GO PLACES: SPIN ROUND THE PARK ON A SCOOTER

IF YOU struggle with walking or get tired easily, a mobility scooter might be a life-changing purchase. But before you scoot off independently into the summer sunshine, when it shows its face, what are the legal requirements? You don’t have to pay any vehicle tax. But the larger, roadworthy scooters will need to be registered with the DVLA. Neither are you obliged to insure your mobility scooter. But, given its value, it is highly recommended that you do. Class 3 mobility scooters can travel on the road up to speeds of eight miles per hour, though this is restricted to certain types of road. You can travel on any footpath at up to four miles per hour. Mobility scooters follow the same parking regulations as other vehicles. You cannot leave one unattended on a footpath or a pedestrian area. Sturdy scooters are ideal for use in the local area or scooting to the park. For the best ride, look for one with pneumatic tyres and a padded swivel seat, giving good back support. A small compact scooter can be taken to the shopping centre in the boot of a taxi or family car, and will be slim enough to lift out easily and manoeuvre inside shops. It can even be a help around the home. Some people use their lightweight scooter as an alternative to being pushed around in a wide wheelchair — it’s so much more satisfying to be in charge of steering. And it also means you don’t need to have the doors taken off their hinges to move between rooms to make your home mobility-friendly.