Arbroath’s mobility scooter ‘wacky races’ is set to return next summer.
Thrill-seeking pensioners whizzed around at speeds of up to 8mph during this year’s event which was funded by the Arbroath COPD Group.
Organiser Donald Downie, whose wife Kathy is secretary for the support group, said they want to improve next year’s event and make it even more inclusive.
He said: “As it was the first of its kind we did not know what to expect and the whole event was a learning curve for the organisers.
“We had a huge number of enquiries from the public along with many suggestions which we will discuss and take on-board and use to improve the event next year.”
The town’s Low Common resembled the Monaco Grand Prix street circuit as drivers pitted their wits against each other.
The event included activities aimed at giving confidence to both novice and advanced mobility scooter users.
It was organised to highlight a scooter’s impact on people who feel “trapped” indoors by disability or age.
Mr Downie said: “The event was presented as a fun day for the disabled and elderly and everybody who took part had great fun.
“Behind the fun were some serious lessons for people which outlined their understanding and capability, or lack of it, in handling a mobility scooter.
“The races were designed to instil confidence in people and proved to be extremely effective in getting the messages across.
“The group has since met and were overwhelming in their enthusiasm to repeat it next summer.
“The committee will be meeting shortly to discuss the results and plan for next year, taking on-board the lessons learned this year, with a view to making the event even more inclusive next year.”
The first of its kind in Scotland, the event featured learner driving training to all mobility scooter users, wacky races and time trials.
Mobility scooter wacky races underway in Arbroath today. The spirit of Dastardly and Muttley is alive and well! pic.twitter.com/yFDXT55sWb
— Graeme Strachan (@C_GStrachan) July 23, 2016
“We hope that people will realise that being disabled or elderly should not restrict their participation in the community, make them prisoners in their own homes, or make them feel a burden to their families,” said Mr Downie.
“A mobility scooter can open many doors for them especially with the changes being made in society to reduce discrimination to the disabled and elderly and improving access to shops and facilities.
“There are no events such as this for the disabled and elderly as far as we are aware, and with the average age of the population steadily increasing events such as this are becoming an ever increasing necessity.
“Many of our group members who took part are in their 80s.
“Hopefully the efforts of Arbroath COPD Support group will encourage other people to consider putting on events for the elderly and disabled especially in view of the increasing number of mobility scooters on our roads and pavements.”
