Renting scooters... no flames please

[celebrity]

Currently on Anthem of the Seas and witnessed a passenger run over an elderly woman foot in the Solarium. 

 

The poor woman couldn’t have weighed more than 80 lbs and appeared to be approximately 90 years. Her agonized cries of pain were so upsetting. 

 

The female passenger that crashed into her was distraught. Between the weight of the scooter and the driver, I would venture that poor lady’s foot was crushed by at least 500 lbs. 

 

From what I understand, the driver is not familiar with scooters and rented it for this cruise. 

 

I hope this this serves as a cautionary tale to practice maneuvering before you try and navigate around the ship. 

 

I hope that sweet lady will be ok. 

[mom says]

I think ECVs are a wonderful thing, enabling those with mobility or other medical problems to still get around. But I so wish that those people who rent them would take the necessary time to familiarize themselves with manoeuvring the vehicles. Some seem incapable of safe operation, and shouldn't use them at all. I saw one elderly woman run into another guest and blamed the accident on her poor vision!  However I do acknowledge  that not every accident is the ECV rider's  fault. I've seen plenty of instances  of people walking directly into or across the path of an oncoming ECV. A dangerous thing to do since ECVs don't have brakes!

[Ashland]

53 minutes ago, mom says said:

I think ECVs are a wonderful thing, enabling those with mobility or other medical problems to still get around. But I so wish that those people who rent them would take the necessary time to familiarize themselves with manoeuvring the vehicles. Some seem incapable of safe operation, and shouldn't use them at all. I saw one elderly woman run into another guest and blamed the accident on her poor vision!  However I do acknowledge  that not every accident is the ECV rider's  fault. I've seen plenty of instances  of people walking directly into or across the path of an oncoming ECV. A dangerous thing to do since ECVs don't have brakes!

Agree...I'll also add that the speed some we have seen using them is outrageous...literally racing through the Promenade without any care for other's.

[1025cruise]

At least the driver was feeling bad. There are times the drivers don't care.

[ldubs]

30 minutes ago, 1025cruise said:

At least the driver was feeling bad. There are times the drivers don't care.

 

Mrs Ldubs was rammed hard enough to draw blood.  All the driver did was scowl.  

[Ashland]

4 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

Mrs Ldubs was rammed hard enough to draw blood.  All the driver did was scowl.  

Probably because Mrs Ldubs slowed them down. We've often worried about walking through the Promenade with our young grandchildren .

[Kartgv]

One of the reasons we said "No More" after 1 Carnival cruise was the passenger on a scooter who literally raced around the halls beeping a horn; people had to almost knock each other over just to get out of the way in time.   Even after multiple complaints, Carnival did nothing to stop her.   Hope the injured passenger on your cruise is OK.    

[Schoifmom]

That poor lady.  I wholeheartedly agree that scooter users should familiarize themselves with the safe operation of the vehicles and use some general good common sense (IMO, sorely lacking today).  I will say; however, that those walking around on the ships generally have, in my experience, a lack of awareness of their surroundings.  I cannot count how many times someone walked directly in front of DH's scooter, stopped suddenly in the path of his scooter, or tried to walk behind him while he was backing up.  These things don't have brakes and will only coast to a stop.  Everyone is too wrapped up in themselves and in too big a hurry to be safe (drivers and walkers alike).

[K32682]

The damn things are a hazard.  I've seen a couple of incidents.  Pull the plug on them and if people need help to get around use wheelchairs or some other non-powered aid.    

[Schoifmom]

16 minutes ago, K32682 said:

The damn things are a hazard.  I've seen a couple of incidents.  Pull the plug on them and if people need help to get around use wheelchairs or some other non-powered aid.    

 

Someday you will be in a position to need help (although I sincerely hope not).  I hope that you have people who are able and willing to spend every minute on a cruise catering to your every whim and carting you around from place to place.  And that you, bless your heart, continue to not be concerned about their inconvenience or exhaustion, so long as you can enjoy your vacation.

[dogs4fun]

I have also witnessed scooter drivers who seemingly have little regard or consideration for their fellow cruisers. I have also witnessed those who do not watch where they are going and walk directly in the path of an oncoming scooter. I have witnessed these issues both on water and land (i.e., the grocery store). I certainly have no answer - it would be nice if everyone was considerate of their fellow (wo)man but it seems that there is currently a deficit in this area (and appears to be getting worse) - sigh.

I hope the unfortunate woman injured in the solarium is OK and the enjoyment of her cruise is not impacted.

[K32682]

53 minutes ago, Schoifmom said:

 

Someday you will be in a position to need help (although I sincerely hope not).  I hope that you have people who are able and willing to spend every minute on a cruise catering to your every whim and carting you around from place to place.  And that you, bless your heart, continue to not be concerned about their inconvenience or exhaustion, so long as you can enjoy your vacation.

 

I do not believe my vacation or anyone else's should include the risk of being injured by a scooter drive who believes they are entitled to crash into or roll over anyone who gets in his/her way.     

[Schoifmom]

7 minutes ago, K32682 said:

 

I do not believe my vacation or anyone else's should include the risk of being injured by a scooter drive who believes they are entitled to crash into or roll over anyone who gets in his/her way.     

 

Responsible scooter users do not believe themselves to be entitled to anything.  Responsible pedestrians are aware of their surroundings.  Reasonable human beings work together to make everyone safe and happy.  

 

Over-generalize much?

[FionaMG]

I did not know that these things don't have brakes. Why don't they? Is it some sort of technical reason? 

[Krazy Kruizers]

Hope the lady on your cruise is okay.

 

I use a Rollator and was nearly knocked over by a lady on a scooter going as fast as she could in the Lido.  My DH caught me -- thankfully.

[mom says]

4 hours ago, K32682 said:

The damn things are a hazard.  I've seen a couple of incidents.  Pull the plug on them and if people need help to get around use wheelchairs or some other non-powered aid.    

Following your ?logic?, then we should ban all cars and trucks because a few a holes insist on driving recklessly. Let everyone get by with bicycles. Need help? Get a bicycle built for 2. 

[K32682]

2 hours ago, Schoifmom said:

 

Responsible scooter users do not believe themselves to be entitled to anything.  Responsible pedestrians are aware of their surroundings.  Reasonable human beings work together to make everyone safe and happy.  

 

Over-generalize much?

 

Responsible pedestrians should be able to walk down a hallway without having their head on a swivel perpetually on the lookout for a motorized scooter operator who is out of control.   

[1025cruise]

I have no issue with responsible scooter riders. I would classify the OP's story as an accident. The driver felt bad, and "stopped" when it occurred. The ones I have issues with are the ones that use it as a battering ram. 

 

However, it appears common courtesy goes out the window once you step foot on a cruise (for multiple things, not just scooters). 

[gooch47]

I was sitting at a table in a buffet at a casino and a woman ran into the table and knocked it and two chairs over.  She didn't know how to back it up so she just sat there.  One foot to the left and I'd have been right in her path.  Her companion was quite upset ... at the scooter.

[pghsteelerfan]

16 hours ago, Kartgv said:

One of the reasons we said "No More" after 1 Carnival cruise was the passenger on a scooter who literally raced around the halls beeping a horn; people had to almost knock each other over just to get out of the way in time.   Even after multiple complaints, Carnival did nothing to stop her.   Hope the injured passenger on your cruise is OK.    

Was it the older woman who dresses for attention?  Carnival's spokesperson posted a picture of her on his social media page about a year ago and the comment section lit up with comments about her and her behavior.  Many of those comments were about her and her scooter, which she rams people in front of her with to clear a path, purposely, and it continues.  There were other things she did listed as well, but this thread is about scooters.   Sadly she and people like her give people needing to use a scooter a bad name.   

[Ashland]

The problem is as we've seen it are the narrow crowded areas onboard and the "speed" at which some scooter driver's use. Perhaps if they would "slow" down and keep to the right it would cut down on incidents. 

[John&LaLa]

1 hour ago, Ashland said:

The problem is as we've seen it are the narrow crowded areas onboard and the "speed" at which some scooter driver's use. Perhaps if they would "slow" down and keep to the right it would cut down on incidents. 

 

What if they are British, Japanese, etc.. 🤔

[Ashland]

31 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

What if they are British, Japanese, etc.. 🤔

These "speed racer's" tend to use the middle and weave in/out.

Just making an observation here and suggestion.

[Mike981]

Lack of awareness.
It's not just people on scooters, or people walking on a ship. It's EVERYWHERE.

[dkjretired]

Okay, this works both ways. As someone who uses one occasionally you would not believe how careless people are at times. It is very common for individuals to cut in front of the scooter, not lookcoming out of aisles, almost like the person figures no matter where I am I have the right of way. Also, don’t get me started on parents who don’t control their kids in stores.  It takes responsibility on both ends and I challenge anyone to use a scooter for a half hour or so in a store. You may likely sing a different tune.

 

Also,  there are the idiots walking with their heads in their phones. They are the worst in many ways.

 

Bit of a funny story, if you have an iPhone and pull over in a store to say check a shopping list, the phone will tell you you can’t while driving.

Edited March 14, 2019 by dkjretired