As a person who has a walking disability, I found the word “recreational” a bit overvalued. I suffered from complete numbness from my neck down. Then I was introduced to a recreational scooter. At first, I didn’t believe that I could still do something rather than lying in my hospital bed. But then, I started to question myself, “Why should I close my hopes for a thing that may give a bigger hope than my rehabilitation.” And I’m so glad that I gave it a try. There is indeed nothing you can lose if you try something, and if you failed, at least you’ve tried.
Recreational Scooters are more likely to be enjoyable than bicycles and wheelchairs. Its use is very diverse, meaning it can be operated and owned by anyone who wishes—altering the scooter to the user’s satisfaction.
Recreational has this definition, “doing an activity with enjoyment rather than putting work in it.” The recreational scooter is for all ages. It is very diverse, which is suitable for a broad market. Thus, this scooter can boost one’s confidence and increase positive energy and positive attitude. And let us not forget, you can use one of these to have fun. We might fall from the trial, but it wouldn’t be that we are defeated. When you hit rock bottom? Which direction can you go? That’s Right! It’s up.
What are Recreational Scooters for?
Recreational scooters are involved in some recreational activities. It means that it is purposeful for fun or enlightening the user by not putting so much effort. It can be a type of sport, or alternative transportation, as a medical help for people in need, the list goes on and on.
Others may think that there is no such thing as recreational scooters, but I define recreation as “fun without one’s work.” Which clearly states that people are experiencing joy while doing it.
Also, people who are using recreational scooters have an easier way of life, especially in transportation. It is the feature that everyone has focused on; recreational scooters can ease your life and be fair to the environment.
Types of Recreational Scooter and Mobility Scooters
There are many different kinds of scooters available in the market worldwide. The trend was electric scooters, which run by electricity by the name itself. This replaced bicycles and even motorcycles for commuting or traveling short to medium distances.
Since the people who created it were going to make life easier and fun for all people, the doctors found it very helpful for people with disabilities, walking, and injury problems. Here are some types of Electric scooters and Mobility Scooters.
| Budget Electric Scooter | Commuter Electric Scooter | Mobility Scooter |
| The most basic type of scooter | An alternative transportation | This type of scooter is mostly used for people who have body movement conditions. |
| Under-powered motors, weaker brakes but it does not go high speed as well. | People buy this for transportation purposes | Mobility scooters are highly crafted for support. |
| Cheap and more affordable | Has three types: budget, mid-range, and premium. Each can take different heights and distances. | This might come quite expensive. |
Budget Electric Scooter
This type of scooter is the most basic electric scooter. It does not have any features to do anything, even as a transportation mode. It has under-powered motors, which is not bad because it is cheap. Some of the budget electric scooters have weaker brakes, but that is okay since this type’s motor capability is not high speed. The budget electric scooter was created for minimal recreational activities by those features.
Commuter Electric Scooter
This type of scooter is the most popular one because of its purpose. Many people use this as alternative transportation. It has three categories: Budget, mid-range, and premium. Budget electric scooters are the most popular one since it is the cheapest among the three. You can use it to travel a short distance, and you can use it as a daily mode of commute.
It works best on smooth surfaces, and you cannot use it in steep hills. The Mid-range electric scooter has a higher battery capacity meaning it can travel way farther than the budget one.
The last one is the Premium commuter electric scooter with a larger motor and a bigger battery. It means that it can travel faster and has more range than the first two. The brakes are one of its features since the brakes are now more robust.
The only thing about upgrading the features is that it causes the scooter to increase weight. Therefore, it can be harder to lift and be carried in, for example, stairs.
Mobility Scooter
The invention of mobility scooters was to help people who have disabilities, ailments, and injuries. This scooter has a chair and can have three or four wheels. It is a recreational scooter because it brings joy and happiness to the user without putting so much effort.
There are different types of mobility scooters in the market. Developers and innovators carefully and uniquely created each one to cope with the user’s satisfaction. One can put some accessories to help further the user like an oxygen tank holder, additional seat belts or strap, et cetera.
Prices
The prices vary from one scooter to another. They have different features built-in them, so they increase in price as the features increase or upgraded. You cannot expect to pay $200 for a high-end electric scooter. The range of the scooter, motor, tires, battery, weight, and other features can affect the price. Not to mention the maintenance of the scooter itself.
Things to think about before buying a scooter
The scooter itself is the most important thing to be identified. Think about the distance that you have to deal with if you want to use this scooter as transportation. You can now narrow the options of what scooters have that specific range by thinking about that.
The price is next on our list. We should know what we can only spend or limit the cost? If the option is too expensive, what will we do, or is it worth it? Remember that the prices go up if the feature becomes more and more promising.
The rider’s weight also affects the performance of the scooter. There are specific capacity or weight limits of a scooter. The motor will tend to be overused due to the additional weight, affecting the range. You can also wear out the batteries since the scooter tends to use more power than usual.
Another thing is how you store or carry the scooter once you bought it. Some obstacles are not yet visible to you but will become a necessity. For example, you are working in an office and just purchased a premium electric commuter scooter. You did not analyze your situation thoroughly.
You forgot that your office is on the 20th floor and you don’t have an elevator. Just imagine carrying that 40 lbs scooter up there and bringing it down later as you are on your way home.
In addition to that, not all workplaces allow electric scooters in the office. Where are you going to store your scooter once you get to work? What if you are on your way to work with your scooter, then it rained heavily? The scooter cannot protect you from the rain, and it might get damaged from the rain.
Thinking about those things will prepare you and your mindset for what may come in the future. Once you answer and finish analyzing, you can now enjoy life with a scooter. It is a faster way of transport with fewer hazards and lesser pollution because it is electric. And you can use this as a fun tool for your free time.
