New lease of life with a scooter carrier for your car
WITH more than 80,000 nimble new mobility scooters sold each year, and at least 350,000 in use daily on our pavements, Britain is Europe’s mobility scooter capital. Many people who previously struggled to get around are now enjoying a fresh lease of life. But it might not be long before some realise that there are limits to this new-found independence. A scooter battery will typically take them about 12 miles, so they can’t stray too far in one journey. And the weight of the scooter can make it hard to lift it into the car, preventing them from venturing further afield. With mobility scooters weighing between 50kg and 200kg, lifting a heavier model might risk a back injury. And even some of those that dismantle can still be quite heavy to lift in parts. But a lift makes it feasible to transport the scooter around with ease, so that the user can get a lot more enjoyment out of it without the struggle or risk. It means that they might be able to revisit favourite places, go shopping more often or see family whenever they feel like it, without strain. The lift is mounted on the back of the car by means of a tow bar hitch. The lift has a triangular ‘male’ fitting that interlocks with a ‘female’ docking bracket attached permanently to the scooter itself. Just bring the scooter into position, press a button and the two will lock together, so that the scooter can be lifted up behind the car, effortlessly and with good ground clearance. The lift is very simple to operate and means that there is no longer any need to dismantle the scooter to lift it into the boot. It’s also very stable, so you will hardly know it is there, even on rough roads. And it is slim, lightweight and easy to remove and store. Having a lift fitted opens up so many opportunities to use your scooter, without fear of injuring your back.