buses and wheelchairs

[monkeysmamma]

I have 2 boys with mobility issues. My 10 year old is in a Quickie 2 and my 7 year old has a giant special needs stroller. Neither chair has bus transport clips on them and I'm trying to understand how this will work on the buses. I read the thread about the new system on the buses, but we haven't ever put the chairs on buses before (we homeschool) so I'm confused as to if our chairs will even work on the buses. Can anyone help me? Thanks!

 

[SueM in MN]

The Quickie 2 will work just fine on the bus. You need to find solid strong parts that are part of the frame (not things like armrests or swingaway footrests that are attached to the frame). I can give you more specifics tomorrow - it suddenly got late on me and I have to get DD put to bed.

The special needs stroller will be able to be loaded using the lift or ramp on the back of the bus, but then your child will need to get out of the stroller and the stroller will need to be folded.

 

[pampam]

I find I have to supervise how DD's wc is strapped in. Different drivers do things differently, (one genius put the holding strap on the backpack hanging on the back of the wc, another strapped to her oxygen holder instead of the wc frame) but most are willing to do it again using places I suggest to strap to. A smile and a pleasant manner go a long way.

 

[peemagg]

I place a bit of bright colored duck tape in the areas of my scooter where it is safe to tie to or lift from. This way all I have to say is to look for the pink tape and that is a safe point. It would probably work for wheelchairs too.

 

[monkeysmamma]

Thanks everyone!

 

[SueM in MN]

I find I have to supervise how DD's wc is strapped in. Different drivers do things differently, (one genius put the holding strap on the backpack hanging on the back of the wc, another strapped to her oxygen holder instead of the wc frame) but most are willing to do it again using places I suggest to strap to. A smile and a pleasant manner go a long way.

Yes, in most cases, they will be very happy to move it once you tell them that the place they are trying to attach is not a part of the wheelchair frame.
I had one who made a big stink and kept telling me "higher is better" when he was trying to attach to the push handles of DD's wheelchair, which actually fold down to fold the chair.
We had many other issues with him and actually left the bus without riding and then reported him. He is an exception.

I place a bit of bright colored duck tape in the areas of my scooter where it is safe to tie to or lift from. This way all I have to say is to look for the pink tape and that is a safe point. It would probably work for wheelchairs too.

We have done the same thing, either with colored tape or with ribbons. Many drivers have thanked us and said they thought it was a very good idea.
(except the guy in the first part of my reply, who said he did not like the spots I had marked because "higher is better").

 

[KPeveler]

Yes, in most cases, they will be very happy to move it once you tell them that the place they are trying to attach is not a part of the wheelchair frame.
I had one who made a big stink and kept telling me "higher is better" when he was trying to attach to the push handles of DD's wheelchair, which actually fold down to fold the chair.
We had many other issues with him and actually left the bus without riding and then reported him. He is an exception.

We have done the same thing, either with colored tape or with ribbons. Many drivers have thanked us and said they thought it was a very good idea.
(except the guy in the first part of my reply, who said he did not like the spots I had marked because "higher is better").

I recently had one local bus driver (city bus here in Anaheim) tell me the spots were too high that I told him, and he said it would not be a safe place to tie it down... It was the loops attached by Pride as part of the transit package!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

I recently had one local bus driver (city bus here in Anaheim) tell me the spots were too high that I told him, and he said it would not be a safe place to tie it down... It was the loops attached by Pride as part of the transit package!!!

Amazing!

In our case, I'm quite certain that the reason the driver didn't like 'my' spot was that he would have to bend down to use them.

 

[pampam]

Agreed.