Negotiating Kerbs Safely

Local councils are increasingly providing 'dropped kerbs' for the benefit of wheelchair and scooter users. Wherever possible you will find it easier to use dropped kerbs for mounting and dismounting from pavements. If you cannot find a dropped kerb and have to go up or down a regular kerb, make sure you know the recommended maximum kerb height for your vehicle, and that you know the correct procedure. You should always approach a kerb at right angles, with your front wheels heading straight at the kerb. Go slowly and with extreme caution to avoid any unnecessary jarring.

Kerb 'Climbing'

A common misconception is that scooters ‘climb’ kerbs. They do not.

If we kept bashing one of our vans up and down a kerb, what would happen? The tyres would be damaged, the steering rods bent, and the front end of the vehicle would be knocked out of alignment. Now imagine doing the same thing, but this time, we’re not going to use a heavy duty commercial vehicle, but a relatively lightly constructed mobility scooter!

If you have to go on or off a pavement, make sure you only use a ‘dropped’ kerb. If no dropped kerb is available to you, use the road, keeping close to the gutter, until a suitable dropped kerb presents itself. If you use a route regularly and need dropped kerbs fitting, contact the Highways Department of your local council. The Highways Department is there for your benefit. For them, fitting dropped kerbs is not doing you a favour, it’s part of their job.

Get your angles right

When going up or down a kerb on a scooter, make sure to approach it at a right angle. Going up or down a high kerb at an acute or obtuse angle, one side of the scooter on the road and the other side on the pavement, is a sure-fire way to tip the machine over. If you go at right angles to the kerb, and use dropped kerbs only, every time, you will ride that scooter safely and with confidence.

When going up or down a steep gradient, the same logic applies. Do not approach it at an acute angle, but straight on at a right angle.