Bus Drivers attitudes you hate.

[lisapooh]

One type of driver I have encountered at WDW really bug me. They are the ones who think they know everything about wheelchairs and then just by their attitude show that they don't have a clue.
I meet a couple of these this trip. I go to get on the lift and I am facing the bus before I turn to back on. First thing he does is lift both seats. Now I use a mini-Jazzy 1103. It is small for a power chair. I don't even need the space of one lifted seat to manuever.
Next he tells me that I have to back on as I am turning the chair to back on. Duh like I don't know that!
Then he starts telling me where to turn the chair. I tell him no, it has a smaller turning radius. Oh I know all about that chair. So I follow his instructions and am in the middle of the aisle. Now can I do it my way I ask. I slip right into the spot in one move.
Now he starts searching for places to tie the chair down. Does fine with the back but is cleary lost as to where to hook up in the front. I think. I thought you knew all about this chair and tell him to lift the foot rest. No won't do that. Clearly no place to hook up in front. Tells me to turn off chair and he will drive slowly. I repeat to lift the foot rest as there is a spot under there. Finally he does and hooks up.
Tell him I really didn't need 2 seats to manuever. He tells me that people like me in these power things always bang into the front and he doesn't want his bus damaged. Tell him he obviously has never dealt with a Jazzy. Oh yes he has. I think, yeah, right and you had no idea where to put the tiedowns. Tell me another lie.

Think someday these guys will actually listen to the users and realize that we use these things everyday, not just at WDW. Fortunately these are in the minority of the drivers. Most are great.

 

[SueM in MN]

I agree. While most of the bus drivers are good, some have an "attitude".
One of the problems I see is that there are various experience levels in wheelchair/ecv riders and in bus drivers. Some are first time wheelchair/ecv drivers or eperienced ones who have never used a bus before. Then there are people with a lot of experience who know a lot more about the restraint system and the lift than the driver does.
My DH is of the opinion that the bus drivers know what they are doing and if they don't get it quite right, no big deal. Just get it done, where ever it's fastened. I'm the "make sure the belts are not twisted, make sure it's fastened in the right spot" person.
I always suggest to people that you need to know what spots are safe attachment spots for your wheelchair and be able to point them out to the bus driver (maybe even mark them with some colored stick on spots). As lisapooh points out, you may have to be persistent. The bus drivers are trying to do things as quickly as possible and often assume that every wheelchair or ecv is the same.

 

[pugdog]

I think you DO need to know where they should put the strap to tie you down, because if you don't and they put it in the wrong place your chair gets broke and then all the fun is gone.

 

[lisapooh]

I agree that it important to know where to hook the tiedowns on your wheelchair or ECV. One for the safety of the chair because without it you are up a creek and second for your own safety. Unless you are constantly accompanied by a caregiver, you have the responisibility to make sure things are done correctly, and have to be persistant even if it does slow things down at times. Only rarely have other guests been irritated by the wait. And I figure if they are irritated, I'm sorry but I will not compromise my safety.
Funny thing is that all the driver with an attitude were young driver and either hispanic or black. Maybe its a culture and age thing as well. Also I think many of the older drivers are familiar with ECVs and Powerchairs because they have friends, family or neighbors who use them. One older driver told me his wife has the same model powerchair as mine. He also knew exactly where to place the tiedowns. Also the only one who has told me to bring it on the lift forward and then turn it around.

BTW you all will love the new buses with ramps. Easier to get up. You enter forward and exit forward. And the aisles are wilder making manuevering a breeze.

 

[SueM in MN]

lisa, did you still enter and exit thru the back door on the new busses? It was hard to tell from the pictures.

 

[lisapooh]

Yes, you still enter and exit through the back. Btw they are closer to the ground to start with making the slope of the ramp very managable.

 

[faeflora]

Lisapooh,
Thanks for the information on the new bus ramps, it sounds much easier. My problem with bus drivers is that my manual wheelchair has no brakes, they always ask me to lock the brakes and then seem very confused when I tell them I have none on the wheelchair. However I do know where to do the tie downs to secure my chair safely.

 

[SueM in MN]

I'm glad to hear the new buses still board at the back. I wondered how you would know where to wait otherwise.
The pictures of the new buses looked like the front door is bigger and the aisle is bigger, so I thought they might load wheelchairs thru the front.