The Transfer Chair for Access to Motor Coaches: Concept, Testing and Implications

This paper describes how there is a current trend towards increased travel by persons with mobility restrictions. As this market increases, the transportation industry is recognizing the need to develop devices which overcome barriers inherent in the transportation system. One of these barriers are stairs that lead to intercity buses can create difficulties for many segments of the elderly and disabled population and for this reason, the “Kingston Transfer Chair” has been developed. This device, which is intended to enhance intercity travel, moves passengers with mobility restrictions up or down the stairwell of intercity buses. Potential benefits initially cited during the development of the device were reduced risks taken by bus terminal employees by eliminating the need to carry non-ambulatory passenger into and out of buses, increased ridership for intercity bus travel and the elimination of bus modifications resulting from retrofits such as wheelchair lifts in order to make the vehicle more accessible for the mobility impaired. The paper describes how the “Kingston Transfer Chair’ was unable to meet basic safety, functional and structural requirements of a study team. Consequently, further development of the transfer chair is required to ensure that all aspects such as user and operator requirements, vehicle constraints and operating environment constraints are considered.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transport Canada

  1000 Sherbrooke Street, West, P.O. Box 549
  Montreal, Quebec  Canada  H3A 2R3
• Authors:
  • Hirou, Catherine
• Conference:
  • The Fourth International Conference on Mobility and Transport for the Elderly and Disabled Persons
  • Location: Vancouver British Columbia, Canada
  • Date: 1986-7-21 to 1986-7-23
• Publication Date: 1986

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 481-488
• Monograph Title: Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference, Vancouver, Canada, July 21-23, 1986

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accessibility; Bus transit; Bus transit operations; Bus transportation; Buses; Mobility; Persons with disabilities; Ridership; Transportation disadvantaged persons; Wheelchair lifts; Wheelchairs
• Identifier Terms: Transed
• Uncontrolled Terms: Wheelchair securement; Wheelchair users
• Geographic Terms: Kingston (Canada)
• Subject Areas: Motor Carriers; Public Transportation; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01050113
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 30 2007 11:52AM