My Escape Travelscoot, I love the minimalist design
Escape Travelscoot – courtesy Mytravelscoot.co.uk
I bought my Escape Travelscoot in July 2024. The new model is narrower than the Deluxe model to conform with cruise boat regulations. I really enjoy riding the Travelscoot, I call mine The Trike. It ticks so many boxes that are important to me especially independence. I love the minimalist design and it is so practical for me. It is ideal for small supermarket-shopping trips and riding around towns and cities.
The Travelscoot is fun to ride
I first found out about the Travelscoot through the internet and bought my first one in 2010. Over the last 15 years the basic design has not changed but it has become much more reliable, lighter in weight and easier to fold up. It is not easy to think of any improvements to the simplicity in the design however there are aspects that can be tweaked with the Escape
My Escape Travelscoot
Deluxe Travelscoot
I updated my model of the Travelscoot from Deluxe to an Escape in July 2024. I suffer from multiple sclerosis and I cannot walk or stand unaided so I have significant balance problems. Chronic foot drop and leg drop so I am unable to lift my left leg off the ground and my right leg is starting to go that way as well. It was becoming difficult to get on and off the Deluxe because the A-frame rises from the rear wheels to the front. The big advantage of the Escape is that the A-frame is level between the rear and front wheels.
One big advantage
Folding up the Escape is much easier and simpler than the Deluxe. Just press a button and fold the steering column back until it is flat. It is easy to remove the seat and yoke from the frame and put it all into the boot of a car.
Escape seat 10 cm narrower
The new design means that the scooter and the seat are narrower. The centre of gravity is quite high and if your sense of balance is impaired, for example by multiple sclerosis then there is a definite sense of instability especially going round corners or if the surface is bumpy or not flat. I swapped the seat that was sold with it, flat and quite narrow, only 46 cm wide, for the Deluxe seat which is 10 cm wider and moulded to provide some support. 4 inches or 10 centimetres might not sound much but the extra width makes a colossal difference in providing a greater feeling of safety and security. Travelscoot are charging £80 for the wider Deluxe seat. They should allow the buyer the option to buy one seat or the other.
I am a frequent faller
A visual horizon is essential for me to stay on my feet. When I bend over I lose my horizon and inevitably fall over. Changing the position of my Escape battery so that the socket for the charger is at the top was essential. Now not so far to bend over. When I remove the charger plug from the battery there is nothing to keep the battery in place, a potential problem. Also why is it so difficult to unplug the battery cable from the Escape. My weak grip because of age and MS means I can never remove the battery.
The bell supplied with the scooter is pathetic. It makes a feeble sound and the button to be pressed to make the pathetic sound is facing the wrong way, towards the centre. It would be great if the red canvas carrier in the A-frame could be deeper.
These irritations are minor
I am sure these issues are quite easy to fix and surely other people have these problems. The Travelscoot is popular amongst people who have MS. There must be plenty of other people who own an Escape and want these little problems fixed.
Is it unique?
Is there another scooter for people with a mobility problem which is as nifty and fun as the Travelscoot, I absolutely love the minimalist design, so many people stop me to admire it. Every time I go out on it there is always a sense of adventure and fun for me which is missing on other disability scooters.
1st Feb 2025
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This is a comment I received from Hardy Travelscoot, Germany that might make it easier to remove the battery connector from the Travelscoot frame next to the motor wheel.
regarding unplug the battery, it is a common complaint from those with hand/finger problems, me included.
The problem is pressing the two connector buttons and simultaneously pulling with two crippled fingers is really hard, so a better way is using two hands, respectively the fingers of two hands.
1) Attach two little cable ties around the red/black cables for having a larger area to push against later on.
2) Flip the TS in its side in order to raise the connection up and support it with your knee.
3) Press with two left-hand fingers the buttons, that is easy.
4) With a right-hand straight finger push against the cable-tied red/black cables and slide the connector out of the controller receptacle.
5) By pushing against the cables instead of pulling on them will overcome the connector friction much easier.
Best regards,
Hardy
I’m not entirely sure I fully understand this. I will contact the American office and ask them to make a video of this. There are some very good ones on Youtube
Response from Hardy at European office
Please read https://www.travelscoot.com/timeline/ to better understand the Escape design. Tipping sideways is always the result of too high speed in curves or at uneven surface.
For the battery connector, I agree that with crippled hands it is difficult to disconnect. I am in the same situation and use two hands, with one hand I press the two button and with the other hand (thumb) I push against the cables and slide the connector out. I admit it is kind of awkward. I tilt the scooter toward right side in order to raise the connector higher.
It might also help to apply some Vaseline to the connector sliding surface, but then you might deal with greasy finger.
Best regards,
Hardy
Hello,
I have read the link sent by Hardy. The Escape frame is now 7cm (2.75 inch) narrower than the Deluxe model and in my opinion this makes a 3 wheeled scooter with a high centre of gravity significantly less stable. I use the Travelscoot with a wider seat (available on the Deluxe) daily on pavements in England and my own experience of using it even with a wider seat is that it is significantly less stable than the Deluxe.
I love riding on the Travelscoot, it is so practical but I do not go on cruises. I must always be more careful riding the Explorer especially when turning corners or when there is an adverse camber. Just in case you were wondering I cannot walk unaided, 1.73 metres (5 ft 11) tall and dressed I weigh 75 Kg.
PS the one-hand brake is official TS kit from the TS website.
Hi Patrick
I adapted my Deluxe so that both brakes are activated with the left hand. This is great, except that the ‘parking brake’ no longer works as a result. Oh, and getting the big fat front wheel really increased comfort – i think that’s standard on the Escape? Lastly I’ve been through several Crampbusters – much cheaper from motorbike accessories shops than from TravelScoot direct.
Isla
Hi,
The fat front wheel on the Escape is standard but it is narrower than the Deluxe so not so stable. Take care going round corners, and where the surface slopes differently from direction of travel
I assume that role know there is now a Travelscoot dealer in Watford
I think they do repairs
They do sales of second hand and new Travelscoot
Would be great if people used him
Hello,
The UK office in Watford has improved steadily since it opened and are now a great help with problems and if one needs advice. See their website mytravelscoot.co.uk