Yes, a weekly rental may be reserved in advance. “Concert Rentals” (limited to four hours of use) and “Daily Rentals” (any period between 1–6 days of use) are available only on a first-come, first-served basis, and are subject to availability. We start taking reservations for all mobility devices starting May 1, 2023. If you are interested in renting a mobility device, please let your ticket agent know when purchasing your gate passes, or you may email infooffice@chq.org to be placed on a list of people who will be contacted to complete their reservation. If you have not heard from us by mid-May, please be in touch with us by emailing infooffice@chq.org.

Yes, everyone renting a scooter will receive training on how to safely operate the scooter when you pick it up. Please ask our staff if you have any questions. You can always contact our staff even after your pick up if you have questions about the safe operation of your device. 

Scooters and other mobility devices are available for pick-up at the Main Gate Welcome Center (1 Massey Ave, Chautauqua, NY). A limited number of devices are also available at the Athenaeum Hotel and will be primarily available for guests of the hotel. However, if you are not a guest of the hotel, you may ask the hotel staff if they have any devices available. Please make sure to return your device where you picked it up. Scooters may be picked up between 11 a.m.–8 p.m. for weekly (or more) rentals and must be returned by 10 a.m. on the day of return listed on your contract. (Note: Concert or Daily rentals may be picked up as early as 8 a.m., subject to availability.)  

Each rental comes with a key, full scooter cover, a “tiller cover” (that goes over the handlebars) for use during light rainfall, and a charger with a six-foot cord. Extension cords and some accessories (like a cane holder) may be requested at the time of pick up and are subject to availability.  

Tandem scooters are only available for rentals for those who are unable to operate a single-user mobility scooter safely on their own and require another person or aid to operate such a device. The renter will be asked to attest to this in the rental agreement form. The Institution reserves the right to require documentation from a qualified medical professional attesting that a person is unable to safely operate such a device due to medical reasons or disability. The nature of the medical condition or disability does not need to be disclosed to the Institution. Tandem scooters may also be rented by single users who weigh between 400-600 lbs.

All of our mobility devices are brand new, and we do not anticipate any breakdown issues. If you experience any issues with the scooter, please visit the place where you rented the scooter. You can also call the Welcome Center (open 8 a.m.–8 p.m. daily, including weekends) at 716-357-6250 (Option 7). The Athenaeum front desk can assist customers that rent directly from the hotel and is open 24 hours/day during the season. For after-hours issues, please call Campus Safety & Security at 716-357-6225. We will guarantee repair or replacement of your scooter within 24 hours if there is a mechanical concern. If we are unable to meet this replacement timeline, we will issue you a refund for one week (if rented for one week or more), or the full cost of your rental (if rented for less than one week). 

All scooters come fully charged and include a charger with a six-foot cord. All renters who are renting a device for more than one day are expected to charge their device and return the device on full charge. Most housing rental units on the Institution grounds will have access to indoor or outdoor plugs to charge the device. Please contact your landlord for information on electrical outlets and the accessibility features of the unit in advance of your arrival. The chargers use a regular electrical outlet. Extension cords may be requested at the time of rental for free (available on a first-come, first-served basis). If you do not have a charging outlet available at your rental, please contact the ticketing office for information on our charging outlets. Guests at the Athenaeum Hotel may charge their scooters in their rooms, or if needed, the charging area by the bell desk. Please ask the bell desk for assistance.  

A limited number of cane and walker holders are available to be mounted to your device when you come to pick up the scooter. Please ask the staff person at the time of the rental. These cannot be reserved in advance.  

The scooters may be operated in light rain if a “tiller cover” is used. This cover goes over the handlebar portion of your scooter. Each scooter is provided with a tiller cover. Failure to use this cover may result in severe damage to the electrical components of the scooter, and repair fees will be charged to the renter. Use of the scooter in heavy downpour is not recommended. Instead, please consider using the free bus or tram service provided by the institution on days when a heavy downpour is expected. Please remember to cover your entire scooter with the provided cover and charger if you must store it outdoors, even if no rain is predicted. 

Tandem scooters seat two users side-by-side and tend to be wider than most standard doorways. Tandem scooters might not be able to go inside most Institution buildings simply because they are too wide or bulky to navigate indoor spaces. Tandem scooters can access the Amphitheater via gate 5 (near Athenaeum Hotel) for the lower bowl of the amp and can only be parked in “row L” (section between the lower and upper bowl). Please note that for popular events, the lower bowl is considered part of the premium seating, and an extra ticket may be required for access to the lower bowl. Tandem scooters may need to be parked outside of the amp for those wishing to use the upper bowl of the amp (sections 6-23).  

The institution has expanded it mobility scooter fleet from 28 (in 2022) to 39 devices (2023) with the goal of eliminating any waitlists for scooter rentals. All devices are brand new and were purchased in 2023. The Institution currently owns the following: 

• Nine Pride Mobility Gogo-Sport model scooters (325 lb. user capacity) 

• Twenty-seven Pride Mobility Victory Ten model scooters (400 lb. user capacity) 

• Two Afikim S-4 Wide Seat Tandem Scooters (2 users, combined capacity of 600 lbs., 33” wide seat) 

To meet the growing demand for mobility devices, the Institution is launching a new fleet of 39 new scooters (up from 28 scooters) that we own, maintain, and rent directly to patrons. The Institution does not partner with an outside company for scooter or wheelchair rentals. Scooters are maintained during the summer assembly by our staff who have decades of experience working with mobility scooters. All scooters are inspected by a certified technician at the start of every rental season. Mechanical issues or repairs are conducted by certified technicians.  

To ensure proper and timely exchange of devices so that our next renters are guaranteed a timely pick-up of their device, all devices must be returned according to the following schedule: 

• “Concert rentals” must be returned within 4 hours  

• “Daily rentals” must be returned by midnight. If the Welcome Center is closed, please make sure to cover the scooter and drop off the key in the drop box located at the entrance of the Welcome Center 

• “Weekly” & “Seasonal” rentals must be returned by 10 a.m. on the return date. This will give us time to clean and maintain the device for the next customer. Please make sure that your device is fully charged upon return. 

Late returns will be charged a late return fee at $25/hr., up to a maximum of $100/day. 

All reservations can be cancelled up to 7 days before the rental start period for a full refund. Cancellations within seven days of the rental start period will incur a $75 cancellation fee for any weekly rentals booked for 1 to 2 weeks, or 10% of the total rental fee for rentals booked longer than 2 weeks. There are no partial refunds for late pick-ups, no-shows, or early returns.  

We are unable to bill insurance companies, Medicare or Medicaid directly. However, we will provide you with a receipt for your rental and you can work with your provider directly to seek any eligible reimbursements.  

The full cost of the rental will be due at the time of booking to secure your reservation. Please review our cancellation policies listed above. We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover cards for payment.