But once you're on the scooter-- there's the bowing and scraping from fellow shoppers, no matter how obviously you're just playing and having fun.
Perhaps it depends on regional differences, or there might possibly be an effect of individual personalities(?), but when LiK gets on one of Wallyworld's scooters the "crowd reaction" seems better described by something like "let's all quickly flee in terror."
I have been trying to explain to her that although the scooters have "barrier penetration capabilities" vastly superior to that of the "old guy with the walker" it's a feature that should be used with some restraint, and that "shopping" is not meant to be a competitive event.
Thus far there have been no documented injuries.
... ... ...
Dispensing with the minor embellishments for the sake of a better story, I've found that people in my area take remarkably little notice of those who use the furnished aids or those who provide their own. Mostly they're no less polite to the "users," but not noticeably much more solicitous.
It may relate to their being larger numbers using aids here, perhaps? It's not uncommon here to find "all in use" conditions for the aids provided by the retail stores, and almost impossible to find a time when there aren't more than half of the provided scooters "out on the floor" in stores that offer them.