Does an ECV user wait on the sidewalk or on street level to board the bus?

[LindaB]

When the sidewalk has a curb, does an ECV user wait on the sidewalk or on street level to board the bus?

[Michigan]

Everybody waits on the sidewalk. The buses ramp or lift will come down on the sidewalk.

[Andrew Bichard]

The ECV user should wait on the sidewalk, attract the attention of the driver, then await instructions.

Depending on the arrangement of the curb,the driver might load the ECV direct from the curb, or stop a few feet out and ask the ECV diver to ride down a curb cut-out and load from the road.

It will depend on the stop, the bus used and the judgement of the driver. The sidewalk might be too narrow for the bus's lift mechanism. The driver might not want to drop his lift onto the very edge of the curb. The bus might have a ramp rather than a hoist. Al these factors affect loading method.

That said, you should always wait for the bus on the sidewalk and stay there until the ramp is exended, or the lift platform lowered, for safety.

Andrew

[SueM in MN]

Just agreeing with everyone else. You should be waiting on the sidewalk, in the area where the back door of the bus will be when it stops. Let the driver know you want the bus by nodding and waving when the right buss is coming. We usually also shake our heads "no" if we don't want the bus that is coming to that stop. That way the driver doesn't have to wonder whether or not you saw and want the bus.