MILWAUKEE - An anonymous donor has offered a motorized scooter to an 85-year-old man who was recently told he couldn't use his riding lawn mower on sidewalks to get around his suburban neighborhood.
Carol LaFontaine, director of the Cedarburg Senior Center, said Tuesday the woman contacted the center after reading recent news reports about Benjamin Steinbach riding his mower in Cedarburg.
The device was expected to be delivered to Steinbach later Tuesday, she said.
"It had been purchased for the woman's mother, but the mother barely used it," LaFontaine said. "The donor felt that, if someone could benefit from it, it was better that the scooter be used."
Steinbach had been getting around his neighborhood on his riding mower since the state took away his driver's license two years ago because of health reasons. He'd been making trips to the supermarket, hardware store and City Hall.
But, after hearing about Steinbach's treks recently, Cedarburg Police Chief Tom Frank noted that state law allows only a few vehicles on sidewalks, such as motorized scooters, wheelchairs and the new Segways.
The Grafton-Cedarburg Rotary Club agreed to make the arrangements Tuesday to get the scooter to Steinbach, said its president, Chad Curran.
Steinbach said he was excited about the prospect of getting it, but wouldn't make a final decision on whether to accept it until it was delivered.
However, he added: "I think I should accept it. Then I can drive on the sidewalk."
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, which first reported on the matter Monday, reported that others had also contacted the newspaper about donating a scooter or donating cash toward the purchase of one.
Curran said that his club had been planning to offer to purchase a scooter for Steinbach, but was happy to deliver the device instead.
"It's a great opportunity to help a longtime member of the community," he said.
The police chief said Steinbach could drive the scooter on the sidewalk.
"I'm happy for him," the police chief said.
