Comments on: Seniors on Scooters Take the Lane

By: Stacy

Stacy — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:07:57 +0000

I don't understand why Miss Heather finds this funny. Plenty of people on scooters and in wheelchairs use bike lanes, the west side greenway, and even the recreational lanes in Central Park. Since they're faster than pedestrians I guess it's only logical to use bike lanes. I just wish they'd go with traffic instead of against it.

By: Omri Schwarz

Omri Schwarz — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:46:24 +0000

More reason to have Dutch style bike lanes. Scooter users use them, but also people with hand-powered wheelchairs.

By: Daniel Berkman

Daniel Berkman — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:41:53 +0000

I live on the green painted section of the Henry Street bike lane in the heights and I have certainly noticed some motorized scooters in the lane in the past year. But the weirdest/scariest thing I saw in the bike lane was a man pushing what looked like his elderly relative(mother?) in a wheelchair the wrong way in the bike lane...AT NIGHT! At one point a cyclist riding down Henry with traffic yelled something to the effect of "unsafe!" as he passe the pair, to which the wheelchair pusher replied "fucker!"

Dan

By: Omri Schwarz

Omri Schwarz — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:21:06 +0000

There is a sound medical reason for this: most of these scooters, certainly the ones Medicare pays for, do not have suspensions. Gerontologists are discovering that sidewalk seams cause severe (albeit gradual) damage to these people's backs.

You either spring for a suspended scooter or, you take the lane. More reason for protected lanes.

By: Susan Donovan

Susan Donovan — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:13:54 +0000

I see scooters in the lane all of the time. I tend to worry though, since they are so low, that cars won't see them--