My mother uses one, and I would not begrudge her a minute of it.
Not all disabilities are visable.
Free economy means freedom of choice. If customers want to scoot around in these things and someone can make a profit at it... more power to them.
I thought they were just lazy.
I didn't realize they were training for 'Vegas.
I use two canes to get around. If wheelchairs available at stores had the ‘tilted wheel, speedster’ convenience instead of the old ‘hooks in the back’ style, I’d use them to get around stores. Any suggestions?
Is the Las Vegas strip realy that big and difficult to maneuver? I’ve never been there, don’t see the point.
Not to insult any Las Vegas Freepers, but I spent a few days there last month and a story like this doesn’t surprise me a bit. The whole town is nothing but glitter-covered phony anyway. One more fake thing will hardly be noticed.
I have to go to Vegas several times a year for work and these damn things are everywhere. Not only do the able-bodied cruise around in these but they’ll stop right in the middle of busy foot traffic and check maps or eat or talk. The casinos and convention centers should team up and require proof of need. These things are a menace.
And we wonder why the Muslims hate us! /sarc.
The people who use these things in WalMart drive me nuts. They would just as soon run you over as anything else, and they all feel that you should just get the H**l out of their way, regardless of whether or not you are actually trying to get things off of a shelf.
I can’t imagine how hostile they would be when Bingo or Slots are involved. Of course, this only applies to people who use them and clearly don’t need them.
My last visit to Vegas, I saw a lot of those scooters and yes, they were being used by people who may not have had health problems.
And yes, some disabilities are not visible. One of my friends looks fine, but he has heart problems, among other things, so he does need his scooter. He told me he finds these scooters to be easier to maneuver than traditional wheelchairs, even the motorized ones, particularly among crowds and in tight spaces.
Anyone who has never been to Las Vegas can’t imagine how huge these hotel are but I can’t imagine a 27 year old renting a scooter. We have stayed at the Mandalay Bay and I am sure it was a mile or more from our room to the convention center and that is all inside the Mandalay Bay. Forget walking down the street to the next huge hotel, forget waiting in the taxi line. Maybe there is a shuttle but it’s best to have a car and valet park if you want to see the other hotels on the strip. You will get enough exercise just doing that.
I’ve felt for sometime that this is the transportation solution/vision of the future — personal transportation devices that supplant the old mass transit model — because as the population ages, all mobility decreases.
What I have in mind is the minimalist electric scooters of two-wheels that can go up to 25 mph, go 25 miles on a 2-3 hour charge, and people can use them for commuting within a city — while traveling on the sidewalks (slowly and carefully) or streets (as is safe and expedient).
That is the Dick Tracy personal transporter device — on wheels, and the minimum that can transport one from place to place — including within buildings.
Walking and running is not the best way for people to get their exercise — because of back pain, hip pain, knee pain, and foot pain. Those are the very reasons many people do not exercise — but if one eliminates that constant strain and stress, they become capable of exercising — because they’ve eliminated the pain from constant weight bearing.
Then their bodies are refreshed to be able to get exercise that stimulates growth and health — rather than just wears them down and out. The body is not infinite in its ability to move and recover. That’s why joints wear out and people no longer are capable of recovering from their injuries or just exercise.
Life is a resource that has to be conserved and used judiciously. This is the vision of transportation of the future whose time has come. You don’t need to transport a ton of material every time we go somewhere; that’s the energy crisis of this time — that is also solved by this approach.
There are alternatives. You could go to Biloxi/Gulfport instead to have fun & gamble, and you’d be helping the hard-working Mississippians recover from Katrina, to boot:
http://www.playmiss.com/katrina.html
There are world-class restaurants, very nice buffets (usually with all-you-can-eat fresh-off-the-dock seafood), nationally-known entertainers, great golf courses, sandy beaches, Southern hospitality, kids play areas and a slower pace.
While waiting for the bus from the Magic Kingdom to our hotel, we had to wait for several busses because of the crowds and the fact that scooter people get to the front of the line.
They also take up a whole side of the bus, because a whole row of seats have to be folded up for their scooters.
So we waited for one bus, then two scooter people showed up and took up half the bus, then a few people got on, then the line moved up a tad, then we waited another half hour and another bus came and right before we were to get on, some more scooter people showed up and took up half the bus again. Not only do they take up half the bus, but it takes forever to get them and their scooters situated and locked down. After about 20 minutes of struggling with her scooter, driving it back and forth, this young woman finally stood up and picked it up and positioned it into place on the bus.
The real problem I have is why can't get in back of the line like everyone else?
My Dad has Parkinsons. He needs his scooter.
As for Vegas...
More and more casinos are using Steve Wynn design principles and putting hotel elevators a VERY long way from the casino floor, so you’ll think twice about heading to your room for a break.
At the link, the picture looks like a ‘Rascal’. Do the people at the Segway manufacturers have plans for something one can sit on that is two wheeled?
Years ago, some buddies and I were in Las Vegas celebrating his divorce, and we decided to go to the Luxor... We were staying at Ballys, and it didn’t look that far away... Well, those damned buildings are SO BIG, you don’t realize just how long a walk it’s going to be! It was a pretty good distance!
Mark
I have a Mad magazine from the 1950’s. In one section it predicted the future for Americans and it showed everyone on scooters. The final part of that section showed that American arms and legs would become useless from our reliance on scooters and such. We would become bottom heavy like those wobbly dolls and the Red Chinese would take us over.
Of course that was Mad Magazine so I am sure there is no way that it could come true.
Paradise for George Costanza.