Former explorer campaigns for rights of those using mobility scooters
^{Mobility Scooter News}

Posted by Paul Craven

Former explorer Ted Edwards, who now relies on mobility scooters such as those made by Scootmatic, is campaigning against the decision to ban the vehicles on Manchester's trams, the Manchester Evening News reported.

In 1983, the 71-year-old from Eccles was the first to cross the Empty Quarter of the Sahara Desert alone, before being trained as an astronaut and cosmonaut.

He has also trekked through Death Valley, taken to the water in Florida to canoe the entire length of the Everglades and walked the American Grand Canyon.

Having suffered a stroke, the former traveller is now a user of mobility aids and is fighting transport bosses for the right to travel independently within his home city.

"Someone from Metrolink says: 'The safety of our passengers is paramount and the transportation of mobility scooters would open up a number of unacceptable risks,'" Mr Edwards told the newspaper.

"What a load of tosh."

In April, mobility scooters user Mike O'Sullivan told the publication that he had been told he was not allowed to use Manchester's new trams despite having travelled on the old vehicles for almost ten years.

^2010-07-23

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