Use of Mobility Devices on Paratransit Vehicles and Buses (2014)

Below is the uncorrected machine-read text of this chapter, intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text of each book. Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.

1 Use of Mobility Devices on Paratransit Vehicles and Buses The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) defines a common wheelchair as being no more than 30 in. wide and 48 in. long, measured from 2 in. above the ground. In addition to transporting people using common wheelchairs, the ADA requires transit opera- tors to provide lifts/ramps that are able to accommodate a combined weight of an occupant and the mobility device of 600 pounds. The change in population demographics, including the increased number of elderly and people who are obese together with the changes in mobility device technologies have resulted in many people and mobility devices exceeding the space available and weight to accommodate a wheeled mobility device (WhMD).This creates problems for customers and for operators of low floor buses, lift equipped buses and paratransit vehicles. This situation is further compounded by the lack of designated points on wheelchairs and scooters to provide safe attachment points for belt-type securement systems. The objective of this project was to research and identify potential improvements for the safe transportation of WhMDs including wheelchairs and scooters on public transit vehicles. Phase 1 of the project included an international literature review, surveys and a workshop involving the diverse stakeholders. The key results of the literature review are summarized in Table 1. The surveys were carried out with key stakeholders, such as transit users, transit agencies, manufacturers of mobility devices, vehicles, lift and ramps and fare payment system. In addi- tion a workshop was held with representatives of key stakeholders and government agencies. The recommendations resulting from these activities are summarized in the Table 2. The project team analyzed and assessed the outcomes of the research activities to identify potential design criteria and new concepts. These include design parameters for WhMDs, specifications for lifts, bridging plates and ramps, fare payment systems, vehicle lay-outs, and insurance reimbursement revisions. To improve the safe transport of WhMD on paratransit vehicles and buses the following recommendations and suggested best practices as shown in Table 3 were developed. While final report includes details that support the project options, supporting reports from the research activities are available on the Project C-20 website at apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/ TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=3085. These include a PowerPoint presentation for a webinar, a literature review, and notes from the project workshop. The accompanying Guidance Document was developed to help the transit industry address the changing demands of demographics and oversized mobility devices. S u m m a r y

2United States Changing demographics—increase in population that is older and more obese The United States (U.S.) permits more types of wheeled mobility devices including scooters Few accommodations for service animals U.S. is much more prescriptive than other countries in requirements for securement systems Low floor paratransit vehicles entering the market United Kingdom, Australia, and Europe Do not permit the transport of scooters Are much more restrictive on the transport of oversized mobility aids Use of four-belt securement on smaller vehicles is wide spread, and is consistent with U.S. practices Canada, Europe, and Australia The same level of acceleration force exposure is used for standing passengers and those in wheeled mobility devices Wide spread use of rear-facing securement Spain and Australia allow side-facing securement on large vehicles Most Countries Footprint of wheelchairs: 30” x 48” Minimum payloads for ramps and lifts 600 pounds Table 1. Key results of the literature review. Wheeled Mobility Devices The maximum mobility device size (maximum length, width, weight and turning radius) for public transportation should be specified WC 19 or similar standard should be the basis for securement system attachment points that are located at structural safe points of mobility devices Medical insurance agencies should require securement system attachment areas or “transit safe” devices Vehicles Large vehicles: Reduce dwell times by center boarding and rear facing for travelling position Research use of side-facing securement as an option in the U.S. Increase interior maneuvering space Small vehicles: Locate securement positions between front and rear axle, Require public transport vehicles to be structurally strong to support securement systems and weight of mobility devices Training Require recurrent and new employee training for all operators on use of equipment, e.g., lifts, ramps, securement systems Increase sensitivity awareness by transit operator staff of the needs of persons with disabilities Coordination Require more coordination between securement systems standards development group and domestic mobility device manufacturing industry Encourage transit agencies to communicate with local Durable Medical Equipment(DME) dealers about mobility device size limitations Require DME dealers to indicate to customers which mobility devices are transportable on public transport vehicles Require Allied Health professionals to consider client’s transportation needs when prescribing wheeled mobility devices Table 2. Summary of recommendations derived from research activities.

3 Paratransit Vehicles and Buses Increase lift/ramp payload to 800 pounds Revise ramp slope to a maximum of 1:6 Increase length of lift platform from 48 to 54 in. Increase WhMD footprint from 30 in. wide x 48 in. long to 30 in. wide by 54 in. long Specify minimum turning radius of 38 in. Paratransit Vehicles Use of low floor vehicles Securement (20 g): 4 belt securement/lap and shoulder belt occupant restraint WC-19 compliant WhMD with attachment points for securement systems Location of securement space to maximize occupant safety—between front and rear axle of vehicle Flexible layout: seats/wheelchair positions Bench seats for obese passengers Large Transit Vehicles Fare collection: off vehicle or smart/touch/touch less card Cantilevered fare box to maximize turning area in vestibule Center door WhMD access for large vehicles 3 g in rear-facing environment Rear-facing securement near center door Space for service animals Table 3. Summary of recommendations and best practices.