Wheelchair lifts for vehicles are being used more and more frequently nowadays, offering the disabled and the elderly an increased freedom of movement. Depending on your needs, you can choose between different models: wheelchair lifts for vans and for trucks, for buses and for simple sedans, internal and external, platform lifts and rotary arms.
We all know that in compliance with ADA (the American with Disabilities Act), wheelchair lifts started to become an inseparable part of public transportation, being installed mostly in buses and trains.
Recently another innovation appeared, providing even more accessibility options to wheelchair-bound people: wheelchair-friendly taxicabs.
Even if such taxis are not available everywhere (yet), I think that this wonderful idea will allow the disabled to circulate freely even without owning a modified van (or hiring a means of transportation in advance whenever they want to go somewhere). Wheelchair-friendly taxis are not only a way of increasing the freedom of the mobility-challenged people – they also offer them something even more precious: spontaneity!
Now let’s analyze the technical details which make taxicabs disabled-accessible.
We all know that wheelchair ramps are the easiest way of overcoming inaccessible vertical obstacles. Most wheelchair-friendly taxis are bigger than the standard sedan models, being equipped with retractable ramps at the rear of the vehicle. They can accommodate up to 6 passengers (or a a wheelchair and 3 passengers).
Besides the vehicles equipped with wheelchair ramps (which, as we know, have their downsides), there are also taxicabs with wheelchair lifts. These are usually vans with vertical platform tail lifts. They can accommodate up to 8 passengers (or 3 wheelchairs), being also suitable for airport rides – the platform can easily lift not only the wheelchair or scooter, but also heavy luggage.
Just like the wheelchair lifts installed in standard vans, the models designed for taxis are electricity (battery) powered, having all the necessary safety features: anti-slip flooring, barriers for avoiding accidents during the lifting operation, emergency stop button and more.
The drivers of these taxis are specially trained, helping their disabled passengers to use the wheelchair lift safely.
When are these taxicabs necessary? The cab company owners have noticed that the demand for these taxis increases on Sunday, when mobility-challenged people are willing to hire such a vehicle for going to church. During the week, going to the airport, to the hospital or simply visiting a friend or a relative has become much easier than before for the disabled from several cities. All they have to do is call the cab company providing these services and voila! They can go anywhere they want!
Wheelchair-accessible taxicabs are a considerable improvement for the disabled community. This service transcends the specifications of the ADA, providing extra comfort and convenience for mobility-challenged people.
