Motorized Scooters and Laziness

While I agree with you that mobility is a "use it or lose it" situation, those scooters really can be a godsend. I broke my foot a few years back, had a cast up to my knee and wasn't allowed to bear weight on it for 8 weeks. Having a scooter availible at the supermarket meant that I wasn't completely dependent on friends to help me pick up a few groceries.

Still, your average american could use a walk or two around the mall of america.

Finally someone said it, thank you! This issue needs to be addressed as I have noticed it more and more. I too had to rely upon the use of one of these scooters at my young age of 26 because of a fractured pelvis. I must say, it made my life so much easier, but I didn't use it for long... I moved on to a walker, crutches and eventually a cane. A year and a half later I am more fit than I have ever been in my life as I had a wake up call. I will never again take walking for granted. Get up and walk people!!! This is one of my biggest pet peaves (right below child obesity) and I am reminded again why I just love this blog. Thanks!

I do believe these devices are needed by some but many people are disabling themselves by using them. My grandma used one of these after she had a stroke but when they starting having her do exercises and slow walking it was twice as hard because she was in the chair for too long I believe strongly that walking is one of the best exercises for staying moble and healthy.

I think that it could be the scooters, or better yet, it could be also our office work hours that are getting us fat.

But anyways, I think scooters should only be sold like a perscription, and have a DNA scanner to know who this scooter belongs to.

And Another reasons why Americans are losing their ability to walk is because we are working for far too long in the office. I think that Americans can get a part time job at the office, and another part time job at a farm or a job that requires physical activity. Or, if you make enough money and you are working at an office, cut your work time to less than 30 hours a week or 4 days a week, and do some horse-back riding, swimming, or any other physical fun activity. Working 40 hours at the job is: you sit on the chair, staring at the screen, and the only exercise you do is with your fingers typing the keys and moving the mouse, with some stamping or writing.

And I think that we now need laws governing how moderized scooters are used, and being used only when necessary of severe injury, and do some walk theorpy to treat moble disabilities and even osteoprodic people.

Indeed, scooters and motorized wheelchairs are a great help to many. But you have to watch out for the would-be Andrettis and Villeneuves who sometimes drive these vehicles. I once had my foot run over by someone hurtling by on the Cadillac of motorized wheelchairs. Believe me when I say those things are heavy!

Oh man, Jim, this article is SO true. Those stupid scooters are EVERYWHERE. And it's not just disabled people that use them, it's people that just plain don't wanna walk. Our Super Walmart has three or four of them for customer use and I saw one sort of obese lady (who didn't look like she had a problem walking to the scooter) get one and tell her husband: "This place is too darn big. I can't walk around the whole store, you know". Well, maybe you should. It's great exercise and after a while, WalMart wouldn't feel like such a challenge to walk around anymore.

I don't know why I detect some judgment going on here about the scooters but walk in someones shoes first. I had acute pains in my body long before I became obese. I walk when I can, I use the walker when I feel it will be needed and use a hand me down scooter for needed times. If I try without any sort of help I always cry at night and regret that I allowed the pain to get out of hand. I look younger than my age, so if you see me walking one time and scootering along another time, please be considerate and just wonder why instead of assuming I'm lazy or don't really need it. I long for the days when I could walk and run. Yes I'm working on trying to be a healthier weight but that will not change my physical maladies that are progressive. I do confess I have looked at some people and wondered what's wrong with you? I am human too, but I don't get disturbed about it. I'm sorry for ranting.

I've seen some people in these scooters that deffinately cause me to raise an eyebrow. Sometimes I want to follow them home as a "fly on the wall" and see just how much they NEED that scooter to get around.

It also brings to mind the 10 and 11 year old children that sit in the cart and are being pushed while their parents shop. Are they future scooter riders?

I am 40, look about 30, and for the past 3 weeks you would have seen ME walk into the store get a scooter and sit for my grocery shopping. You'd wonder "what's wrong with her?" IF I walk through grocery shopping, I will not be able to do simple things when I get home like cook dinner for my 3 young children who are sometimes with me when I shop. They know why I have to do it for now, and understand that it's not something I'll do for long.

It's incredibly hard for me because I'm not used to sitting, I have worked where I seldom sat in the positions I have had in sales for the last 21 years. I park in the first convenient spot, not circle the store for 20 minutes looking for a closer one...I just walk. For my 40th birthday I was swimming with dolphins, snorkeling, climbing a waterfall 600 ft high, and horseback riding for 4 hours in the mountains. Now 4 months later I have to sit and use mobility aids, and someone will judge me for walking in the store and getting a scooter? I may have just worked 8 hours on my injury and just can't take any more because I have to walk at home to take care of others.

I have to have a bone shortened in one of my feet next week (a painful condition that has gotten worse and worse over the last 17 years working ON MY FEET) and the other foot has bone spurs in it so that one is hurting badly too from supporting most of the weight. I use a crutch at work but once out of work stay off my feet as much as possible till my surgery corrects the problem.

I agree that many use scooters who could merely use a walk, (I worked at Wal Mart for 3 years, and saw many like who was described) but rather than judge them I feel sorry for them. I guess it's different when you've walked in severe pain off and on for so many years. This is the 3rd time the Dr took me off work on medical leave for it, this time we're going to fix it.

I don't think anyone's bashing people who legitimately NEED those scooters, it's just that the privilege is being abused. It's kind of like handicapped parking stalls...you have to have a permit to park there because if you didn't, any lazy person would just park there so they'd be close to the store entrance. I don't see why they don't require a disability permit to use the scooters as well. They're probably a life saver for those of you who do legitimately need them, but the privilege of having them needs to be reserved for those that really do need them. Because I'd hate for someone who really does need a scooter at Walmart to not be able to use one because they've all been scooped up by lazy people who can't be bothered to walk around the store.

I agree with Spectra. However, it's pretty impossible to tell whether someone has a health problem or is "lazy" just by looking at them.
I mean, I am a young person in pretty good shape, and last summer when I was recovering from Lyme's disease I had to have a friend push me in a wheelchair in a grocery store because I was so weak and fatigued! I was actually really embarassed because I was afraid someone was going to confront me on it and tell me I was just lazy. (Yes, I know I am paranoid).
But yes, I agree that sometimes people are just lazy. But it's really not our place to judge or assume either.
Just my opinion.

There's a few defensive posts on here from scooter users who think we're all judging, bashing or assuming things about them when the point of the WSJ story is that able people are using them to get around. Check out the quote from the guy at the top of the story: "I'm going dancing later on tonight" or something to that effect. That's what people are mad about. So put down the defense bugle because you're starting to sound like the old saw, "The Hen Who Cackled Laid the Egg"

I am 38. Last year I had a viral infection attack my heart and now await to see if I need a pacemaker. I am also overweight even though over the last few years I have lost more than 50 pounds. I have been overweight all of my life and never let it slow me down, in fact, have criticized other overweight people for letting it slow them down. I, too, have been guilty of looking at the scooter people and wondering why they are using it. Last year, I needed to use a scooter at several local stores. I was EMBARRASED. I thought that everyone around me was saying I was lazy or so overweight, I couldn't walk. You see, my heart can't have a visable "cast" or a bandage for people to see. I avoided the local stores w/o scooters because I couldn't walk that much. A year later, I'm facing needing to quit my job and try for disability per Doctor instructions. I am starting to research getting a scooter for myself but hate the thought of needing it for the long haul. I do have to face the reality that if I want to go to the mall, a flea market or even a concert where long lines may be, I will need to do this. You can be sure that I will no longer look at people and make assumptions as to why they are on a scooter.

Tsk Tsk shame shame shame. Don't you self rightous judgemental people have anything better to do. My husband and I have been asked by our children and grandchildren to accompany them on a vacation to Disneyland. At first we said no, because I have a hernia and am scheduled for surgery after their trip, and my husband has extremely bad knees from working hard all of his life. We both walk, quite well actually, but not for long walks or standing for long periods of time. My daughter suggested a scooter for us to share and we were so excited at the idea that we could still go with our family and have a great time walking part of the time until we couldn't and then riding the scooter the other times. Now after reading some of your thoughtless selfish comments, I feel like we will be looked at in a wrongful way and I don't think we can enjoy it the same. People can be handicapped in many ways that you can't always see. Say for instance some of you with lame brains. Too bad there arent any scooters or other means of assistance for you people. Oh well keep complaining, maybe some day you will really get the help you desperately need.

The problem with scooters is that lazy people are using them. Nobody is saying that anybody with a legitimate reason should not be using them, regardless of how healthy or young they look. It is the lazy, the out of shape, and the people at risk for future medical problems due to lack of exercise that are using them.
I know that scooters are being abused because I see fat people all the time in them. It seems like that's all I see these days. Why walk when you don't have to? I'll tell you why. Because your health and your life could depend on it!
There is no way that Wal Mart or any other store is going to keep the healthy out of scooters because they want lazy people who might not shop there to spend their money at their store! They could care less about the health of their customers.
It is just a matter of time that the motorized scooter issue comes to light to the New England Journal of Medicine, and every other health research institute, and is broadcasted on the network news. Inactivity is the leading cause of obesity in America, and motorized scooters are just contributing to the problem!

imm soo fat i get told to roll to weight watchers its quicker

I worked as a grocery bagger for a year or so after high school, and was treated to many displays of this sheer laziness. This was a small store with many repeat customers, and a handful of obese regulars never once attempted to walk while doing their shopping. They used the motor carts exclusively, without fail. If the cart was in use, they would wait in their car for well over an hour until it became available.

Of course, being the grocery bagger, I got to see exactly what it was they were buying. I can say without a doubt that none of these customers made any attempt whatsoever to eat healthily. Cupcakes, donuts, Mac n' Cheese, soda, and copious amounts of all of it - what a joke.

There was one customer that went as far as to stop me in the middle of bagging her groceries, so that she could rip into her goodies. She just couldn't wait.

I feel ashamed to say it, but I wished death upon some of these people at the time, and still do. Many of them are stealing my tax dollars for "disability" coverage, and I have no respect for them at all.

If you have a legitimate reason for being in the motor cart, so be it. But if you don't, believe me, others can tell simply by looking at the kind of junk that your basket is filled with.