Design of built environments to accommodate mobility scooter users: part I

Abstract

Purpose. To determine the minimum dimensions needed to allow five models of powered mobility scooters to manoeuvre within five commonly encountered indoor spatial configurations.

Method. We measured manoeuvrability of five scooters judged by their manufacturers to have a good combination of indoor mobility and outdoor performance (including in rural environments). We determined the minimum space needed to manoeuvre the scooters through the following five spatial configurations: turning 180° in a corridor, performing U-turns around 50 mm (2″) and 1200 mm (4′) obstacles, turning 90° from a doorway and approaching a counter or work surface from the side. Free-standing styrofoam walls were used to define each configuration. An expert driver repeatedly manoeuvred the scooters through each configuration while we incrementally decreased the dimension of interest until it was no longer possible to complete the manoeuvre. Each scooter's turning diameter was also measured and compared to the manufacturer's specification.

Results. Minimum space requirements for each scooter for five spatial configurations are given and compared to existing standards.

Conclusions. None of the scooters tested were capable of completing all manoeuvres within the space allowed by existing standards. These findings will contribute to recommendations for new standards for built environments that can accommodate scooter users.

Keywords:

• Architectural accessibility
• assistive technology
• disabled persons
• mobility limitation
• mobility scooter

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank our expert scooter driver for the extensive advice he provided during our testing, and Caroline Mei for assistance in processing video footage. Funding was provided by Toronto Rehabilitation Institute who receives funding under the Provincial Rehabilitation Research Program from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Additional support was provided by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the province of Ontario, Shoppers Home Health Care, National Science and Engineering Research Council - PGS-D and Canadian Institutes for Health Research - CGS-D. The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily shared by the funding agencies.