A bit of a fuss over in Wales regarding supposed speeding and careless mobility scooter users smashing up local pedestrians.
Pamphlets are being handed out to the wheelies regarding safe and cautious use of their electric scooters and suggesting such precautions as 4 mph sidewalk speeds and 5 to 8 mph road speeds. Staying out of bus and cycle lanes when on-roading and the customary headlight and signaling device advice, and then some.
The wheelies are crying foul and claiming that the walkies should also be indoctrinated since many of the mishaps can be attributed to their carelessness and lack of awareness.
It’s the ongoing battle for control of the streets. You can read it all at icWales.
Where is this all going? Right here by way of a Who’s On First. Average walking speed is 3 to 3.5 miles per hour. Many mobility scooters can do better than that. Power walking kicks in at 5 mph+. Still no problem for many scooters. Speed walking is around 8 or 9 mph. Most mobility scooters will drop out at this point. After that speed it’s the Olympics.
Between walkie and wheelie, the wheelie can do the most damage based on greater weight and higher speed. You know, if walkie hits wheelie or wheelie hits walkie, walkie looses either way. Since the scooters are the dominant force in the sidewalk universe should the weight of safety and caution fall on the backs of their users? On the other hand- Being somewhat fragile by nature, walkers may want to declare a self imposed state of caution when on the sidewalks. So maybe they should be the ones taking an extra dose of caution.
As always, I will offer up my simple and neat solution to all of this. Maybe pedestrians should not be allowed on public sidewalks unless they are speed walking. At 9 mph they are going to catch up with and blow by all but the nimblest of scooters and easily dodge any oncoming sloth-like wheelies on the walks.
Possibly you prefer a more politically correct solution- everyone just be considerate, practice common sense, and give the other person a break regardless of means of mobility. It’s similar to holding the door for someone or letting someone get in line ahead of you. It costs you nothing, makes your species look good, and peacefully resolves the battle for control of the streets.
It is getting a bit tricky out there of late. Not just in Wales but in almost every town large and small. I agree, courtesy and common sense is the way to resolve this.
I like this all so much!