It was, they said, a daunting experience and one they’re not particularly keen to repeat.

My colleagues don’t usually need mobility scooters or powerchairs to get around, but there are a lot of people – and the number is growing – who rely on them.

But there is also growing concern about the potential risks of the devices, which are often sharing busy roads with much larger, faster cars, trucks and buses.

People are calling for tighter regulations around the use of mobility devices and asking questions about the standards of footpaths, roads and easy access to them.

Drive around Wagga on any given day now, and you’re going to see mobility scooters and powerchairs.

The benefits are obvious: There is a level of ease and freedom provided to people who may otherwise struggle with getting around.

This is to be applauded.

So, the issue is not about restricting people’s access to greater mobility.

It’s about making sure there is a decent framework of regulations – with some training – to make sure people know how to operate them safely.

And at the risk of throwing an additional burden onto local government, we also need to make sure our footpaths, roads and crossings are suitable for mobility devices.

The crash last week involving a man on a mobility scooter and a bus illustrates the heart of the issue: Mobility scooters are on the roads in growing numbers and we need to figure out how to make sure they are safe alongside bigger vehicles.

For subdivisions still being built, the chance to incorporate mobility-friendly footpaths and roads is relatively straight-forward.

But in the central business district and the older, more established suburbs, the challenge will be harder because it’s a matter of working with infrastructure already in place.

And that’s where the community has a role to play: When we spot a problem, we need to speak up.

No good will come from grumbling to our neighbours, but not reaching out to council and saying ‘there’s a problem with the footpath in my street’.

I know Wagga City Council doesn’t have a money tree tucked away in one of its depots.

Resources are finite and the list of roads and footpaths needing some TLC is probably extensive.

But some areas are going to need more work than others; they might be in a poorer condition than is ideal, or are simply used by many more people.

Council staff aren’t omniscient. They cannot be everywhere and they need feedback from the community on issues which residents consider important.

If you want a road fixed, or the incline of a footpath smoothed out to improve access, then let council know.

Feedback is important to the success of any service, and when it comes to an issue as fundamental as moving safely and easily around our community, I would say its absolutely vital.

We cannot always assume that “someone else” will be the one to send the email to alert council staff to a problem.

Wagga is a great place to live, but we cannot take it for granted. We all need to do our part to make sure our city is accessible and welcoming to everyone who wants to live here or pay us a visit.

Jody Lindbeck

jody.lindbeck@fairfaxmedia.com.au