Public Transit And Wheelchairs
The Department of Transportation has regulations regarding public transit and wheelchairs. The regulations are modeled after the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and pertain to what the Department of Transportation defines as a common wheelchair. Wheelchair users who use public transportation should be aware of their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Department of Transportation regulations.
A common wheelchair is basically a standard manual or electric wheelchair or mobility scooter that has three or four wheels, is usable indoors, and is designed to be used by individuals with mobility needs. A wheelchair cannot weigh more than six hundred pounds when occupied in order to qualify as a common wheelchair.
The maximum dimensions of a common wheelchair is 30 inches in width and 48 inches in length. Common wheelchairs must not be greater than 2 inches above the ground.
In order to use public transportation, wheelchair users are not required to have or use brakes on their wheelchairs. Employees of public transportation companies cannot deny transportation to a wheelchair user based on whether or not the wheelchair user has or will use wheelchair brakes.
All public transportation vehicles must have a secure system for wheelchair users in order to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The secure system must have safety belts or harnesses for wheelchair users and an apparatus to secure the wheelchair to the vehicle. Public transit companies may have a policy that requires wheelchairs to be secured to the vehicle. A wheelchair user cannot be deny transportation if the employee fails to be able to secure the wheelchair.
Employees of public transit operators must the trained by the company on safety and nondiscriminatory practices in regards to wheelchair users. The public transportation companies must train their employees on how to safely operate the accessibility equipment.
Attendant-type activities, such as carrying suitcases, carrying personal baggage, or carrying the wheelchair user, it is not the responsibility of employees of public transit operators. Public transportation and employees must assist wheelchair users in safely boarding and disembarking the vehicle.
Wheelchair users have the option of transferring to a vehicle seat if they choose to do so. An employee of a public transportation company cannot require a wheelchair user to move into a vehicle seat. Employees of transit companies can suggest that a wheelchair user transfer to a seat, but cannot try to force the wheelchair user to use a vehicle seat.
Always check your wheelchair parts regularly. Paying most attention to the wheelchair tires, as they are the only contact point of the chair to the ground. Be safe not sorry.
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