Is Mobility Scooter Stigma Costing Users Their Independence?

Have you ever felt ‘othered’ for using a mobility scooter? 

Ignored. Ostracised. Embarrassed.

You wouldn’t be alone in that. In fact, over 8 in 10 mobility scooter users would agree with you. 

To coincide with the 3Scooter's official launch, we conducted an independent, third party research of 500 relevant people to study how negative perceptions of mobility aids are affecting independence, confidence and social lives across Britain.

The study showed us something we were already sure of: you’re not the problem – your mobility scooter is.

Our research found that close to half (48%) of people who need additional support to walk agree a mobility scooter could greatly improve their quality of life – but said they still would not use one, because of associated stigma.

“When almost half of people tell us a mobility scooter could improve their quality of life, but they still wouldn't use one, something has gone badly wrong,” says Tom, Supersmith co-founder. 

"We need to rethink not only what mobility scooters can do, but what they represent."

For Supersmith, this isn’t exactly new information. 

The same sentiments have been shared with us time and time again by our users, our community ambassadors, and also friends and family members who rely on mobility scooters to remain active. 

But it does cement our belief that the current mobility scooters available on the market are not up to scratch.

Not only are they bulky, loud and more prone to tipping, but they come packaged in connotations that leave users feeling stigmatised for simply trying to get around.

This is one of the reasons why the 3Scooter exists.

Taking inspiration and technology from Formula 1, drones, and e-bikes and applying them to personal mobility, the 3Scooter enables riders to sit much higher while the scooter actively manages stability, and feel part of what is happening around them.

And as many people tell us, it’s nothing like they’ve ever tried before. 

“I often get stepped over or bumped into and treated as a lesser person because I’m not at eye level. People talk over my head, literally and figuratively. I’m there, but I’m not really seen,” says Paraequestrian Vicki Hoban.

“But this scooter means I won’t have to fight quite as hard to exist in public spaces. It means I can go out in the world at eye level, on my terms. I’ll no longer be looking up at the world. I’ll be in it.”

“I’ve got two mobility scooters and I hate going out on them, because there are certain connotations with the traditional mobility scooter. There's a certain image,” veteran Mike Jones told us late last year. “A lot of my peers are exactly the same – we don’t really identify ourselves with the traditional mobility scooter."

“For example, in almost all mobility scooters, you can’t reverse without this hideous beeping noise. It just makes you feel like a vehicle, and not a human."

Adaptive fashion designer Victoria Jenkins puts it perfectly: “For too long, mobility products have been designed as medical equipment first and something people might actually aspire to own second."

"Why shouldn’t mobility design be innovative and exciting? Why shouldn’t it belong in the same conversations as automotive design, fashion and technology?”

We know that the 3Scooter is just one vehicle.

But we hope that by bringing a product like the 3Scooter to market, we can continue to challenge perceptions of mobility scooters and how they are viewed by society – pushing for better technology, better design and greater independence for mobility scooter users across the globe.

If you relate to any of the findings from this survey, we’d love to hear from you. Drop us a message via hello@supersmith.co any time.