– by Doreen Marion Gee –
This is part of a rotating series of articles on members of Sidney Meet Up Women’s Networking Group, featuring women in business on the Saanich Peninsula.
“I only had my scooter a couple of weeks and saw more of the neighbourhood than I had seen in the past 15 years,” says a satisfied Sidney Scooters customer. When someone can no longer get around, a scooter can save the day. Barb Brunlees and Sidney Scooters have an array of glossy, state-of-the-art scooters that promise to change people’s lives. Plus, at the end of the rainbow is a genuine pot of gold: enhanced quality of life.
As a former geriatric psychiatric nurse, Barb “became quite aware of the mobility difficulties that people were having.” Enjoying incredible relief from foot surgery on a “fabulous knee scooter,” Barb wanted to get in the scooter biz. When Sidney Scooters business was up for sale, Barb and her brother jumped on board as the new owners in November 2012. Specializing in scooters, they also carry walkers, canes and other mobility aids.
As people get older, they can develop arthritis and other problems that restrict their mobility, keeping them housebound. Having a scooter “Really gives people back their independence,” says Barb. “When people age and develop illnesses and disabilities, their lives start to shrink. People are amazed when they get on a scooter by how easy it is to ride, how much fun it is and how much they have been missing by not having mobility!” Also, losing a driver’s license can be a major blow and a scooter can fill that transportation void.
The Scooter Specialist talks excitedly about a man living atop Dean Park Hill who missed his friendly coffee buddies in Sidney. With one of Barb’s scooters, he now rides from his hilltop home all the way down to Sidney to chill with his pals – and then he putters back. People don’t realize they can still walk and exercise with a scooter. It may even make people more active: “It can take you to a place where you can walk. If you got on a scooter and went down to the walkway along the ocean, you could get up and walk along the dock if you wanted.”
My warm amiable host believes that a scooter “definitely raises a person’s quality of life.” No more sitting at home, waiting for a visit or a ride. A scooter provides instant freedom – to enjoy a sunny day, to laugh with friends on the grass at Beacon Park or to go to an aqua-fit class at Panorama. Barb also tries to make scooters accessible by being flexible in payment options. She gushes: “Scooters are also ‘green’ with electric motors and no emissions!”
With renewed freedom and independence, the reasonable cost of a scooter will give you a much richer life.
Contact: www.sidneyscooters.ca. Photo by www.nuttycake.com.
