Selecting a Mobility Scooter is difficult enough, but if you
are under say 5'2" (yes, including children) many of these scooters may be
too big for you. In fact, short people are often overlooked when it comes
to the size of seating of all sorts. Even dining room chairs and couches
are often a problem. Right? For example, the standard height of a dining
chair (floor to seat) is 18"-20". But someone who
is 5' tall is only around 16" (back of knee to floor), meaning your feet
aren't flat on the floor, when you're eating. You may not notice it
that much, but if you were suddenly careening around the corner like that, it
would be pretty important. Honestly you don’t even have to be all that
short to need a product that accounts for shorter people. You should consider this if you’re under 5’4”.
If your feet are not solidly on the floor or the reach to
the controls is too far, it can be not only uncomfortable, but dangerous.
You may not have adequate control or stability for full safety. We
recommend buying a scooter that fits you properly. Make sure the seat can
be adequately lowered so that your feet are flat on the scooter's deck and that
the scooter's overall length is short enough that you can easily reach the
controls. Review the technical specs for these items…
·
Look for
a scooter with a Seat-To-Deck height that can be shortened to 16"
or below. Many scooters only lower to 18", which may
leave your feet dangling in the air. Measure from the back of your knee
to the floor to make sure the height works for you.
·
Find a
scooter with a shorter overall length of 40" or less, so that you
can easily reach the controls. Some scooters have tilting handles
which help.
·
If
you're also smaller in width, you may want a scooter with a smaller seat.
Most scooter seats are 18" to 20" in width/length, but smaller seats
are available. The chair we recommend comes with an optional
14"x14" seat for instance.
Other general tips for selecting a mobility scooter....
·
Turning Radius is key. The
shorter the better. Smaller turning radius means a more maneuverable scooter
that will be much easier it will be to ride. Look for a turning radius of 35" or less if
possible.
·
Ground Clearance can be really
important. Some scooters are not really meant for use on anything but
flat surfaces (a low ground clearance). But to be more flexible, if
you're going to use your scooter outdoors, for travel etc. You'll want the highest ground clearance possible, 2 ½”
or above so that you don't get hung up, or high centered on uneven
surfaces.
