For most of us, boarding a bus or any public vehicle is an easy – if not, a disregarded activity. However, for people seated on a wheelchair, getting inside the bus could be one of the greatest challenges of their life. The mere thought of carrying the wheelchair into the bus can really be daunting.
According to the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), the impaired and handicapped individuals should receive equal treatment despite their condition. They must have access to public territories and facilities, including buses and other public transportation vehicles. This being so, buses must have a mechanism that would enable wheelchair-users to easily get in and out without asking too much assistance from others. And what could be the best mechanism for this than a wheelchair lift for buses?
Wheelchair lifts for buses are mobility aids that help people with disabilities to access buses comfortably and conveniently. More often than not, platform wheelchair lifts are the ones installed on buses. To use this lift, the user only needs to roll onto a platform, the driver presses a button, and then the platform lifts the wheelchair (with the rider seated on it) into the bus. Usually, bus wheelchair lifts are not installed on the main bus door. Instead, there is a special area at the side especially designed for this purpose so as not to disturb or obstruct other passengers from accessing the entrance.
In pursuance to the ADA, not to mention the many different disability state laws and ordinances, a lot of buses are now equipped with wheelchair lifts: from public buses to school buses and company shuttles. Having a lift in a bus is very advantageous in many ways. One, it will allow wheelchair users to go to any place they want without worrying about their transportation. In this way, going to the hospital for their regular check-up won’t be as troublesome as before. It can also enable handicapped students and workers to pursue their studies and job despite their condition. And lastly, it gives the disabled a sense of self-confidence, which they definitely need for preserving and strengthening their self-esteem.
To use a bus wheelchair lift properly, here are some instructions and tips that can help you:
- Wait until other passengers are boarded. Stay away from the bus to avoid your wheelchair being hit by the platform once it lands on the ground. If you are not a wheelchair user but need assistance using the wheelchair lift, tell the driver immediately about it.
- Let the platform position itself on the ground. Wait for the driver’s signal if it is already safe for you to roll onto the platform. If you are having problems securing yourself, do not hesitate to ask for help from the driver.
- Put on the safety seatbelts and clamps. Also, make sure that your wheelchair’s brake is set. Doing these will keep you safe as the lift ascends into the bus.
- Once inside, tell the driver your destination. You can now also remove the seatbelts and clamps, and proceed to the area where wheelchairs and other mobility devices should stay during the ride.
- When you have reached your destination, go on the platform, put on the safety seatbelts and clamps, and set your wheelchair brake again.
- Be patient and wait until the lift lands completely on the ground.
- Once it is absolutely deployed, you may now exit the platform.
The cost of bus wheelchair lifts is quite high, most especially if it is a hydraulic wheelchair lift. However, the benefits they give to the disabled will always be more important than any penny spent.