Mobility car or extra money at the end of each month

@raymundo Do you think you will spend more than 300 pounds on taxis etc for what you need to travel for? Having your own car does create a sense of freedom but if your eyesight is failing, perhaps it isn't the best idea for safety reasons. Does your wife drive? 

@raymundo Thank you for starting this conversation, I am sure there are other members who have some advice for you as they may have gone through something similar.

Does anyone have any input or experiences to share? They are always welcome :)

@wendychick1‍ @robjmckinney‍ @JazzyC‍ @steve093‍ @Brigde‍ @nineteen_gale‍ 

Distance of travel is key to the points here and whether a mobility scooter could replace many of those taxi journey's. You can have a two seater version, reasonable range on certain scooters, even full canopy's to allow for our diverse weather. They have the option of accessing directly into shops, hospitals etc. so benefitting your mobility. My hospital has its own private bus service it is that big others use electric multi-people transport to get people round the hospitals. Prices of mobility scooters start from just over £1000 for something with a reliable range of 25 or more expensive versions 50 miles are possible. There are short range versions a 4 mph for riding on pavements or 8mph versions that ride on pavements and road. So combining a mobility scooter with the occasional taxi travel could be an ideal choice for many old drivers. I know myself once I give up my static in Norfolk as health deteriorates mobility scooters will be first choice. I took the keys off both my wife's Dad and my Dad when their driving became a danger and bought them mobility scooters. The hospitals also have patient transport for old and disabled people which gets you to your appointment on time and free. I used them while I had cancer treatment and not allowed to drive, great service but did require the occasional wait while transport became available. There are also many councils doing 'Dial and Ride' services for disabled and old people to go to various destinations including shopping in the town or city centre. Finally public transport which is free for the old people etc. where local services go to a wide range of places and join other districts for long distance travel. So plenty of alternatives to the car so giving up those keys does not mean being housebound! 

I don't drive but have a mobility scooter which I use to get to Dr's appointments things like that. Where I live there is a charity called DAG that rents out and maintains scooters for people, mine which is a larger 8mph road worthy one costs me £25.00 a month which I think is very reasonable. It gives me just that extra degree of freedom but I am still reliant on family to take me further afield.

Before my divorce I tried getting a car through the motobility scheme but for me personally it didn't work. However my daughter uses the scheme and it is a great success for her. It just depends on your own personal circumstances. 

@JazzyC @robjmckinney Thank you both for sharing, you both always give great advice and thank you for being Carenity's Ambassadors!

@raymundo‍ I hope that this has given you some food for thought on making your decision. Feel free to report back to let us know :) 

@robjmckinney 

Rob

Just a comment regarding 2-seater scooters. Many people ask "Can I take a passenger ?" - The short answer is ‘no’. Although two-seater mobility scooters do exist [They tend to be golf buggies or similar], they are not defined as invalid carriages by UK law. Therefore, they must not be driven on any public highway but may be used in private areas such as hospitals, holiday parks, nursing homes and golf/sports clubs. Both Class 2 and Class 3 mobility scooters are intended for single-person use only and you should never carry passengers on any public highway.

Young children are no exception to this rule, as letting them ride as passengers would put the safety of both yourself and the child at risk, as well as being illegal; the only instance when having a child on-board with you would be legal is when carrying an infant in a sling or pouch. As with any other improper use of your vehicle, you may well find that, if irresponsibly carrying passengers were to cause an accident, your insurance would only pay out for third-party claims [and may leave you open to insurance fund recovery].

Kind regards
Gecko