Article

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 degrees in a corridor, performing U-turns around 50
mm (2'') and 1200 mm (4') obstacles, turning 90 degrees 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.

Langue : ANGLAIS