How to Make a Bus Wheelchair Accessible

There are some requirements and best practices that enable a bus to be wheelchair accessible. This is a large topic, and a full treatment of the construction and modification of a bus to make it wheelchair accessible is beyond the scope of this short article. We will, however, explain, here, what some of the best practices are.

Access

In order for a bus to be wheelchair accessible, there needs to be a way for the wheelchair to get on and get off of the bus. This means some kind of life will be required to safely lift a wheelchair onto the bus and then safely bring the wheelchair from the bus back onto the ground.

Room

Once a wheelchair has been lifted onto the bus, there needs to be enough space available for the wheelchair to sit on the bus. There needs to be enough clearance for the wheelchair to turn around for entrance and exit. How much room is required and available for wheelchairs depends on how many wheelchairs the bus intends to carry at one time.

Locking Mechanism

Some kind of locking mechanism is required so that the wheelchair can be firmly held in place on the floor of the bus.

Alert

A bell or button or alert needs to be available near the wheelchair, so that the person in the wheelchair can signal the driver to stop.

These things listed above are the minimum general requirements for making a bus wheelchair accessible, anywhere. Specific requirements may vary by jurisdiction.

Dynamic Specialty Vehicles has been supplying and servicing mid-sized buses for over 30 years. With long-term contracts with demanding clients like BC Ambulance and BC Transit, Dynamic Specialty Vehicles knows how to keep their clients safe and their buses running smoothly.

If you have any questions about this article or would like further information about buses and/or services, please call us on our Toll-Free number, (888) 416-9333.