Should camping and electric scooter go together?
I consulted other camping families and opinion is mixed, as you would expect. One parent loves that her kid with electric wheels now happily offers to run errands to the camp mini-mart, asks to go on long nature trails, and actually starts noticing the scenery now that he’s not whining and complaining about his legs.
Other parents say it beats the whole purpose of camping. More and more, I’m realizing that people have very strong definitions of camping in their heads. I often have to consult my trusty Merriam-Webster dictionary to see if the definition has changed. Last time I looked, they still define camping simply as ‘temporarily living outdoors’. I didn’t see any following addendum: “Exception: If you bring a Weber Q grill or a goose-down sleeping bag…or an electric scooter….”
Another long-time seasoned camper said his electric scooter is his ticket back to nature. He had abandoned campgrounds after his knees gave way. But now with an electric scooter, he can hit the trails and smell the pine needles again.
So, I’m leaning towards saying yes… but something still bugs me a little about it. What do you think? Have you encountered electric scooters in campgrounds? Share your comments.
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Comments
Dale said:
Bicycle, yes. Electric scooter, no.
deborah said:
I agree with Dale. However, I suspect this might happen anyway, so my recommendations are:
(1) Teach and enforce trail etiquette if the scooter leaves the campground — hikers have right of way first (pull off the trail if there's not sufficient room to pass) usually followed by horses then bicycles. Please, thank you, and "excuse me" when passing other hikers will go a long way towards getting acceptance from others enjoying the outdoors.
(2) Set limits — no early morning or late night riding. For the kids' own good, limit the scooter usage to a few hours a day to encourage him to find other ways to enjoy the experience.
(3) Be clear on the rules. A motorized vehicle, even a scooter, may not be allowed everywhere a bicycle is permitted.
(4) If he breaks the rules, take the thing away from him for the rest of the trip. You may be a polite camper, but if everyone thinks your son's being obnoxious because he hasn't been given clear boundaries that are enforced by reasonable discipline, you will be viewed as an obnoxious camper.
This is the kind of thing that long ago chased me towards camping out in the forest and wilderness recreation (no vehicles allowed, even bicycles). Of course, I have a much different opinion than most regarding campgrounds — a hair dryer is too loud, and the only noises I should hear from other campers are soft voices (I really don't want to listen to someone else's conversation) and the occasional clink of equipment.
John said:
I mostly agree with Deborah above, disagreeing only about her dislike of so-called noise.
I'm a boomer with bad knees and rely on a 2-wheeled scooter to get around wherever I'm camping. It is certainly a joy to be mobile again.
The big question you have to ask yourself is, is your kid well-disciplined? Be honest now. Does he obey the first time without argument? Does he know how to respect others' spaces? If you can honestly say yes to all those then bring the scooter along. If not then PLEASE leave it at home.
I was a kid with a crotch rocket so I'm probably the most sympathetic person there is regarding kids and things that make noise. Nonetheless, when some kid comes roaring through my campsite on his scooter or dirt bike, I get testy.
I would NOT let him off the main roads and onto foot trails. Not because there is anything wrong with it but because someone will invariably bitch about it and the reflex reaction to the control freaks who run many campgrounds is to ban further use.
I've had the occasional problem with this type in some state and federal run CGs. In a couple of instances I've even had to threaten ADA action, as my scooter is my mobility aid. There's a lot of difference between a 50-something man carefully riding a scooter and a young kid. Expect to get hassled. Even if the kid is doing nothing wrong. Nothing triggers the control freak's "NO" reflex faster than the sight of a kid having fun!
I suggest supervised riding only. Let him ride along while you go for a walk or bike ride. Restrict him to your site all other times.
John