Councillors get scoot and aboot in Paisley
It was back to driving school for two Paisley councillors as they got behind the wheel of mobility scooters.
Kenny and Mags MacLaren have taken part in the Scooter Proficiency Test organised by Shopmobility Paisley.
The pair, who represent Paisley Northwest, were shown how to use the scooters and practiced driving between traffic cones, which simulated the average width of supermarket aisles.
Councillor Kenny MacLaren said: “I have never even sat in a mobility scooter before but thanks to the training from Shopmobility Paisley I was able to very quickly get the hang of it and pass my Scooter Proficiency Test.
“Shopmobility Pa i s l e y provide a valuable service to many people across Paisley and Renfrewshire, giving them back their independence and freedom to get about by themselves.
“No one knows when they may get too ill or have an accident which impairs their mobility – even if only for a short time.
“Shopmobility scooters help people get out and about again and build up their confidence.”
People do not have to be registered disabled or a blue badge holder to make use of Shopmobility.
The service is available to anyone over the age of 18 with a temporary or permanent mobility impairment, whether through disability, illness or injury.
Councillor Mags MacLaren added: “This was a fun way of learning how to use a scooter properly but had a serious message of experiencing what a mobility scooter user has to deal with.
“I’m sure anyone taking this test will be a lot more confident in using these scooters.”
The service - based in the ground floor of the Paisley Centre car park - offers free scooters hire for those using it throughout the day but also offers overnight hire for a small fee.
Scooters are also available for people to take with them on holiday, with more information available at Shopmobility Paisley.
Visit shopmobilitypaisley.org