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	<title>Comments on: Mobility Scooters As Weapons Of Mass Destruction</title>
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	<link>http://www.thepickards.co.uk/index.php/200706/mobility-scooters-as-weapons-of-mass-destruction/</link>
	<description>ranting and rambling to anyone willing to listen</description>
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		<title>By: garment daily business reports</title>
		<link>http://www.thepickards.co.uk/index.php/200706/mobility-scooters-as-weapons-of-mass-destruction/comment-page-1/#comment-152560</link>
		<dc:creator>garment daily business reports</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:51:12 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description>&lt;strong&gt;Websites you should visit...&lt;/strong&gt;

[...]below you’ll find the link to some sites that we think you should visit[...]…...</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Websites you should visit&#8230;</strong></p>
<p>[...]below you’ll find the link to some sites that we think you should visit[...]…&#8230;</p>
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		<title>By: tyres in Redditch</title>
		<link>http://www.thepickards.co.uk/index.php/200706/mobility-scooters-as-weapons-of-mass-destruction/comment-page-1/#comment-142135</link>
		<dc:creator>tyres in Redditch</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 May 2011 06:43:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thepickards.co.uk/index.php/200706/mobility-scooters-as-weapons-of-mass-destruction/#comment-142135</guid>
		<description>Scooters are miracle workers when you need to nip up to the shops, or join the family for a day out, but like anything in life, if you don&#039;t have the correct one to suit your needs you will be left feeling as though you have wasted your time and money on something which does not meet expectations.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Scooters are miracle workers when you need to nip up to the shops, or join the family for a day out, but like anything in life, if you don&#8217;t have the correct one to suit your needs you will be left feeling as though you have wasted your time and money on something which does not meet expectations.</p>
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		<title>By: Go Go Scooter</title>
		<link>http://www.thepickards.co.uk/index.php/200706/mobility-scooters-as-weapons-of-mass-destruction/comment-page-1/#comment-126901</link>
		<dc:creator>Go Go Scooter</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Oct 2010 10:21:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thepickards.co.uk/index.php/200706/mobility-scooters-as-weapons-of-mass-destruction/#comment-126901</guid>
		<description>Point taken JackP..

But no matter how bad a mobility scooter driver might be... you gotta admit that these machines have done wonders for people who just a few years ago would have been completely dependent on others...

There&#039;s always negatives..</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Point taken JackP..</p>
<p>But no matter how bad a mobility scooter driver might be&#8230; you gotta admit that these machines have done wonders for people who just a few years ago would have been completely dependent on others&#8230;</p>
<p>There&#8217;s always negatives..</p>
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		<title>By: Pride Mobility Scooters</title>
		<link>http://www.thepickards.co.uk/index.php/200706/mobility-scooters-as-weapons-of-mass-destruction/comment-page-1/#comment-111991</link>
		<dc:creator>Pride Mobility Scooters</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jun 2010 14:14:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thepickards.co.uk/index.php/200706/mobility-scooters-as-weapons-of-mass-destruction/#comment-111991</guid>
		<description>Hi,

These are mobility scooters, not race cars.They help those that have trouble walking. They are not meant to be a mode of long distance transportation. Five MPH would be pretty fast if you bumped into someone while shopping at the mall.

Regards,</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hi,</p>
<p>These are mobility scooters, not race cars.They help those that have trouble walking. They are not meant to be a mode of long distance transportation. Five MPH would be pretty fast if you bumped into someone while shopping at the mall.</p>
<p>Regards,</p>
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		<title>By: Mr M</title>
		<link>http://www.thepickards.co.uk/index.php/200706/mobility-scooters-as-weapons-of-mass-destruction/comment-page-1/#comment-53981</link>
		<dc:creator>Mr M</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:35:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thepickards.co.uk/index.php/200706/mobility-scooters-as-weapons-of-mass-destruction/#comment-53981</guid>
		<description>&quot;As the most sedate of motor transport, you&#039;d think they are of little use as getaway cars.

But gangsters are finding their BMWs and Ferraris are becoming easy prey for the long arm of the law... and making mobility scooters their latest must-have.

Police say dealers have been posing as disabled people to smuggle drugs through the streets, hiding the stash inside the scooters.

With a top speed of only 8mph, the scooters are small enough to beat traffic jams and are generally inconspicuous.

A Metropolitan Police officer said: &quot;This is just the latest tactic drug dealers have been using to try to keep ahead of the police.

&quot;We&#039;ve seen scooters bought specifically to move large amounts of illegal drugs over short distances.

&quot;The substances have been packed into the insides of scooters and hidden. We can only assume they do it because they think we won&#039;t search them.

&quot;These are not disabled people. Dealers are trying to find new ways to do their business because they know we are on to them.&quot;

Police have used Automatic Number Plate Recognition to track down dealers&#039; cars - often BMWs, Ferraris and Lamborghinis - and so they moved to bicycles to avoid detection.

Mobility scooters do not need number plates or insurance and are a more anonymous way of travelling.&quot;

From the Mail</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&#8220;As the most sedate of motor transport, you&#8217;d think they are of little use as getaway cars.</p>
<p>But gangsters are finding their BMWs and Ferraris are becoming easy prey for the long arm of the law&#8230; and making mobility scooters their latest must-have.</p>
<p>Police say dealers have been posing as disabled people to smuggle drugs through the streets, hiding the stash inside the scooters.</p>
<p>With a top speed of only 8mph, the scooters are small enough to beat traffic jams and are generally inconspicuous.</p>
<p>A Metropolitan Police officer said: &#8220;This is just the latest tactic drug dealers have been using to try to keep ahead of the police.</p>
<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve seen scooters bought specifically to move large amounts of illegal drugs over short distances.</p>
<p>&#8220;The substances have been packed into the insides of scooters and hidden. We can only assume they do it because they think we won&#8217;t search them.</p>
<p>&#8220;These are not disabled people. Dealers are trying to find new ways to do their business because they know we are on to them.&#8221;</p>
<p>Police have used Automatic Number Plate Recognition to track down dealers&#8217; cars &#8211; often BMWs, Ferraris and Lamborghinis &#8211; and so they moved to bicycles to avoid detection.</p>
<p>Mobility scooters do not need number plates or insurance and are a more anonymous way of travelling.&#8221;</p>
<p>From the Mail</p>
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		<title>By: JackP</title>
		<link>http://www.thepickards.co.uk/index.php/200706/mobility-scooters-as-weapons-of-mass-destruction/comment-page-1/#comment-43205</link>
		<dc:creator>JackP</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:54:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thepickards.co.uk/index.php/200706/mobility-scooters-as-weapons-of-mass-destruction/#comment-43205</guid>
		<description>Barrie, 
I&#039;d say that&#039;s training, insurance, and &lt;em&gt;responsible driving&lt;/em&gt;. Sadly, the problem is that -- like for so many other things -- a small minority of scooter drivers are the problem. Also, I don&#039;t know whether other shopmobility schemes are as responsible as you are -- I&#039;d hope so, but I just don&#039;t know.

For example, in the Tyne and Wear area, scooters are banned on the metro (local &#039;underground&#039; equivalent) because of accidents. Again, this is a shame because for an awful lot of responsible drivers this causes difficulties. The problem is that there does not seem to be an easy way to identify those who are idiotic, irresponsible or possibly simply incapable of controlling their vehicle properly and allowing everyone else to happily get on with life!</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Barrie,<br />
I&#8217;d say that&#8217;s training, insurance, and <em>responsible driving</em>. Sadly, the problem is that &#8212; like for so many other things &#8212; a small minority of scooter drivers are the problem. Also, I don&#8217;t know whether other shopmobility schemes are as responsible as you are &#8212; I&#8217;d hope so, but I just don&#8217;t know.</p>
<p>For example, in the Tyne and Wear area, scooters are banned on the metro (local &#8216;underground&#8217; equivalent) because of accidents. Again, this is a shame because for an awful lot of responsible drivers this causes difficulties. The problem is that there does not seem to be an easy way to identify those who are idiotic, irresponsible or possibly simply incapable of controlling their vehicle properly and allowing everyone else to happily get on with life!</p>
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		<title>By: Barrie Hill</title>
		<link>http://www.thepickards.co.uk/index.php/200706/mobility-scooters-as-weapons-of-mass-destruction/comment-page-1/#comment-43147</link>
		<dc:creator>Barrie Hill</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:24:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thepickards.co.uk/index.php/200706/mobility-scooters-as-weapons-of-mass-destruction/#comment-43147</guid>
		<description>Hi
there are some very interesting views about the safe use of mobility scooters.  I run the local Shopmobility scheme and we train all our users on how to use them correctly.  We have got together with most of the Shopmobility schemes in the Wessex area and are in the process of making a training film that will be available to all early next year.  We will be seeking accreditation so that it will become an accepted training standard.  Mobility scooters are a lifeline to so many people (we have over 8000 uses each year) and can count the reported incidents on one hand.  I guess that has a lot to do with the fact that usually any collision does not usually result in serious injury, although this can happen.
Training and insurance are key factors in the responsible use of any powered vehicle use.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hi<br />
there are some very interesting views about the safe use of mobility scooters.  I run the local Shopmobility scheme and we train all our users on how to use them correctly.  We have got together with most of the Shopmobility schemes in the Wessex area and are in the process of making a training film that will be available to all early next year.  We will be seeking accreditation so that it will become an accepted training standard.  Mobility scooters are a lifeline to so many people (we have over 8000 uses each year) and can count the reported incidents on one hand.  I guess that has a lot to do with the fact that usually any collision does not usually result in serious injury, although this can happen.<br />
Training and insurance are key factors in the responsible use of any powered vehicle use.</p>
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		<title>By: JackP</title>
		<link>http://www.thepickards.co.uk/index.php/200706/mobility-scooters-as-weapons-of-mass-destruction/comment-page-1/#comment-41908</link>
		<dc:creator>JackP</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:59:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thepickards.co.uk/index.php/200706/mobility-scooters-as-weapons-of-mass-destruction/#comment-41908</guid>
		<description>@Brett:
&quot;why is it the vast majority of rants about mobility scooter users - are from those who have never driven one in their lives ??&quot;
---because most people haven&#039;t driven one. That doesn&#039;t mean I don&#039;t have consideration for them. Indeed, if you look around my site, you&#039;ll see I have quite an interest in disability issues (I hesitate to call it that as it sounds &lt;em&gt;wanky&lt;/em&gt;, but as I appear to be being tagged an inconsiderate so-and-so by someone who doesn&#039;t know me &lt;em&gt;again&lt;/em&gt;, I feel the need to defend myself).

So I&#039;m not against mobility scooters &lt;i lang=&quot;lat&quot;&gt;per se&lt;/i&gt;. I&#039;m against the proportion of people who drive them without either the appropriate ability or consideration for others (and it sounds like you aren&#039;t in this category)  -- as indeed I complain about car drivers who fit into the same category. And as for &lt;em&gt;bloody pedestrians&lt;/em&gt;... despite being a pedestrian most of the time, I drive from time to time, and the number of people who seem to have a death wish...</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>@Brett:<br />
&#8220;why is it the vast majority of rants about mobility scooter users &#8211; are from those who have never driven one in their lives ??&#8221;<br />
&#8212;because most people haven&#8217;t driven one. That doesn&#8217;t mean I don&#8217;t have consideration for them. Indeed, if you look around my site, you&#8217;ll see I have quite an interest in disability issues (I hesitate to call it that as it sounds <em>wanky</em>, but as I appear to be being tagged an inconsiderate so-and-so by someone who doesn&#8217;t know me <em>again</em>, I feel the need to defend myself).</p>
<p>So I&#8217;m not against mobility scooters <i lang="lat">per se</i>. I&#8217;m against the proportion of people who drive them without either the appropriate ability or consideration for others (and it sounds like you aren&#8217;t in this category)  &#8212; as indeed I complain about car drivers who fit into the same category. And as for <em>bloody pedestrians</em>&#8230; despite being a pedestrian most of the time, I drive from time to time, and the number of people who seem to have a death wish&#8230;</p>
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		<title>By: brett</title>
		<link>http://www.thepickards.co.uk/index.php/200706/mobility-scooters-as-weapons-of-mass-destruction/comment-page-1/#comment-41739</link>
		<dc:creator>brett</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 26 Oct 2008 20:26:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thepickards.co.uk/index.php/200706/mobility-scooters-as-weapons-of-mass-destruction/#comment-41739</guid>
		<description>ah hem - why is it the vast majority of rants about mobility scooter users - are from those who have never driven one in their lives ?? - yes i agree there are those who use them irresponsibly - but there are irresponsible car drivers who :

don&#039;t indicate 
don&#039;t give way on crossings ( i was nearly taken out by one a while back ) 
park in front of /on drop curbs forcing us out into the road to get past 
cut us up if we HAVE  to use the road 
are generally inconsiderate /just don&#039;t see us ( there are also some very considerate drivers too thank god ) 

irresponsible cyclists who :

cycle on pavements 
speed far in excess of 4 mph !! ( or even 8 ) 
have no breaks 
have no warning device ( despite the law requiring one ) 

irresponsible pedestrians who : 

walk round in a dream 
use i - pods and other music things totally cutting them off from whats happening around them 
walk in to us 
let their kids run loose and even laugh if the child jumps in front of us 
don&#039;t see us ( i have 2 orange flashing beacons on my scooter and they STILL don&#039;t see me ) 
abuse us 
spit at us 
walk round with their heads down whilst using mobile phones ( why do they do that ?? ) 

so before you moan about scooter users - are you all so perfect ?? - no you ain&#039;t 

i insure and tax my scoot - and fortunately being a trained ex emergency vehicle driver have lightning reflexes ( and boy do i need them sometimes !! ) 

we all just trying to get somewhere - show us a bit more consideration - and we may just show you some - just consider yourself  LUCKY - you don&#039;t NEED  to use one of these devices - if you DID  you may have a slightly different take on things !!</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>ah hem &#8211; why is it the vast majority of rants about mobility scooter users &#8211; are from those who have never driven one in their lives ?? &#8211; yes i agree there are those who use them irresponsibly &#8211; but there are irresponsible car drivers who :</p>
<p>don&#8217;t indicate<br />
don&#8217;t give way on crossings ( i was nearly taken out by one a while back )<br />
park in front of /on drop curbs forcing us out into the road to get past<br />
cut us up if we HAVE  to use the road<br />
are generally inconsiderate /just don&#8217;t see us ( there are also some very considerate drivers too thank god ) </p>
<p>irresponsible cyclists who :</p>
<p>cycle on pavements<br />
speed far in excess of 4 mph !! ( or even 8 )<br />
have no breaks<br />
have no warning device ( despite the law requiring one ) </p>
<p>irresponsible pedestrians who : </p>
<p>walk round in a dream<br />
use i &#8211; pods and other music things totally cutting them off from whats happening around them<br />
walk in to us<br />
let their kids run loose and even laugh if the child jumps in front of us<br />
don&#8217;t see us ( i have 2 orange flashing beacons on my scooter and they STILL don&#8217;t see me )<br />
abuse us<br />
spit at us<br />
walk round with their heads down whilst using mobile phones ( why do they do that ?? ) </p>
<p>so before you moan about scooter users &#8211; are you all so perfect ?? &#8211; no you ain&#8217;t </p>
<p>i insure and tax my scoot &#8211; and fortunately being a trained ex emergency vehicle driver have lightning reflexes ( and boy do i need them sometimes !! ) </p>
<p>we all just trying to get somewhere &#8211; show us a bit more consideration &#8211; and we may just show you some &#8211; just consider yourself  LUCKY &#8211; you don&#8217;t NEED  to use one of these devices &#8211; if you DID  you may have a slightly different take on things !!</p>
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		<title>By: Dave Axford</title>
		<link>http://www.thepickards.co.uk/index.php/200706/mobility-scooters-as-weapons-of-mass-destruction/comment-page-1/#comment-19927</link>
		<dc:creator>Dave Axford</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 18 Oct 2007 11:29:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.thepickards.co.uk/index.php/200706/mobility-scooters-as-weapons-of-mass-destruction/#comment-19927</guid>
		<description>After a bike accident(non fault), I,m stuck,for the time being, with not being able to walk, &amp; one of my friends gave me an electric scooter. This thing can supposedly do 6mph,&amp; even though I,m an advanced driver, &amp; motorcyclist,gives me the frights if I try to travel at that speed around town .(pavements obv.)
The problem is, that pedestrians dont travel at that speed, and wander all over the place, (the worst, being young women in a magpie shopping stupor,-seeing something sparkly, in a shop window,usually sunglasses to wear as hairpieces or similar)and change direction without any warning.
The answers are either,to fit pedestrians with rear view mirrors, and indicators(but to be honest, most people cant use them when driving a car, so what chance when walking?),or limit the speed of said scooters,to walking pace,along with some kind of training.
My gran cant see past the end of her nose,and tries to write letters to king george,on haddock, but can get on one of these scoots, and bugger off into town at 6mph to maim people!
Scooters are fitted with an adjustable speed limiter,but my gran cant wee on her own, let alone DRIVE ! so with respect,TRAINING,is the answer,&amp; some form of NOT SELLING, to people who are obviously not capable of using them safely. Maybe holding the salesman responsible after selling (at great profit)to senile and uncapable people.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>After a bike accident(non fault), I,m stuck,for the time being, with not being able to walk, &amp; one of my friends gave me an electric scooter. This thing can supposedly do 6mph,&amp; even though I,m an advanced driver, &amp; motorcyclist,gives me the frights if I try to travel at that speed around town .(pavements obv.)<br />
The problem is, that pedestrians dont travel at that speed, and wander all over the place, (the worst, being young women in a magpie shopping stupor,-seeing something sparkly, in a shop window,usually sunglasses to wear as hairpieces or similar)and change direction without any warning.<br />
The answers are either,to fit pedestrians with rear view mirrors, and indicators(but to be honest, most people cant use them when driving a car, so what chance when walking?),or limit the speed of said scooters,to walking pace,along with some kind of training.<br />
My gran cant see past the end of her nose,and tries to write letters to king george,on haddock, but can get on one of these scoots, and bugger off into town at 6mph to maim people!<br />
Scooters are fitted with an adjustable speed limiter,but my gran cant wee on her own, let alone DRIVE ! so with respect,TRAINING,is the answer,&amp; some form of NOT SELLING, to people who are obviously not capable of using them safely. Maybe holding the salesman responsible after selling (at great profit)to senile and uncapable people.</p>
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