Should mobility scooters be on the pavement?

People often ask “Should mobility scooters be on the pavement?”

The answer is that all mobility scooters are perfectly entitled to use the pavement, but only as long as they remain within the laws surrounding the use of a mobility scooter in a pedestrianised area.

In fact, class 2 mobility scooters should only be used on the pavement, or footpaths, and may only be taken on the road when it is absolutely necessary.

It is prohibited for any type of mobility scooter, class 2, class 3, or powered wheelchair to travel on cycle paths marked ‘cycle only’.

A Class 2 mobility scooter can only dismount from the pavement when crossing a road, or if there is no pavement or footpaths available, such as on country lanes. You may also use the public highway if the pavement is blocked preventing access to you.

This is where our Quintell™ 5 Wheel Stabilising System offers you something no other scooter can offer, the ability to handle kerbs at up to a 45 degree angle. This means you spend less time searching for a place to cross roads, and, that more crossing places are available to you, making your journey safer and permitting you to get more from the available range of your scooter.

The superior kerb handling of our scooters is further complimented, and enhanced, by our KerbMaster™ anti-beach and anti-tip solution. KerbMaster™ works not only to prevent the scooter from tipping over backwards, it also solves an issue that can be created by more basic anti-tip systems, beaching. The unique two wheel configuration is automatically engaged to your drive wheels as soon as your anti-tip wheels come in to contact with a kerb. The wheels touching the drive wheels transfer the drive to the outer wheel propelling your scooter off the pavement.

The driver of a mobility scooter should be considerate of other pavement users at all times or, the question as to whether should mobility scooters be on the pavement or not, could become an issue. As with all other vehicles right of way should be given to the pedestrian without exception.

This also applies to parking your mobility scooters on the pavement. All the usual parking restrictions are applicable to mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs. Your vehicle should not be left on a footpath or pedestrian area on its own if it gets in the way of other pedestrians, including wheelchair users and people with prams or pushchairs.

Though the manoeuvrability, stability and safety provided by our 5 Wheel Stabilising System make it much more unlikely, accidents can, and do, happen.

To this end we strongly recommend you take out insurance, such as we can provide for you through our trusted partner First Senior, for your mobility scooter, especially if it will be used in any place, be it roads or paved areas, where you may be in a collision with someone or something.

In the event of a collision causing accidental damage or injury, you will have the peace of mind of knowing you have public liability cover of up to £2 million, personal injury benefit of up to £2000 and cover to get you home following an accident.

Your insurance also covers accidental damage, fire & flood damage, loss or damage from theft, and, even better, there is no excess!