TrolleyBasket Pictures (2)

TrolleyBasket Pictures

Cynth tests the TrolleyBasket (with video!)

From Cynth:

Click here to see the video

It was easier for me to get heavy items in the TrolleyBasket than to try to get them onto the bottom of my TravelScoot.

The TrolleyBasket is made from plastic that is similiar in thickness to my laundry baskets. The top rim of the TrolleyBasket is a lot heavier than the rest of the basket. The handles appear to be sturdy and strong. I lifted everything I bought on this trip into the house using the carrying handle of the TrolleyBasket and it felt solid.

The TrolleyBasket pulls very easy and is free wheeling. Peter put all 4 swiveling wheels on mine. I like that.

The TrolleyBasket has 2 handles and you can use either one to pull it from the TravelScoot. I found the longer handle easier to use. The handle on the TrolleyBasket will not go down low enough to attach under the seat of the TravelScoot, but if you let go of the handle it stays in a little higher than horizontal position so its easy to grab and you can let go of it while reaching for items without problem.

Living alone the 8.5 gallon size is okay for me and the dog. If you have to buy a lot of heavy items you might want to purchase a larger size TrolleyBasket.

I didn't really have any issues with the TrolleyBasket. I do wish I was able to pull it behind my TravelScoot if I needed too, but it is much easier to handle than a full size shopping cart in a crowded store.

I am pleased with mine, I will use it on shopping days when I need laundry soap, milk, pop and other heavy items that all won't fit under my scoot in the caddy. I'll keep you updated on how it wears with use.

If you have questions about the TrolleyBasket and the TravelScoot shoping experience please feel free to ask. (You can post a question here or send it to elizabeth@ifisher.com.)

Here are the original blog posts about the TrolleyBasket:

http://mytravelscoot.blogspot.com/2009/06/paper-plastic-or-shopperbasket.html
http://mytravelscoot.blogspot.com/2009/06/choosing-basket-color.html

Here is a link to the TrolleyBasket website:

http://www.trolleybasketusa.com/index.html

San Francisco Scooter Babe

Doesn't Lynn Ellen makes a wonderful San Francisco Scooter Babe? This picture is from her weekend adventure. I love the hat!

Her post about it is here:

http://mytravelscoot.blogspot.com/2009/06/scooting-in-san-francisco.html.

Daniel's TravelScoot

From Daniel (in London):

You asked me about the how long the belt lasts and other TravelScoot use and wear data. I have been practising changing the Travelscoot Synchronous 5M 660 belt. It took me twenty minutes, and it is the third time I have done it myself.

The other 3 times, I got a friend to do it and watched him.

I want to be expert at replacing, so that whenever the belt breaks I can fix it -by the side of the road, if necessary.

One belt lasted me eleven months one other lasted only thirty days. Once when I was overseas and ran out of belts Hardy kindly sent one by immediate courier and so I was able to get moving again -to be with no belt is a disaster.

Here is a you-tube video of my fixing the scooter and then one with my friend trying to fix it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W3pWB2_U6E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGKCLjjjqC4

May I say something about the lovely and informative community of ideas that has developed on your Elizabeth TravelScoot website? It is that I notice reference to a picture of a bell with a crossbones image on it and a few places where mention of "high speed" and even a "not stopping for anyone" and "wind in my hair"! these terms are a bit radical ! (?) If there was ever an accident -God forbid, with a TravelScoot, the data in this website could be construed to show a cavalier attitude to fellow citizen's right to walk peaceably.

I regularly search "electric wheelchair" in Google News and see many instances of people upset by scooter-users hogging the sidewalk - some injured; some others seeking revenge! God forbid, already!

I hope you won't think the preceding three paragraphs as being unwelcome or inappropriate and I hope you won't bar me from participating in the fabulous Elizabeth TravelScoot web page.

Daniel, we welcome your participation on this blog. The references we make to speed is really more about having a taste of independence than about wanting to cause danger for anyone. I'm very careful around pedestrians, and I'm sure everyone else is too, because we don't want to give TravelScooters a bad reputation.

TravelScoot sighting!

From Rhonda:

I had to get lab work done today. When I was leaving the lab, here comes a little old man on a TravelScoot, with his nurse/home health worker trying to keep up. I told him I had one like his and he suggested that we drag race, how I wish I had my battery. He told me that he has a big scooter for when he takes long trips and will be sitting for long periods. He said he loves his TravelScoot for when he wants to scoot around town and has alot of stops to make. His companion said she likes the TravelScoot better because it is easier to get in and out of the car.

I told Rhonda I couldn't believe someone in Baton Rouge had one and we didn't know him!

Scooting in San Francisco

From Lynn Ellen:

I decided to drive into San Francisco rather than take public transportation, which was a mixed blessing. it may have been more direct than transfering from BART to the city train, but the time it took to find a place to park probably evened it out. I did find a good spot, assembled my TravelScoot, and since I've purchased the Travel bags that Hardy sells, I put some supplies in the bag and slipped it over the stem of the seat. I also decided to attach the triangle soft basket, and the travel bag sort of set inside of it, and only once did I try to get off the Scoot by stepping into the center of the triangle, the strategy I used when I was first getting used to getting on and off. I am still hanging a shopping bag sized nylon bag from the handlebars for my immediate needs, which seems to work well.

As you know, San Francisco has a lot of hills. I parked in the middle of the street, and I was headed south, which meant going downhill. I didn't want to rely on the brakes, and if I let myself free-wheel down the hill, it was hard to stop even with brakes and my feet. so I sort of walked myself down the hill. Also there were lots of people walking in all directions. Finding curb cuts at each intersection was challenging, as well as avoiding getting my wheels caught in street car tracks, but the cars were having to go slow with all the foot traffic, so that was a plus. Sometimes people would not see me, or they'd step in my way suddenly. Sometimes I called out "excuse me" or just waited, but the sidewalk was narrow, and while there was grass to stand or walk on, not for me. I think this is still just a part of learning to navigate. The other challenge is when the sidewalk is not level, perhaps in both directions, or I have to navigate the sidewalk sloping down away from the houses and toward the streets, and then there are driveways that make the sidewalk go up and down. I find that I'm leaning toward the high side, or I just have to slow down. Being able to walk the Scoot at times is essential.

I got to Dolores Park, and I drove closer to the stage, but the most direct path involved two sets of about 5-6 stairs. I got off, and started to lift the Scoot sideways up the stairs. I held the handlebars in one hand, the back of the seat in the other, and lifted the front, then the back, step by step. with both lithium batteries, plus a bit of gear, the Scoot now weighs 40+ pounds, which is a bit heftier than what the frame weighs when I take it out of the car. I got some help from someone, but when she grabbed the seat back, the pad slipped off the stem. We just put it back on the stem, but this was an unexpected thing, and I hope it isn't going to come loose and fall off on its own.

I was able to half ride, half walk the Scoot over to the grass in front of the stage, but at one point there was a dip between sidewalk and grass, and I almost tipped over. I think getting off to navigate uneven surfaces is best. But I had my own ringside seat, and I find the emergency brakes very helpful, as even then the ground was sloped. I walked the Scoot back down the hill and the stairs were too crowded, and I got myself at the front of the Dyke March with the other Scooters. I had the only TravelScoot in the march, and it did just fine on the streets of the city, pacing the march just fine.

I did have a new mishap, however. I was pacing a group of women who were doing percussion together (the group is called "Sista Boom" and they are fabulous) and sharing my water with a friend who was percussing. The hill I was on was very gentle, but I think it was the fact that I wasn't changing my speed, so even though I was going slow, it was a constant load on the motor. All of a sudden it just stopped, but the green indicator lite stayed green. I walked it over to the curb, got off to swap the batteries, thinking that still might be the problem, and at that point I felt the motor and it was really hot. The other battery also turned the light green, but no go. So, I sat still, thinking that either I'd burned out the motor and it was dead, or, hopefully, it was just overheated, and once it cooled it would be fine. It was about 85 out, but I think this could have happened on a cooler day. I probably waited no more than 10-15 minutes and tried it again, and voila! it went fine. and that was the last time that happened, but in fact I was almost at the end of the march and was ready to go find my car.

Finding the car was a challenge, as I was off by a block in each direction, but fortunately I never had to try to go back uphill in the way that I looked for it. it was also dark when I was on my way back to the car, and I was aware that my visibility on the sidewalk, still filled with people meandering and partying, was difficult to navigate. I think I might get a bike light for future trips at night, especially when I'm alone. but never did I feel at risk for personal safety. I was just hoping that I wouldn't have to spend the rest of the night looking for my car! And I did find it, and packed up and head out for home. I think I'm ready for Australia!!