dorisenglish

I was upset to read the article in the Lichfield and Burntwood Chronicle where Councillor English seems to want people that ride Mobility Scooters to have insurance. People on Mobility Scooters pose no more threat to pedestrians than teenagers and adults riding their bikes on public pavements or, I might add, than Mothers pushing Baby Buggies around town (I too have had my ankles knocked but by a Baby Buggy in Lichfield town centre but just accepted the Woman’s apology instead of making a big issue about it).

Aren't people that use these scooters and wheelchairs because of disability penalised enough by an uncaring council that forces us to use totally inadequate pavements, uneven, steep slopes, and many without deep enough lowered kerbsides to enable us to pass safely from one side of the road to the other; let alone Cars being allowed to be parked on pavements giving not enough space for a wheelchair to pass.
I think that Councillor English would better spend her time campaigning for these things to be remedied along with making it an offence which is then enforced for people without blue badges parking in disabled parking spaces; even in supermarkets etc. Councillor English should also be aware that many Mobility Scooter users are only on low benefits such as Incapacity benefit and the extra cost of insurance would be a financial burden which many could not afford. By the way Most Mobility Scooters only travel at 4Mph roughly walking speed.

Here's an idea, I am not sure what mode of transport Councillors, including Councillor English, use but I bet it's carbon footprint is absolutely enormous compared to Mobility Scooter users so... Councillor if you think we should have Insurance why not let the Council subsidise a free scheme as a pat on the back for us subsidising your carbon footprint or, if we want to go along with Councillor English's school of thought why don’t we go the whole hog and make all Bicycle riders, Baby Buggy users have insurance and Twin Baby Buggy’s pay a pavement useage charge!... Sound stupid... yes! just as much as Councillor English' article does.