Retrofitting Accessibility Features Into Older Bus Fleets
When customizing or retrofitting older buses or bus fleets, pretty much anything is possible. The limitations are your creativity and your budget. So, there is no problem to make older buses or fleets more accessible and mobility friendly. In today’s blog article, we will talk about some of the considerations when retrofitting older buses for better accessibility.
Passengers Needing Accessible Features
The first order of business is to determine roughly how many handicapped passengers you are wanting to accommodate and the size of the bus. Also, do you want areas for wheelchairs to be permanently designated for that or do you need, rather, regular seats that can be easily flipped up or moved out of the way to accommodate a wheelchair.
In general, making a bus more accessible means wider aisles, spaces to secure wheelchairs, and the ability for those with walkers or crutches to maneuver around and have safe spaces for their mobility equipment. There also needs to be seating for those able-bodied individuals who may be traveling with the person requiring better accessibility.
There needs to be features that allow the securing of wheelchairs, and potentially stowing walkers or crutches if bus rides are long—as opposed to short-distance shuttle buses.
Flooring
Flooring needs to be relatively non-slip and sturdy. You will also need thoughtfully placed handrails or grab bars. Support bars are used for getting through the bus and also for getting on and getting off the bus.
Buses will need a low entry and/or the availability of a wheelchair lift to enable easy boarding.
Accessibility
Accessibility is not just for those with mobility challenges. Those with vision or heating impairments also require accessibility. This means clear signage and/or tactile messages to help passengers find their way around.
This is a complicated subject, and it would be worth your time to consult with professionals in retrofitting buses. We encourage you to contact us at our toll-free number (888) 416-9333 in Canada, and we can help you. This is our business and area of expertise, and we can help you customize your shuttle bus to meet your business needs.
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.