Confusion and Anger Over Proposed Mobility Scooter Pavement Ban

Confusion and Anger Over Proposed Mobility Scooter Pavement Ban

Mobility scooters have long been an effective and vital form of transport for many people with disabilities and mobility issues throughout the country. Scooters are a great way of maintaining your independence and free movement, but they have recently been placed under scrutiny following a London council’s controversial proposal to ban them from the pavement.Man on mobility scooter driving on road

Enfield council in North London are the ones who have brought the proposal forward, and in this article we’re looking at exactly what this entails as well as the reactions of the local residents who are due to be effected.

Mobility Scooter Pavement ban

The proposal itself is part of a targeted campaign to reduce ‘anti social behaviour’ on the Enfield streets. Mopeds and mobility scooters are both targeted for removal from pavements – along with general anti-social behaviour such as public urination, throwing fireworks and drinking on the streets.

While it’s important to cut down on anti social behaviour as much as possible, the proposal’s treatment of mobility scooters, and the people who use them, has earned the wrath of many. Grouping mobility scooters in with anti-social behaviour sets a precedent which can be damaging for disabled people in the community, as it not only takes away that freedom of movement, but also paints them with negative, outdated connotations.

Speed limit

The proposed ban doesn’t target every make and model of mobility scooter, as scooters with a top speed of four mph will be exempt. However, scooters with a top speed of eight mph will be forced to the roads under the council’s plans.

Under current government rules, mobility scooters must not travel faster than four mph on pavements, with the upper limit of eight being saved specifically for road usage. Enfield council’s plans would force owners of faster scooters off the pavement regardless of what speed users are actually travelling.

These mobility scooters aren’t uncommon, and forcing someone with disabilities or mobility issues onto the roads simply because they own a faster mobility scooter has been branded as discriminatory and unfair by Enfield residents.

Discrimination

The council’s decision brings to light one of the key issues concerning how people with disabilities are perceived in society. The goal of the proposal is to crack-down on anti social behaviour, and forcing faster mopeds and scooters onto the roads is aimed at keeping pedestrians safe, and reducing the amount of speeding on the pavements.

However, the proposal will unfairly affect users who already keep within the government defined speed limit for mobility scooters, and only helps to strengthen a negative mindset when it comes to disabled people and mobility scooter owners alike.

It’s becoming more and more important to encourage a more understanding and accepting view of disabled people throughout the country, in order to fight back against the years of negativity and discrimination, but the proposal by Enfield council goes directly against this.

If these plans were to be put into action, disabled people who own faster scooters will no longer be able to use pavements to, for example, gain easy access to shops or amenities. The proposal adds more limitations on disabled people, and only helps to segregate them from the community.

The main fear amongst residents is that the proposal, whether it becomes a rule or not, will encourage greater levels of disability hate-crime and hostility in the area. Residents are calling for the council to abandon the idea, so that disabled people and those with mobility issues are left unimpeded in their day-to-day lives.

Change of plans

Enfield council aren’t ready to commit to these plans, and have said that the proposal was more of a consultation with local residents to see what measures should and should not be taken.

The backlash against the scooter ban suggestion should paint a clear picture as to the opinions of Enfield residents. While the plans may not go ahead in this form, the fact that this idea has been discussed at all says a lot about the constant struggles and issues facing many disabled people across the UK.

A different way of thinking is needed if any progress is to be made, and the government and local governing bodies can help to improve things by simply taking a more understanding approach. Discrimination creates a host of ugly problems, and while tackling anti-social behaviour is an important issue, to do so at the expense of disabled people, the elderly and those with mobility issues creates more problems than it solves.

Stechford Mobility are proud to provide a caring and understanding service to all of our customers. We supply a range of powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters throughout the Birmingham area, and our experienced team are on hand to provide technical advice to make sure that your mobility equipment is operating safely and efficiently at all times. To find out more about our services, dont hesitate to get in touch with us today we are always happy to help.

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