As an owner of electric bikes, IoHawn, and a OneWheel skateboard, let me add some info on this:

“physical mobility problem that prevents me from riding a $500 bicycle.”

While the devices reduce the amount of exercise the rider gets, they are fun. This SEEMS to be a possible opening for people with mobility problems, and I’ve had a few such people approach me to discuss my devices.

The problem is that, while physically easy to ride, the devices REMAIN physically demanding in peak-load surges. That is, they require balance and smooth roadways, and when those are compromised, sudden falls WILL occur. Your ability to survive those falls is dependent on physical athletic ability.

I’ve seen my devices cause all sorts of injuries to me and others. I figure it’s worth it — many sports I play cause me a variety of injuries, this is no different. But here is an important piece of knowledge that one only learns from experience with these motorized scooters:

Any fall you endure is complicated and accelerated by the device. Consider that, as you fall, your feet are still giving the device “instructions” with their angle or lean. This means that, as you fall, the device responds by accelerating one way or the other. This introduces a faster fall, and often a twist with the fall. A simple forward fall where your natural reflexes tell you to put your hands in front of you can rapidly become a backwards fall onto your tailbone or head. Or a simple loss of balance can turn into a twisting wreck. Seen it happen; sent at least one friend to the hospital.