Mobility scooters are perfect tools for those who have trouble getting around at home, in stores, in restaurants or even around the neighborhood. But, where exactly can you use a mobility scooter? Are mobility scooters allowed on the road? This is an excellent question and one that should be answered before you place that front tire onto the pavement in your neighborhood, town or state.
Where Do You Live?
It’s difficult to answer the question posed earlier in this post because of the various laws throughout the country. Depending on where you live, there’s a possibility that you might be able to operate your mobility scooter in the street but not likely on a major roadway or highway. Instead, it might be legal to operate a scooter on a side street, such as in front of your home or anywhere else in your neighborhood.
If you live in a gated community or a community with a homeowner’s association (HOA), the community organization might have rules in place about using mobility scooters on the streets of the neighborhood. Your best bet is to research the laws of the state where you live and then look into the rules of your individual neighborhood to determine if you can use a mobility scooter on the road.
Driving a Mobility Scooter on the Road
Can I drive a mobility scooter on the road? This is a question many people ask because they use their scooters as their lone means of transportation, meaning they don’t fold it up and bring it to a store or doctor’s office in the trunk of their vehicle. Even though most jurisdictions do not permit mobility scooters on the road, even if they were permitted, we would not recommend operating one on a road.
Mobility scooters, as convenient as they are, simply do not offer any protection from the elements and do not travel fast enough to keep up with traffic. You would likely cause a traffic jam and if hit, you could be seriously injured. This even goes for operating mobility scooters on the road in a bike lane. Bike lanes are designated for bicycles and not motorized vehicles.
Do I Need a License?
No, you do not need a license to operate your mobility scooter. A mobility scooter is different from a recreational vehicle (golf cart) or scooter, which means it does not have to be registered with your local Department of Motor Vehicles. Most mobility scooters travel no faster than five miles per hour. If your scooter travels faster than that, make sure it is not labeled as a recreational vehicle, which would require a license.
Ready to Purchase a Mobility Scooter? Call Yellow Scooters Today
Are you in need of a new mobility scooter? If so, it’s time to contact the team from Yellow Scooters to discuss your options and your needs. Call our office at 1-855-274-3363. We will help you pick the scooter that meets your needs and help you understand how to operate the scooter and maintain it.