT scheme as they may be happy to accept a permit that’s been given to you by a different operator.

Finding out more

These are the main points to consider if you’d like to take your Quingo on a bus. We’d advise that you contact your bus company to find out everything you need to know. It is also recommended that scooter users stay seated during transit. We‘d also encourage you not to dismiss bus travel with your scooter out of hand, it varies from region to region and company to company, but we encourage you to make the most of your travel experience on your Quingo 5 wheel scooter.

Quingo Scooters
We want to get you out and about on your Quingo

 

If you have any questions about your Quingo, please complete the enquiry form and one of our friendly and knowledgeable team will get back to you. Alternatively you can call our customer service line on 01582 430 900.