Strategy Guide to Enable and Promote the Use of Fixed-Route Transit by People with Disabilities (2014) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 23-43
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From page 23... ...
23 C h a p t e r 4 Another important "first step" is to ensure that fixed-route transit services are accessible and usable by people with disabilities. The various strategies suggested in subsequent chapters will not work if the fixed-route transit system is not accessible.
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24 Strategy Guide to enable and promote the Use of Fixed-route transit by people with Disabilities The regulations also contain several "general nondiscrimination" requirements. These include a general provision that "No agency shall discriminate against an individual with a disability in connection with the provision of transportation service." It also includes specific requirements related to nondiscrimination, including: • Not denying people with disabilities the right to use the services available to the general public, rather than special services that may be provided.
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Operating accessible and Usable Fixed-route transit Services 25 4.1 Accessible, Usable, and Reliable Vehicles and Equipment For people who use mobility devices, fixed-route transit must accommodate their devices so that they can effectively use the service. For these riders, accommodation is more than providing accessible transit information, calling out stops, and the various other activities that define accessible fixed-route transit service; it also means ensuring that the riders' mobility devices, including manual and power wheelchairs and scooters, can safely and reliably be accommodated on fixed-route transit vehicles.
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26 Strategy Guide to enable and promote the Use of Fixed-route transit by people with Disabilities Additionally, signage must be provided that states that the securement area is to be used by persons who use wheelchairs and mobility devices. Maintenance of Accessibility Features on Fixed-Route Transit Vehicles To ensure that accessible features and equipment are available for riders when needed, the ADA requires that transit agencies maintain those features in operable condition.
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Operating accessible and Usable Fixed-route transit Services 27 the agency's website; through "show and tell" presentations at locations frequented by people who use mobility devices; and through travel training that demonstrates how the fixed-route transit service can accommodate mobility devices. See Chapter 6 for suggestions on these types of efforts and programs.
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28 Strategy Guide to enable and promote the Use of Fixed-route transit by people with Disabilities Transit Agency Approaches to Accommodating Riders with Mobility Devices Several approaches to the accommodation of riders who use mobility devices are highlighted below, addressing different aspects of fixed-route transit service accessibility. Securement Areas on Fixed-Route Transit Vehicles Requirements for securement areas depend on the size of the transit vehicle.
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Operating accessible and Usable Fixed-route transit Services 29 remote release for the rear retractors and a stabilizing bumper designed to prevent tipping. Using this system, a wheelchair can be secured in about a minute and released in even less time.
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30 Strategy Guide to enable and promote the Use of Fixed-route transit by people with Disabilities Figure 4-1. Laketran vehicle with full-length securement tracking, looking forward from the rear (photo courtesy of Laketran)
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Operating accessible and Usable Fixed-route transit Services 31 on pay structure for fixed-route cutaway operators) , and favorable public perception (in that the smaller vehicles are more efficient and less expensive to operate)
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32 Strategy Guide to enable and promote the Use of Fixed-route transit by people with Disabilities Securement System The securement system includes a method to secure the mobility device in the vehicle and a passenger restraint system. The types of securement systems in fixed-route transit vehicles vary considerably, even while meeting the U.S.DOT requirements.
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Operating accessible and Usable Fixed-route transit Services 33 in-house by LTD for use on its fixed-route transit vehicles. Note also in Figure 4-6 that LTD has installed hooks and cords on the wall of the vehicle to keep the wall-side seat belts and securement straps up off the floor, which makes them easier to reach.
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34 Strategy Guide to Enable and Promote the Use of Fixed-Route Transit by People with Disabilities which says that drivers must ask people to move, but doesn't require drivers to make people move -- although transit agencies can adopt stronger policies that require people to move from priority seating. Experience shows that riders with strollers or luggage sometimes occupy the securement areas when needed by riders using wheelchairs.
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Operating accessible and Usable Fixed-route transit Services 35 issued guidelines for boarding buses with strollers that clarify the use of accessible seating areas, with priority for people with disabilities, and set limits on the size of strollers allowed on board. The DC Circulator website states: "People using wheelchairs and motorized mobility aids have first priority for the accessible seating area.
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36 Strategy Guide to enable and promote the Use of Fixed-route transit by people with Disabilities Support from any labor unions or other recognized employee associations is also a key to a successful program. A unified message to drivers from both management and labor is best.
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Operating accessible and Usable Fixed-route transit Services 37 may be needed for orientation. It is also common to underestimate how often such orientation announcements should be made.
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38 Strategy Guide to enable and promote the Use of Fixed-route transit by people with Disabilities out route information after pulling up to stops and opening the door, if there are any waiting passengers. The announcement should be loud enough for waiting passengers to hear.
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Operating accessible and Usable Fixed-route transit Services 39 General Vehicle Maintenance Training Employee training efforts related to overall vehicle maintenance should include: • Keeping equipment in working order, starting with preventive maintenance. Transit agencies should conduct periodic reviews of in-house or contractor compliance with required inspections and preventive maintenance procedures.
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40 Strategy Guide to enable and promote the Use of Fixed-route transit by people with Disabilities that the experienced drivers assigned to any new vehicle operators are drivers who excel at performing their stop announcements and other ADA-related actions correctly. Teaming trainees with drivers who do not perform properly or who are not committed to following established policies and procedures can undermine prior training.
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Operating accessible and Usable Fixed-route transit Services 41 observations of its own operations.
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42 Strategy Guide to enable and promote the Use of Fixed-route transit by people with Disabilities The QAP was developed as an initiative to get its approximately 116 administrative employees more involved in the core of the MTA's business. A committee was convened with diverse representation of individuals from throughout the agency.
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Operating accessible and Usable Fixed-route transit Services 43 Critical problems submitted by the mystery riders (such as a ramp that doesn't deploy or nonfunctioning automated next-stop information) automatically create an alert that is sent to the Office of Customer Research; this office then relays the alert to the appropriate operations division so that corrective actions can be taken as quickly as possible (repair, service adjustment, etc.)
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