I dunno, what do you think? I'm glad we have the technology to afford handicapped individuals the opportunity to be mobile and get around while at the same time abhore those that may not actually need them and take advantage of the system in order to get them. You see them everywhere anymore. Do you think those people who take advantage of the system, fain disability, wind up in a scooter and never get out of it again screw it up for those that have a serious need of them? I think these folks that take advantage of a work disability and land in a scooter really do themselves a huge amount of harm in the long run. No more walking or exercising, now they can just scoot along, there weight soars upwards as their health suffers and insurance costs go up for everyone as a result.

I am thankful that my family and I do not need one. I do not condemn them, I just don't think that some of the people that are in one, should be.

What do you guys & gals think....belssing or curse or both at the same time?

OK, I don’t like to generalize, and I’m sure most people who use scooters do it for altruistic purposes. But when I see a 300 plus pound individual, smoking a butt and drinking a soda pop while cruising down the street on their scooter, I do wonder.

I think the same thing!

It's minor league in the scope of things though. IMHO, these kinds of people would just leverage something else, so there isn't really a solid solution to the mess.

I'm thinking we're enabling some of them. Sort of like elderly relatives I used to be responsible for. Although the doctors said they didn't need to keep using a walker a few months after an operation, they refused to part with it. I gave up fighting and they ended up using the walkers for the rest of their lives needlessly.

I'm thinking for the scooters, if they're smoking and drinking a big cup of soda pop, you not need to yield to them.

If they're eating Big Macs and fries, you may BLOCK their paths.

Call me Larry David if you wish!

Sometimes, I do wonder what put some of these people in motorized wheelchairs or scooters. I am not too quick to pass judgement, however, because I don't know that person's medical history.

For example, I have a friend who suffered spinal nerve damage as a result of an industrial accident and futher damage as a result of being made to go back to work too soon after his spinal surgery. He has to use a cane or other support because of the condition of his back. Shock from sudden movement or from the motion of walking can cause him to lose control of his bowels or bladder. His feet can become painful from walking long distances due to calcium tendonitis. He has a weight problem that is hard to control and muscle degeneration as a result of having been put on steroid therapy for an extended period of time. My friend has a scooter, and he uses it occasionally--mainly when he has to travel a few blocks and there isn't anyone to drive him around and he doesn't want to wait for the bus. I think that he has a good reason to be on the scooter, but somebody just seeing him on the street might not appreciate his physical condition.

Where I do feel judgemental is when I see people using scooters and motorized wheelchairs in settings where others could be put at risk. When somebody goes into a very crowded place in one of these things, there is a very real danger that somebody could get backed into or have his or her feet run over. In a few instances, I have seen people in motorized wheelchairs go out on crowded dancefloors and try to maneuver the chair back and forth on the floor in a sort of dance. This is an accident waiting to happen.

Missing and Skeptical hit the nail on the head with there thoughts!

I have an uncle who is dealing with post polio syndrome. He has been using the scooter rather than a cane and walker for some time now. While his condition indeed causes alot of anxiety and pain and enevitably will be the reason for his end of life my aunts opinion is that he relies on it and has given in to the scooter.

Personally with my situation I have only once ever in my life used one of the scooters at the grocery store. If I am too gimped up and in too much pain and don't have the meds neccessary to alleviate the pain I don't go out. That however was then and this is now. I realize now that sometimes you have to fight through the pain and do it anyways.

I don't ever really pay attention to who is using the scooters on the streets but I do notice who is using them at the local Winco stores. Sometimes I really wonder if they need them but then look to myself and my own situation. It is hard sometimes to stay objective on this issue and not to judge but instead empathize.

The one thing I do notice is the newer style of walkers that everyone and there great grandmothers seems to use over the age of 60. You know the ones I am talking about the one that actually have tricycle like wheels. They are not assistance for the user but instead nearly do all the walking for the person in question.

Finally I remember reading an article in the last year how in Las Vegas the rental business of scooters has skyrocketed as very able bodied people are starting to rent them as toys rather than out of medical neccessity.

Hey its a moving barstool. Yay! Hey its time for some bumper scooters on the strip. Yipee!

If that is your idea of fun and entertainment in Vegas you have some serious problems and issues.