Life at four feet, six inches
HodgePodge by Charlie Hodge
At four feet, six inches height it’s a lot different view of the world for the average human.
Now, I’m sure such detail is not exactly something you’ve contemplated recently- but it’s an exciting new reality for me. ‘Charlie at four feet six’ came to be late last week when lifelong buddy Ralph bequeathed me the remarkably kind gift of his scooter.
The recently retired Brinks security guard bought himself a fancy-dandy Lamborghini scooter last month and kindly decided to pass his older mode of transportation to moi. Having previously relied largely on zero wheels powered by no lungs I gleefully accepted Ralph’s offerings.
It’s become a godsend for me – helping my emphysema battered body get around when and where I want.
For the first day or two Tez and I chuckled as I scooted about up and down our street, to the corner store, the pharmacy and even the Subway. Great fun and sense of freedom.
Yesterday, however, was the big day. Test day.
I made up my list of tasks to accomplish, places to go, things to buy, people to see, jobs to do – all the while checking out my scooter and learning how it works.
It instantly dawned on me how different my physical and mental status felt while driving a scooter in comparison to driving a car or walking. There is an attitude of cautious survival out there when you are strapped onto a scooter and it is a little unnerving – unless you’re stupid.
Those cars are darn big, move fast, do not see a scooter as an equal and in fact most don’t seem to notice a scooter at all. You had better ‘be seen’ or be dead and it is up to you to make sure you are. Seen that is.
When Tez was adamant that I put up the little red flag on the stick to help me be more noticeable by vehicle I quietly mocked her. Within five minutes in the big city I was wondering how I could procure a second one.
My neighbourhood is a relatively safe and calm travel route yet I immediately claimed the sidewalk as my preferred travel route.
My destination from home (near Gordon and Lawrence) to City Hall with one or two stops was going to pose a rookie scooter challenger. I had no idea how uneven and bumpy our sidewalks and street crossings are.
In general, the greatest danger is the actual let down onto the streets at crosswalks where angles can be treacherous. Especially at small malls where the sidewalk statues are precarious, too narrow, and slapped in (it seems) in afterthought.
Timing lights at crosswalks are too quick and inconsistent and appear to be designed more for cyclists and less for pedestrians, folks in wheelchairs, scooters or other people in need of help.
Sidewalks in front of residents on Bernard are generally good, though often uneven but once I arrived downtown there was remarkable difference in craftsmanship. In general scooters are well considered for. Wide sidewalks allow or all modes of transportation to adventure safely about with the exception of crazy cyclists who have no respect for others.
Getting to a building is one thing, however getting in to one is another. Often the facility demands someone open the door physically, or you are able to reach the ‘automatic’ open button. (Generally located in a troublesome spot).
Few buildings have ramps ‘into’ or ‘within’ for scooter or wheelchair access. Very few elevators fit scooters. Many will fit small wheelchairs. Believe it or not some buildings with restaurants and attractions on a second floor do not even have elevators. Archaic in this day and age.
That’s my learning lesson for today. Perhaps by next week I will have learned more important stuff like how not to crash into a signpost and bend the bucket on my scooter.
Hopefully I will get it fixed before Ralph or Tez find out.
