Chapter 11 Transportation

Transportation is a major issue that faces all persons who have visual impairment. For wheelchair users, it is even more difficult because the vehicle used for transport must accommodate their wheelchairs. Whether one uses a personal vehicle, a private service, or a government sponsored source, the type of wheelchair determines the mode of transportation that is usable. Some consumers who have electric wheelchairs or scooters also have manual wheelchairs; this allows them to use transportation resources that are not accessible in their motorized equipment. One can disassemble a manual wheelchair or electric scooter and put it into a car trunk. Electric wheelchairs usually require lifts, ramps, or special cranes to move the heavy chair into a truck or van.

The availability of public transportation varies from community to community. Programs come and go, so consumers should check periodically to determine what is available in their community.

Internet searches for “accessible transportation” or “accessible public transportation” will provide a multitude of resources for people with disabilities. The following are examples of four transportation resources available at the time of publication.

The American Public Transportation Association has two websites. They list all state and federally funded programs. These are grouped by state and then by county or parish.
www.apta.com/links/state_local
www.publictransportation.org/systems/
Disability.gov, which is managed by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), provides resources on transportation as it relates to persons with disabilities, including airlines, buses, trains, taxis, and motor coaches. It also has links to resources about transportation for seniors, rural areas, and urban environments. www.disability.gov
The Easter Seals Project ACTION (ESPA) is a clearinghouse for information and research on accessible transportation. ESPA provides educational opportunities, technical assistance, two newsletters, and a toll free assistance line (800) 659-6428 (voice) to answer questions from consumers, family, and professionals about accessible transportation.
www.projectaction.org/TransportationtheADA.aspx
The Access Travel Center has information on accessible recreational vehicles, cruises, van rentals, and other items related to travel and health issues for individuals with disabilities.
www.accesstravelcenter.com/access_resources.html

Personal Vehicles

Manual chairs are easy to put into a car. Most scooters and some electric wheelchairs can be disassembled and placed into the trunk of personal vehicles.

Features of the chair affect transportation options. On manual chairs, folding or removable armrests, folding backrests, removable cushions, removable footrests, and removable large wheels all make the chair easier to stow. When purchasing a scooter, the consumer should ask, “How heavy is the heaviest piece when taken apart?” Usually, the heaviest piece is the motor assembly. It is possible to lift electric wheelchairs into the back of a truck or van, but a ramp or lift for transport is preferable. One can take apart and stow some electric wheelchairs, but the pieces are usually significantly larger than pieces of scooters. If the student wants to use a powered device and be able to put it in a car, she needs to acquire a scooter, not an electric wheelchair.

Vehicles can be equipped with lifts, ramps, and special cargo carriers that attach to a receiver hitch on the back of the vehicle. There are also hoists to lift the chair into the back of a pickup truck or into a roof carrier on top of the car.

If a consumer considers using a cargo carrier that attaches to the back of the vehicle, check the maximum tongue weight of the vehicle (i.e., the amount of weight safely allowed on a trailer hitch). For smaller vehicles, the chair may be too heavy and cause the front end of the vehicle to lift, resulting in poor steering.

Some people have seat lifts, to which the person transfers and is then lifted to a car/van/truck seat, leaving the wheelchair out on the ground. This requires that someone stores the wheelchair.

Van Services

A variety of van services is available in most communities. Contact information is usually listed in the phone book or online. A few examples of headings to look under include transportation, wheelchair transportation, or medical transportation. Some taxi companies have acquired vans with ramps or lifts.

Paratransit

Federal law requires that communities that provide a fixed-route bus service also provide a paratransit service. Paratransit service is supposed to serve any area within ¾ mile of a bus stop. A disability does not guarantee approval for paratransit service. To be Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit eligible, the consumer must be unable to complete the trip on the regular fixed route bus. While some systems provide a blanket approval for all trips within the systems, others use ride-by-ride approval. The consumer may have approval for some trips but not for others. In addition to barriers to getting on and off the bus, the route between the bus stop and the consumer’s destination must be accessible. Systems that provide curb-to-curb service require that the consumer is able to travel between the origin/destination and the street without assistance from the driver. If the consumer needs assistance getting from the curb to the door, she will have to bring a guest or attendant. Riders who utilize personal care attendants do not have to pay an additional fare for the attendant. Guests are required to pay a fare. According to the ADA Paratransit Eligibility Determination Guide, it is illegal for the system to require riders to have an attendant with them, but the system does not have to provide an attendant either. Door-to-door service implies that the driver or an aide will assist the consumer to get from the door of the building to the van and back.

Medicaid/Medical Transportation

For transportation to and from medical appointments, consumers may be able to use special, reserved services, designed to meet consumers’ medical needs. Usually, payment is through private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid. Some providers provide transportation through nursing homes or other residential care facilities. Private pay for medical transportation is possible, but usually cost prohibitive. Some states have programs that pay/reimburse family or friends of the consumer to provide transportation to medical appointments.

Council on Aging (COA)

In most states, the county or parish COA offers some form of transportation. Some provide rides free, but accept donations for the service. In some cases, the donation amounts are pre-set. COA programs may limit where or when they provide transportation. They may also restrict services to certain age groups. While sometimes more limited than paratransit services, COAs are an important part of the overall transportation system in an area. They have no tie to the fixed route system and may provide services in areas not served by paratransit.

The Arc™ of the United States (The Arc™)

The Arc™ serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization often provides transportation to and from work, or between home and training facilities for consumers who have an affiliation with their related services.

Churches

Many churches offer van service to their church members who are unable to travel independently to church services. Some churches rent or donate their vehicles and drivers to agencies or organizations when they need to transport persons with disabilities to recreational activities.

Fixed Route Buses

Fixed route buses are required to be wheelchair accessible. The buses have seats that fold up and create an area to secure a wheelchair. They may have lifts or ramps, which may be at the front, middle, or back of the bus. A wheelchair symbol is usually located next to the door equipped with the lift or ramp. Many people do not realize that some buses have a lift because it is under the stairs, hidden from sight. Ramp buses are easy to recognize because they do not have stairs leading in.

Boarding Lifts

For safety reasons, manual chairs should always board lifts with the consumer’s back to the bus. Scooters and electric wheelchairs can board whichever direction the consumer prefers; but when they reach the securement area, the consumer needs to face the front of the bus. Some consumers are unable to turn around in the limited area inside the bus and need to back onto the lift. Crowded buses may make turning around harder. If the student cannot turn around on the bus, she will need to back onto the lift. When disembarking, all chair types should board the lift facing forward. Most buses have lines on the floor that indicate where passengers should stand. The passenger should not pass the line until the driver says the lift is ready. The line is usually even with the edge of the seat closest to the front door.

Backing Onto a Lift in a Manual Chair

To back onto a lift in a manual chair, the student should complete these steps.

  1. Pull up to the front of the lift with the lift to the side of the chair.
  2. Stop just before the hub of the large wheel closer to the lift reaches the far edge of the lift. (Each student should learn a different landmark on the chair or on her body that corresponds with putting the wheel at the correct position.)
  3. Extend the arm that is closer to the lift and grasp the wheel rail, keeping the wheel closer to the lift locked in place.
  4. With the other arm, pull back on the far wheel rail until the wheel is felt hitting the lip of the lift.
  5. Pull back on the wheel that was previously locked in place until that wheel is felt hitting the lip of the lift.
  6. Pull back on both wheels evenly so the chair backs straight up onto the lift.

Watch video T11a: Transportation: Backing onto a lift in a manual wheelchair.

Backing Onto a Lift in an Electric Wheelchair

Electric wheelchair users can choose either to pull onto the lift facing the vehicle, or to back onto the lift. Before boarding lifts, instruct the student to turn down the chair speed to a slower setting. If turned too low, the chair may not have enough power to climb onto the lift; but the speed should be low enough to make boarding manageable.

The student can use her cane to detect the edge of the lift and position the chair for boarding. By keeping the cane locked against one side of the lift, the student can use the cane tip as a landmark to pull up beside the lift and to back onto the lift. She should also use the cane to detect the end of the lift. Not all lifts have stop plates on the side next to the vehicle. If the student pulls too closely to the vehicle, injury is possible; her feet could catch in the lift as it rises. It is best to center the chair on the lift.

To back onto the lift, the student should complete these steps:

  1. Drive across the front of the lift until the drive wheels are centered at the front of the lift with the lift to the side of the chair. (Cane users may be more successful by pulling up with the cane hand on the side closer to the lift. Students who have better vision in one eye may be more successful by pulling up with the better eye closer to the lift.)
  2. Execute a pivot-in-place turn. (This positions the student's back to the vehicle.) Place the tip of the cane against the side of the lift closer to the feet. (This makes it easier to know when to stop turning.)
  3. Keep the cane against the side of the lift. (This helps the student to back straight onto the lift.) Travel backward until the front wheels are felt climbing the lift, the front edge of the lift is seen, or the back of the lift is detected by the cane and the chair is backed up to the cane. (Not all lifts have plates at the back and if not paying attention, the student may pull back too far. Some lifts have handrails to use as landmarks to know where to stop.)
  4. Once stopped, turn off the chair or apply the brakes if they are available.
  5. Check to see if the chair is straight. If the chair needs straightening, look to see which side of the lift has the most space.
  6. Pull forward a few inches.
  7. Turn, moving the feet away from the side that has the most space.
  8. Back up again.

Watch video T11b: Transportation: Backing onto a lift in an electric wheelchair.

Backing Onto a Lift With a Scooter

To back onto a lift with a scooter, the student should complete these steps:

  1. Drive up to the lift so that the scooter is perpendicular to the front edge of the lift. (Students may have a preference for which side of the scooter is closer to the lift. Some may prefer to have the free hand closer to the lift; others may prefer to have their better eye on the same side as the lift.)
  2. Pull forward until the rear wheel (or other landmark depending on the design of the scooter) is even with the far side of the lift. Sweep the cane to clear the front of the lift.
  3. Turn the tiller to face the vehicle. (The cane tip can remain against the side of the lift to help the student know when she has turned far enough.)
  4. Back up while turning to put the back of the scooter to the front edge of the lift.
  5. Straighten the tiller, keeping the cane tip against the edge of the lift.
  6. Back straight onto the lift while sliding the cane tip along the side of the lift until the tip reaches the back edge of the lift.
  7. If the scooter is too close to one side of the lift, turn the tiller toward the side of the lift with more space. Then as the chair backs up, turn to the opposite direction to straighten the scooter on the lift.
  8. Once in the desired position on the lift, turn the key to the off position before the lift rises.

Watch video T11c: Transportation: Backing onto a lift with a scooter.

By using the above strategies, students learn to pull onto lifts consistently. Many students initially try to turn too far away from the lift and then struggle to get both wheels on the lift as they back up.

Once inside the vehicle, the student must navigate to the wheelchair securement area. Whether she enters facing forward, or backs in, the student should always face forward during transport. Often, once inside the vehicle, there is not enough room to turn around the chair. It is best to position the chair to the side of the vehicle, so that the chair does not block the aisle. This is where the skills learned in Chapter 8, “Tight Spaces and Doors” are vital. Always give a student multiple opportunities to practice on a parked vehicle, without other passengers or time constraints to pressure or rush the student. It also helps to simulate the space available with trashcans or chairs, so that the student can practice at her own pace.

When disembarking, the chair should always face forward as it pulls onto the lift. Lifts have a protective footplate to keep the chair from driving off the end of the lift. While the plate should stop the chair, students and practiced consumers should not use bumping into the footplate to indicate when to stop. If they do not have enough vision to see where to stop, they should use a cane to detect the end and pull up to it. The instructor should be ready to perform an emergency stop, just in case the student fails to detect and react to the edge of the lift.

Ramp Buses

Ramp buses are lower to the ground than buses with lifts. Instead of having three or four steps to climb, ramp buses only have one step from the curb to the bus. Many also “kneel,” which means a hydraulic system lowers the corner of the bus to reduce the height of the step into the bus. A large plate slides out from the door to the sidewalk making a ramp. If consumers cannot turn around inside the bus, they should back onto the bus via the ramp.

Navigating to the Bus Securement Area

On either bus type, the most difficult part of boarding is navigating from the ramp or lift to the wheelchair securement area. If boarding at the front door, the consumer must clear the barrier next to the door and the fare box. She then navigates the aisle and moves to the space made available by folding up the seats.

Securement

When using public transportation, whether in a bus or a van, it is very important to secure the wheelchair so that neither the person using the chair nor the other passengers sustain injuries if the chair shifts during transport. Drivers usually assist with the securement process; but if the consumer knows how the system works, she can help. Many consumers feel that their chairs are heavy enough that they will not move. This is not true. If the driver applies the brake suddenly, the chair will slide forward. The consumer or other passengers could sustain injuries if the chair shifts. It is possible to secure chairs with locks or straps. Straps are often removable. Always secure straps to the frame of the chair, not the wheels. Wheels can roll or shift and cause the straps to loosen; plus, straps can damage wheels on manual chairs. ALL CHAIRS SHOULD FACE FORWARD WHEN SECURED. Consumers should use seatbelts, but some consumers prefer to rely on the seatbelts built onto their wheelchairs. Some transit systems have written procedures that require the use of seatbelts. If the consumer requests seatbelts, the driver must put them on the consumer, regardless of the transit system’s rules. It is important that both instructors and students understand how securement systems work. Drivers sometimes fail to secure consumers properly. Consumers are often uncomfortable with advocating for themselves. They do not want to “make a fuss” or “make the driver mad.” Consumers need to understand that their safety is at stake. Whether because of driver error, laziness, hurrying, forgetting the proper way to secure the chair, or unfamiliarity with the wheelchair design, consumers should have the ability to recognize an improperly secured chair and inform the driver. To remove the seatbelt, consumers will likely need the assistance of the driver.

While securement systems vary widely, there are some basic rules to remember about wheelchair securement.

  1. The chair should always face forward. If sitting sideways, the consumer is more likely to suffer an injury in a crash. Pressure from the straps can bend the wheels when riding sideways.
  2. Use all four straps each time. If one strap slips, the other straps will hold the wheelchair in place.
  3. Using the seatbelt without securing the chair can be hazardous to the consumer and to the people around the chair.
  4. Never attach the straps to the wheels or footrests; always attach straps to the frame of the wheelchair.

Watch video T11d: Transportation: Wheelchair securement.

Bus Stops

The ADA Accessibility Guidelines provide specific design requirements for new bus stops. The guidelines are available online: www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/buildings-and-sites/about-the-ada-standards/background/adaag#tranfac

Trains/Rail Services

Because of vast differences between rail systems, it is difficult to suggest strategies for rail travel. As stated in the introduction, specific techniques listed are not all-inclusive or effective for all travelers. The instructor must take the information provided and use it to spark creative problem solving. The right strategy depends entirely on the individual needs of the student and the unique situation in which she is traveling. Before the instructor makes recommendations to students, he should consult with Orientation and Mobility Specialists who are familiar with the identified transportation system.

Fare Gates

All train stations have fare gates that are accessible for wheelchair users, but not all entrances to a particular station are required to have accessible gates. If the station has more than one entrance, the entrances without elevators may not have accessible fare gates.

Locating Security Telephones

Most train stations have telephones that connect directly to the transit system. For example, in Atlanta the red phones connect directly to security. The blue phones connect to a customer service operator. The phones are usually near the fare gates. In Washington, D.C., stations have emergency phones and each station has a Station Manager on site.

Traveling Platform Edges

Train stations have center and/or side platforms. Students, and at times, practiced consumers, may want to shoreline a wall to travel to a specific position on the train platform, positioning themselves on the platform in such a way that they are close to where they want to board the train. When moving along the platform, students should learn to follow the wall and be able to maintain awareness of where the platform edge is located. The best way not to fall off the edge is to know where it is at all times. Students and practiced consumers should exaggerate the distance they keep between themselves and the edge. Most stations have a 36-inch warning strip along the platform edge. The wheelchair user should not travel on the warning strip.

Watch video T11e: Transportation: Navigating transit platforms.

Locating Train Doors When Boarding the Train

When the train comes to a complete stop, students should turn to face the front of the train. This position makes it easier for the driver to see the student’s cane when he checks to make sure the platform edge is clear, before he closes the door. When the driver sees the cane, he will allow the wheelchair user time to reach the doorway. Students should trail the side of the train to an opening. Before turning into the opening, the student should use a cane to make sure there really is a floor on the other side of the opening. Visually impaired travelers have stepped into the gap between two cars thinking that it was a doorway. In outdoor rail stations, the sunlight shining between two cars has been mistaken for a doorway.

When using a manual chair, the student should back through the doorway onto the train. Most consumers wait for the train facing the platform edge, perpendicular to the tracks. When the train comes to a stop, the student must decide which door is closest and rapidly turn that direction and trail the side of the train to the opening. When she reaches the doorway, the student should maintain her straight line of travel until she reaches the landmark for backing through an opening. She should come to a complete stop and only then turn to put her back to the train and back straight on.

Watch video T11f: Transportation: Boarding trains in a manual wheelchair.

When facing forward, the front caster wheels may lodge in the gap between the train and the platform. Even when backing in, if a consumer stops while the casters are over the gap, the casters may spin and drop in between the train and the platform. If the caster wheels drop in, the consumer should solicit assistance to lift the front of the chair out of the gap. The train doors will not close, so the train cannot pull away from the platform.

Unlike manual chairs, scooters or electric wheelchairs can board either facing forward or by backing on. The consumer's decision on which way to board the train depends on her skills to back up, the ability to turn around on the train, and whether the destination is a side or center platform. Someone that is not proficient with backing around corners may choose to board always facing forward (even if that means having to back off). It is usually easier to back off the train than to back on the train because there is no turn involved. If the station where the chair boards is a center platform and the destination is a side platform station, or vice versa, the consumer will be able to pull onto the train facing forward, then drive straight across the train and be ready to pull off the train facing forward as well. If boarding at a side platform and getting off at a side platform, or boarding at a center platform and getting off at another center platform, consumers that pull on facing forward have to either turn around on the train or back off at the destination. On crowded trains, turning around may not be an option; so consumers should be prepared to get off the train facing either direction.

Watch video T11g: Transportation: Boarding trains when using a scooter.

Locating Wheelchair Space

In the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA®) system, the wheelchair space is located at the front end of each car. The door usually has a large MARTA® logo that is easy to see by low vision travelers. Unfortunately, the car may be traveling backward down the track, so the door needed may actually be the last door of that particular car. Some consumers try to use landmarks on the platform to position themselves as close as possible to where the door next to the wheelchair space will end up when the train stops. The landmark may help, but the trains may not always stop at the same spot on the platform. During rush hour, the system may use longer trains. During off peak times, the train may be shorter. Not all consumers choose to ride the train in the wheelchair space. On crowded trains, consumers have struggled to navigate back from the wheelchair space to the door before the train doors closed. Many consumers choose to ride the train sitting in the doorway in a position that allows them to pull out of the door quickly. Electric wheelchairs and scooters should ride facing the door so that they can pull straight out onto the platform. Manual wheelchair users may choose to position their backs to the door to allow them to back off quickly. As soon as their chairs clear the train, they should turn around to help ensure that they do not encounter obstacles or dangerous drop-offs.

Lifts

Partially sighted consumers may be able to turn and adjust as they back up; however, if the consumer cannot see the lift, either to her side, or because she cannot turn to look behind her, a structured strategy makes boarding the lift easier and safer. It is suggested that lifts be ridden with the person’s back to the van or bus. This means the consumer backs onto the lift as it sits on the ground. Upon exiting the van, this position allows her to pull straight onto the suspended lift without turning around in the vehicle. It also puts the smaller front wheels toward the guard, which is there to keep the chair from sliding off the lift. If the bigger wheels are toward that edge, they might roll over the guard or allow the chair to tip over backward.

Proper Trademark Notice and Attribution

MARTA® is a registered trademark of Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority.

The Arc™ is a trademark of The Arc of the United States, Inc.

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