The Coast's first scooter safety awareness day is coming up on June 8.
The District of Sechelt's accessibility advisory committee is hosting a special event from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre where scooter users (and future users) can test their skills, pick up safety tips and share ideas for better and safer scooter travel.
With warmer weather, more people with limited mobility will be able to get outdoors to run errands and enjoy our beautiful Coast. Because so few roads have sidewalks, pedestrians and people who use electric scooters often must use roadways, placing them close to busy car and truck traffic.
At the scooter safety awareness day, loaned scooters will be available to anyone who wants to try their hand at driving a short obstacle course coordinated by Sunshine Coast RCMP officers. Speakers from two of the Coast's mobility chair providers, Medi-Chair and Coast Ability, will demonstrate safety features on the scooters that they carry and will have display models for inspection. An occupational therapist will provide guidance about the physical requirements for safe use of a scooter.
This event is free and open to everyone on the Sunshine Coast, including visitors. The Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre is located at 5604 Trail Ave. in downtown Sechelt. All who attend can sign up for door prize draws and can purchase refreshments from St. John's United Church, which is catering the event as a fundraiser.
"Our goal is to help scooter users travel safely," said accessibility committee chair Bill Conway. "The other side of the safety issue is to educate car and truck drivers. We want drivers to remember that when they are on the Coast, they are sharing the roads with scooter users, pedestrians who may have mobility problems and families of young children."
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