Friday, April 11, 2008

Mobility Scooter Accessories

Mobility scooters have been around for many years. They make it easier for those of us who are mobility challenged to live their everyday life. It is very easy to take for granted things like going to the grocery store or to the drug store. These things are not all that easy if you are mobility challenged, but a mobility scooter can restore your independence and freedom. Just like your car or phone there are many different accessories available. These accessories can be broken up into two categories: Generic accessories and mobility scooter specific accessories.

Generic accessories are accessories that make your mobility scooter more comfortable, more enjoyable, or safer, but are not necessarily product specific. There are many different types of aftermarket accessories that are designed to fit many different models of mobility scooter. Some examples are cup holders, extra attachable baskets, scooter covers to protect them from the elements, simple cane holders, rear view mirrors, visibility flags, and leg covers/warmers. Most of these items can be easily installed to a wide variety of mobility scooters. The rear view mirror for instance simply attaches to the handlebars in the same manner as those made for bicycles. Price wise the dealer can usually give you a better deal though. Since generic accessories are available for most different types of scooters, it is not a good idea, when buying a mobility scooter, to base your decision on what generic accessories are available.

Mobility scooter specific accessories are available for the most part to fulfill specific medical requirements of riders. These types of accessories are often product specific, however. Many mobility scooter specific accessories are essential components that directly affect the health of the mobility scooter owner as well as their ability to use the mobility scooter. Some examples are oxygen holders, quad cane holders, walker holders, seat belts, and extra headlight/taillight packages. Some mobility scooters even have available electric lifting seats. These seats make it much easier to adjust the seat height and also make it easier for those with extremely limited mobility to enter and exit the mobility scooter. Not all mobility scooter specific accessories are for medical or usability reasons though. The Shoprider Dasher3 comes with color change panels. The color change panels make it possible to change the color of the running boards on the Dasher3 and come in several different colors. Most mobility scooter specific accessories, however, provide essential medical or comfort features to the scooter owner. The oxygen holders and the adjustable seats are examples of mobility scooter specific accessories that are essential medical features. Since these types of accessories are not available for all models, it is important to make sure the mobility scooter will support these accessories before you purchase it.

There are many different types of accessories available for mobility scooters. Just like you wouldn’t buy a new car just because it has an available cup holder, you should not buy a mobility scooter solely based off of the fact that it has a generic feature. There are of course product specific features that may be needed for extra security or comfort. In these cases it is a good idea to make sure the potential mobility scooter will support this feature before purchasing it.

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