The Rolling Bones are gathering momentum as members on mobility scooters band together for adventures on the region’s paths and trails.
Mike Rodwell is a resident at the Arvida Oakwoods Retirement Village in Richmond and drives one of about 40 scooters at the village which has a club called the ‘Oakwood Outlaws’.
Now he is starting a club for mobility scooter drivers in the wider community, called the ‘Rolling Bones’, for social drives, as well as advocacy, support and education about scooter etiquette.
Like the Oakwood Outlaws, drivers have adopted the silver fern and stars flag to fly on their outings.
“In the last few months I’ve noticed a greater interest in the scooters, and see the enjoyment they bring to the people who own them,” Mike says. “We whizz around on them – it’s a bit like owning a bicycle with fresh air on your face.”
Mike is concerned about mobility scooters going too fast in some areas though and he wants more rules to slow them down on pavements for the safety of other community members.
“There needs to be a discussion on it because some of the scooters go too fast and it’s an occupied footpath. Some scooters only do 10kmh but some you can buy online go up to 20kmh or more and it’s too fast.
“In the middle of the day with high activity with many people around, I feel it’s offensive to go more than 5kmh.”
Along with fellow drivers, Mike has created 5kmh speed signs they will take to the next Tasman District Council meeting to suggest erecting in the central business district.
He also wants to educate mobility scooter drivers to drive further out on pavements in the town centre so they do not collide with people stepping out of doorways.
Meanwhile, he is out most days on his mobility scooter and a favourite outing is the cycle trail beside the estuary with friends where they can scoot along at faster speeds to the Neimann Creek restoration area.
They have even hired a Man with a Van to take their scooters to the Spooners Tunnel for a drive.
“There’s a lot of potential in this community.”
Mike has had his mobility scooter for about a year and says it has been a game changer that has given him freedom to roam again.
He has a friend who had a stroke and has worn out two mobility scooters because they were out and about so much.
