Whether you're an early person who enjoys the beautiful sunrise or you enjoy the cooler evenings, if riding your Pride Mobility Scooter at dusk or dawn, you'll need to take a few extra precautionary measures to make sure you remain safe. With the sun not fully out, visibility is one of those concerns, not only for your own visibility, but to ensure others can see you as well. In this blog post, we're going to take a look at visibility safety tips for riding your mobility scooter at dawn or dusk.
Visibility In Low-Light Conditions
Some users don't think too much about visibility in low-light conditions. For the rider, riding in low-light conditions means it may be harder to see what's ahead of you. Just like driving a vehicle, you want to see what's ahead of you for obstacles and to make sure you stay on the path. If you're riding in an area where others need to see you, without the proper lighting and accessories, other people may have a hard time seeing you, which is a big problem if you're in an area with vehicles. Place yourself in the driver's shoes; would you be able to see a mobility scooter at dusk that didn't have any lights on?
Pride Mobility Scooters With Built-In Lights
Most Pride Mobility scooters have lights built-in. There are two different kinds of front lights; headlight and pathway light.
Headlight: The headlight is usually an LED light located on the tiller (the steering column). There are a couple of models where it's mounted lower near the footboard. The headlight helps you see further in front of you and is great in low-light conditions. It projects a decent amount of light straight ahead.
Pathway Lights: Pathway lights are angled more towards the ground. They are not nearly as bright and are meant to help you see what's directly in front of your mobility scooter. This is to help determine which obstacles you are currently at, not what's coming ahead.
Not all Pride Mobility scooters have built in lights. Most models do come with a lighting package, which includes both the headlight and the pathway. Other models may only have the headlight. Older models might only have the pathway lights.
Other lights you'll want your Pride Mobility scooter to have are rear lights, turn signal lights, and hazard lights. These lights are so other people can see you better from behind and know what you're doing so they know to slow down or even stop.
Some models even have underbody LEDs to give extra ground visibility and safety.
If Your Pride Mobility Scooter Doesn't Have Lights
If your mobility scooter has lights or not, you can buy after market light kits to help provide light. Don't limit yourself to Mobility scooter stores, you can buy flashing lights, reflectors at most box stores or even bicycle shops. If you enjoy the sunsets or sunrise and plan on taking your Pride Mobility scooter out at those times, it's probably worth looking into a mobility scooter that comes with the built-in light kits. That way your scooter is ready, legal, reliable, and covered under warranty. Better safe than sorry.
Recommended Add On Accessories
Aside from the light kits, there are other recommended add-on accessories to help improve visibility to others. These add-ons are affordable, easy to use, and require no installation.
Safety Flag: A safety flag is a good way to help others see you. Mobility scooters are lower on the ground, so the safety flag gives height for someone to see you. With its bright orange color, it easily stands out both in daylight and low light conditions.
Rearview Mirrors: It's very important for you to also be aware of others around you. With rearview mirrors, you're able to see what's behind you easier. No matter what time of day you're riding your mobility scooter, the review mirror is a recommended add-on accessory.
Reflectors: You can also add reflector elements to your Pride Mobility scooter as well. Some people put a reflective safety vest on the outside of their seat and add reflective tape onto their scooter. Reflectors help a lot when a light is shined on you.
Choosing Safe Routes & Avoiding Hazards at Dusk
Before riding your Pride Mobility scooter at dusk, please know where you're going and what the route looks like beforehand. Here's what to look for to determine if it's a safe route.
- Lighted Paths: Many paths have street lights or lights placed along the path. Choosing a path that has lights is a safer choice because there is more light provided than just what the mobility scooter can offer. The more light, the better.
- Stay on Smoother Terrain: Dusk is not the best time to go off-roading. When you stay on smoother terrain, you're able to control your scooter better and see obstacles easier.
- Use Your Scooter's Lights: Even if the route you choose has a decent amount of lights, you should still use your mobility scooter's lights. This will help you see more and further but will also be helpful for others seeing you as well.
- Have a Watchful Eye: Riding at dusk, you need to be more on lookout. You need to watch for sticks, cracks, drop-offs, wet ground, pedestrians, pets, and even wildlife. As the sun goes down, it's harder to see. With less people out, wildlife may feel more inclined to come out as well.
- Plan Ahead: Know your route. Getting lost as the sun goes down is never a good thing. If you plan on going out alone, always let someone know you are going out and where you are going. It's also a good idea to bring your cell phone (make sure it's charged) in case of an emergency.
Which Mobility Scooters Are Great For Riding At Dawn/Dusk
Some Pride Mobility scooters have an entire light kit, some have none. Down below can help guide you in which Pride Mobility scooter have lights.
Portable Mobility Scooters
Many people think that portable mobility scooters don't offer lights, but there are some portable mobility scooters that do. Portable mobility scooters, whether you're interested in a folding scooter or a travel scooter, keep in mind that not everyone travels during the day. If you're in need of a portable mobility scooter with lights, these scooters may be the one for you.
Pride Go Go Carbon
The Pride Go Go Carbon is one of the lightest weight portable mobility scooters that has LED lighting. This portable mobility scooter weighs only 39 lbs and compacts into a very small design. Easy to use, reliable, and durable.
Pride Go Go Endurance Li with CTS
The Pride Go Go Endurance Li with CTS is a folding mobility scooter that has an LED light in the front. This portable mobility scooter disassembles into 5 different pieces, making it easier to transport without a vehicle lift. This scooter has the standard LED light, which works great for lighting what's ahead.
Heavy Duty Mobility Scooters
If you're looking for heavy duty mobility scooters that have the built-in lighting kit, many of the heavy duty mobility scooters offer lights.
Pride Baja Raptor 2
The Pride Baja Raptor 2 is a heavy duty mobility scooter that offers the full light kit. It includes LED headlights (high and low), directional signals and brake lights. This heavy duty mobility scooter also comes with two rearview mirrors.
All Terrain Mobility Scooter
If you're an outdoor lover, you might be interested in an all terrain mobility scooter. Many of the all terrain mobility scooters also are equipped with full light kits since many users use their all terrain mobility scooter in shadier areas.
Pride PX4
The Pride PX4 is a popular all terrain mobility scooter that also offers the full lighting package. It has the LED light in the front, pathway lights, brake lights, and turn signals. This all terrain mobility scooter is an excellent choice for those who like to ride at dusk or at dawn.
Be Careful Of Cheap Mobility Scooters
It is a time where finances and budget are at the top of most people's minds. There's a lot of people looking for cheap mobility scooters for adults, and though we understand why, you do need to be careful if you're considering a cheap mobility scooter. If you are going to opt for cheap mobility scooters for adults, the first thing is to make sure it comes from a reliable retailer, such as Scooter Direct. Purchasing from a reputable retailer will ensure you receive a brand new scooter, you'll get the manufacturer's warranty, and if need to, you'll be working with good customer service who can help you if there's anything wrong with your scooter or if you need to use your warranty. Purchasing outside of a retailer will mean you're on your own if something is wrong with your scooter.
A cheap mobility scooter is considered to be between $500-$1,000. At Scooter Direct, we do carry a couple of cheap mobility scooters for adults within that price range, some include the LED light, such as the Zipr Roo 3 Wheel Scooter.
If you want something a little nicer, we do offer financing too, so you'll have low monthly payments instead of 1 large payment. A mobility scooter is more than just an accessory, it's your freedom, so you'll want to make sure you get a mobility scooter that lasts for years and can take you to all the places you want to go.
Conclusion:
Riding your Pride Mobility scooter at dawn or dusk can be a wonderful experience — the quiet mornings and cooler evenings make for some of the most enjoyable rides. But reduced visibility also means you need the right equipment and a little extra caution to stay safe. Built-in lighting packages, safety accessories like flags and reflectors, and careful route planning all work together to make sure you can see and be seen.
At Scooter Direct, we offer a wide range of Pride Mobility scooters from compact travel models with LED headlights to heavy-duty and all-terrain scooters with full lighting kits. Whether you're looking for something affordable, portable, or fully equipped, our team can help you find the perfect scooter to match your lifestyle.
Don't let low light keep you from enjoying your freedom. Explore our selection today and ride with confidence, day or night.