Minor British Institutions: The mobility scooter
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The mobility scooter is an institution that, like most others, has crept up on us. Invented in America in the 1960s, there are now an estimated 300,000 users moving silently and sedately around our pavements and roads.
But the ride to acceptance has been made a little bumpy by their almost unique power to provoke both of the major British responses to the new: suspicion and ridicule.
An unfair but lingering feeling of malingering has been joined by some irresistible incidents, including the pensioner who caused all manner of problems for the traffic flow in Wincanton by slowly transporting a lengthy roll of carpet sideways, and the 25-stone woman who failed to make a getaway on her machine after stealing a slimming aid from a supermarket in Glamorgan.
More regulation is on the way; in the meantime, might I remind non-users that the mobility scooter is a difficult vehicle for dignity and that a cheery smile and friendly hello might help?
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments