Comments on: Power Wheelchair On-Roading http://www.usatechguide.org/blog/power-wheelchair-on-roading/ From USA TechGuide Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:27:35 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: MrGimp http://www.usatechguide.org/blog/power-wheelchair-on-roading/comment-page-1/#comment-107764 MrGimp Sat, 17 May 2008 07:16:15 +0000 http://www.usatechguide.org/blog/2006/06/09/power-wheelchair-on-roading/#comment-107764 wow, you guys that are out on the sidewalks in your power chairs fascinate me, its so crazy, people drive crazy, I have my times too, but I am very alert! Great job, im glad you get out and around. come check out my life at my site! wow, you guys that are out on the sidewalks in your power chairs fascinate me, its so crazy, people drive crazy, I have my times too, but I am very alert! Great job, im glad you get out and around. come check out my life at my site!

]]> By: Ziggi http://www.usatechguide.org/blog/power-wheelchair-on-roading/comment-page-1/#comment-8435 Ziggi Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:21:17 +0000 http://www.usatechguide.org/blog/2006/06/09/power-wheelchair-on-roading/#comment-8435 No problem! You can get most any of these products in any decent bicycle shop. Or just type "bicycle flag" into a Google search if you prefer buying online. Most often the item will need little or no modification to mount to your wheelchair. No problem! You can get most any of these products in any decent bicycle shop. Or just type “bicycle flag” into a Google search if you prefer buying online. Most often the item will need little or no modification to mount to your wheelchair.

]]> By: Gino J. Piazza http://www.usatechguide.org/blog/power-wheelchair-on-roading/comment-page-1/#comment-8423 Gino J. Piazza Thu, 01 Mar 2007 22:53:06 +0000 http://www.usatechguide.org/blog/2006/06/09/power-wheelchair-on-roading/#comment-8423 Good article and good tips! I am a big time "roadie". I wish I had read this sooner because I see that some of the links are dead – such as where to get a flag. Any recommendation? You are quite right about horns. People can barely hear the one on my Permobil. Yes, there are air horns out there, however, I think they are WAY too loud! Any recommendations on electronic horns? Good article and good tips! I am a big time “roadie”. I wish I had read this sooner because I see that some of the links are dead – such as where to get a flag. Any recommendation? You are quite right about horns. People can barely hear the one on my Permobil. Yes, there are air horns out there, however, I think they are WAY too loud! Any recommendations on electronic horns?

]]> By: Ann Sieck http://www.usatechguide.org/blog/power-wheelchair-on-roading/comment-page-1/#comment-4353 Ann Sieck Sat, 04 Nov 2006 20:58:04 +0000 http://www.usatechguide.org/blog/2006/06/09/power-wheelchair-on-roading/#comment-4353 I ride miles every day in the street, at about 7 mph. It's pretty much like using a bike, which lots of people do around here. In an urban area like Berkeley CA, where I live, it's faster and much cleaner than taking the car for any trip under 3 or 4 miles, and I don't have to find a place to park when I get there. I ride miles every day in the street, at about 7 mph. It’s pretty much like using a bike, which lots of people do around here. In an urban area like Berkeley CA, where I live, it’s faster and much cleaner than taking the car for any trip under 3 or 4 miles, and I don’t have to find a place to park when I get there.

]]> By: Ziggi http://www.usatechguide.org/blog/power-wheelchair-on-roading/comment-page-1/#comment-3013 Ziggi Sun, 16 Jul 2006 00:59:58 +0000 http://www.usatechguide.org/blog/2006/06/09/power-wheelchair-on-roading/#comment-3013 You seem to have some experience with this type of thing. I think the USA flag is a great idea. Wish I had thought of that. Thanks for the firsthand insights. You seem to have some experience with this type of thing. I think the USA flag is a great idea. Wish I had thought of that. Thanks for the firsthand insights.

]]> By: Goggle Quad http://www.usatechguide.org/blog/power-wheelchair-on-roading/comment-page-1/#comment-3008 Goggle Quad Sat, 15 Jul 2006 20:37:55 +0000 http://www.usatechguide.org/blog/2006/06/09/power-wheelchair-on-roading/#comment-3008 Being a roadie, one of those close to 10mph future ziggi statistics, doing long hauls of 10, 20, and 30 miles on weekends in Amish country where horse and buggies get squashed every year, I can leave these guidelines for debate. I by no means recommend these guidelines for other individuals nor do I take any responsibly if you follow these and have an accident. These Rules and Guidelines are fitted to my abilities, senses, and cognition. DO NOT TRUST YOUR FELLOW HUMAN and THIER DRIVING! Do not abide by the rules in all situations. For the best safety go with the odds based on the situation (to be explained). "You are not in a motor vehicle," nor are you a walking pedestrian. You are somewhere between a bike and slow scooter (Little motorcycle). GET A REAL FLAG: Like Ziggi's recommendation on a real horn (The horn that came with my chair is better at fooling people in believing the microwave is done), I'd also go with a real flag. A BIG USA flag, 3ft x 5ft. gets peoples' attention!!! I started doing my drives with one flapping high above the chair several weeks ago and I can hear the cars slowing down now long before they can see me. I get waves, high-five from motorcycles, etc, etc. In addition to being safe and noticeable, it's just awesome, like riding a horse carrying the flag, through the country-side in the 1700's, and it’s patriotic, gets a person thinking, and more, like being asked if you are a VET. If you are not a vet, you’re out there supporting them as we should be!!! STAY OUT OF BLIND SPOTS!!! This is what gets horse and buggies squashed. This means when going up inclines or hills (where there is a blind spot for on coming traffic) go with the traffic, when you reach the crest and you are SURE the coast is clear, switch and go against traffic. When those drunk or dozing drivers come flying along, you want to be as far as you can get from them. KNOW YOUR ROADS! Some of the roads in my area with wide berms, where traffic whips along at 40-60mph are safer than those "Bicycle route" roads, where there is no berm, speed limit is 35mph and cars whip by at 40-60mph. On roads with berms go against the traffic and watch far ahead for that drifting driver, however, KNOW THE ROAD. Some roads I run on that have wide berms, but what is beyond the berm could be a 5 foot cliff into a stream, so, going with traffic, where I have place to land the chair off the road and berm in somebody’s yard, when the drifter comes from behind, becomes the safer place to be. STAY ALERT! In addition to those death machines flying by, the roads are full of road kill(like skunks), glass, screws, nails, road apples (Horse crap), and used condoms. You name it, it’s out there. In general on this whole topic of wheelchair safety, I have to say, why are we (the roadies) having such issues even made? If I were capable of riding a bike, or physically walking my dog, there would be no “safety” issue here. My chair is about 2 ½ foot wider than a bike, but there’s people out walking wider than that, so, I have to come to the conclusion all the hubbub is really about shock. Peoples are just not used to seeing a chair hum along… Remember, life is hazardous to your health, and living in a bubble is equally “unsafe.” Get out there, use your head, have fun, and ENJOY LIFE!!!! Being a roadie, one of those close to 10mph future ziggi statistics, doing long hauls of 10, 20, and 30 miles on weekends in Amish country where horse and buggies get squashed every year, I can leave these guidelines for debate. I by no means recommend these guidelines for other individuals nor do I take any responsibly if you follow these and have an accident. These Rules and Guidelines are fitted to my abilities, senses, and cognition.

DO NOT TRUST YOUR FELLOW HUMAN and THIER DRIVING! Do not abide by the rules in all situations. For the best safety go with the odds based on the situation (to be explained). “You are not in a motor vehicle,” nor are you a walking pedestrian. You are somewhere between a bike and slow scooter (Little motorcycle).

GET A REAL FLAG: Like Ziggi’s recommendation on a real horn (The horn that came with my chair is better at fooling people in believing the microwave is done), I’d also go with a real flag. A BIG USA flag, 3ft x 5ft. gets peoples’ attention!!! I started doing my drives with one flapping high above the chair several weeks ago and I can hear the cars slowing down now long before they can see me. I get waves, high-five from motorcycles, etc, etc. In addition to being safe and noticeable, it’s just awesome, like riding a horse carrying the flag, through the country-side in the 1700’s, and it’s patriotic, gets a person thinking, and more, like being asked if you are a VET. If you are not a vet, you’re out there supporting them as we should be!!!

STAY OUT OF BLIND SPOTS!!! This is what gets horse and buggies squashed. This means when going up inclines or hills (where there is a blind spot for on coming traffic) go with the traffic, when you reach the crest and you are SURE the coast is clear, switch and go against traffic. When those drunk or dozing drivers come flying along, you want to be as far as you can get from them.

KNOW YOUR ROADS! Some of the roads in my area with wide berms, where traffic whips along at 40-60mph are safer than those “Bicycle route” roads, where there is no berm, speed limit is 35mph and cars whip by at 40-60mph. On roads with berms go against the traffic and watch far ahead for that drifting driver, however, KNOW THE ROAD. Some roads I run on that have wide berms, but what is beyond the berm could be a 5 foot cliff into a stream, so, going with traffic, where I have place to land the chair off the road and berm in somebody’s yard, when the drifter comes from behind, becomes the safer place to be.

STAY ALERT! In addition to those death machines flying by, the roads are full of road kill(like skunks), glass, screws, nails, road apples (Horse crap), and used condoms. You name it, it’s out there.

In general on this whole topic of wheelchair safety, I have to say, why are we (the roadies) having such issues even made? If I were capable of riding a bike, or physically walking my dog, there would be no “safety” issue here. My chair is about 2 ½ foot wider than a bike, but there’s people out walking wider than that, so, I have to come to the conclusion all the hubbub is really about shock. Peoples are just not used to seeing a chair hum along…

Remember, life is hazardous to your health, and living in a bubble is equally “unsafe.” Get out there, use your head, have fun, and ENJOY LIFE!!!!

]]>