by Dr. Gene Emmer

Lately it seems that you see mobility scooters nearly everywhere; on the streets, the sidewalks and even in the shops and shopping malls mobility scooter use is on the rise. Mobility scooters are becoming more and more popular both for people with disabilities and for the elderly. There are many reasons for the ever increasing popularity of mobility scooters.

One of the major reasons for the popularity of mobility scooters is that mobility scooters let people with limited mobility easily get out of the house and enter a world which is increasingly becoming accessible to people with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates that places of public accommodation must be also accessible to people with disabilities. Similar legislation exisits in many developed countries of the world. Therefore, many places around the world are becoming more and more accessible to wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Airplanes, trains, even cruise ships are opening their doors to disabled people who use wheelchairs and mobility scooters. People with disabilities are discovering that having a disability no longer limits their access to travel and to mobility.

Mobility scooters do not have the negative image that many people associate with a wheelchair. Looking more like small motorcycles than wheelchairs, mobility scooters make their owners feel more sporty and less disabled. People with mobility scooters have a positive association with the scooter and do not feel the stigma that often makes many people with disabilities feel uncomfortable.

With the aging of the population, the market for mobility scooters is expanding. By 2050 more than half of the population will be over 45 years old. With more and more people living a longer and longer time, the demand for mobility scooters is increasing and and expanding the market. Mass production of mobility scooters is also bring the prices down to levels which are affordable by more and more people. Mobility scooters are now relatively inexpensive and so are open to a wider population than many other types of mobility devices. For example a new travel mobility scooter can be as inexpensive as $500, much less than a power wheelchair or even a quality ultra-light manual wheelchair.

As the market for mobility scooters increases, the secondary market for used mobility scooters is also increasing. Buyers can often save up to 50% of the cost of a new mobility scooter or more. Very often used mobility scooters are reconditioned and come with guarantees, allowing the mobility scooter buyer to be certain that they are not purchasing someone else's problems. The growing market of inexpensive but good quality used mobility scooters is further increasing the number of people who can afford a mobility scooters.

About the Author: Dr Geme Emmer is the President of Med Services Europe, a European manufacturer and distributor of wheelchair accessories.