ECV on Bus

[kmjmom]

I will most likely require the use of an ECV for our August trip due to ankle surgery. The Dr. has said it will take a year for my use to be back to 90%. Anyway, I have learned a great deal about where to rent and tips on being cautious and practicing. My concern is traveling by bus. Is it difficult to get onto and off the lift correctly? This is where my biggest reservations are. I have learned how to manipulate successfully with my wheelchair and can walk short distances, but cannot stand for any length of time comfortably. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[SueM in MN]

There is some information about the buses on the disABILITIES FAQs thread that should be helpful to you if you haven't already read it.

The older buses have lifts, but most of the lift buses have been replaced with newer buses that have ramps.

Here's how the lift buses work.
The driver will open the back door of the bus for you and fold the seat that is sort of directly across from the back door so that there is an open space for you to drive into.
The driver will stand inside the open back door, collapse the back stairs to form a lift platform and lower the lift. There is a little gate at the end of the lift that stays up (closed) until the lift is safely on the ground. When the lift platform reaches the ground, the gate comes down to form a little ramp. At that point, you will back onto the lift platform. The CM can tell you when you are far enough back - you will also know because the front end of your ECV will be totally on the lift. Once the lift is totally up and flat with the floor of the bus, the driver will direct you to back into the wheelchair space. If you are not sure what to do, ask the CM. Most are very helpful. The CM will tie the ECV down into place using some belts attached to the floor. There are seats either next to or across from the wheelchair space and you will probably see a sign there that notifies people those seats are reserved for people using wheelchairs or ECVs. Whether or not you transfer to a seat is up to you, but because ECV users are sitting relatively high in the air, it is safer to transfer from the ECV to a bus seat.

The newer buses with ramps are easier because you don't have to back into the lift. You can drive on. Other than that, the process is the same.

If you can back up in a straight line and turn easily to the right and left, both forward and backward, you should do fine.

 

[madenon]

Sue, one quick question; this backing up on the lift, is that also required of powerchairs, or only of ecv's?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

With a PC you can go either forward or backward. Since it has a much smaller "footprint" than an ECV and is much more maneuverable, there is not the potential problems that an ECV would have.

As far as going up and down a ramp, basically you should do whatever the manufacturer of your PC recommends.

For a while Disney had specific directional requirements for boarding and exiting buses, but people complained and even showed published instructions from the manuafacturers and Disney changed the policy to the driver of the chair or ECV would make the determination of direction and not the bus driver.

 

[madenon]

Thnx for the info, Cheshire!

 

[kmjmom]

Thanks for filling me in. I have observed others getting on, but I know it will feel very different as I attempt it myself.

 

[SueM in MN]

The reasons for backing onto the lift is that if you pull straight on, the majority of the weight is on the end of the lift platform, away from the bus. It is safer for the weight to be as close to the bus as possible.
For ECVs, they are quite long and there is very little weight on the front part of the ECV. Most of it is at the back. That makes them more prone to tipping backwards under certain conditions, like going up a steep ramp.

Because of an incident with an ECV, WDW made the rule Cheshire Figment mentioned that any device (ECVs, power or manual wheelchairs) had to be backed onto the lift or to go up the ramps.

People using power wheelchairs complained and got the rule changed (many of the people complaining were on this board and I think one of the links on the FAQs thread about bus travel has discussion about this). Some power wheelchair users have trouble backing up because they can't turn their body or head around well to see while they back were worried about backing to close to the side edge of the ramp. Some complained that the instructions for their power wheelchair warned not to back it, especially not up a ramp.

Wheelchairs with rear wheel drive have a large set of non-swivel wheels at the back and swivel wheels at the front. They can be backed up relatively straight.
Mid wheel drive wheelchairs have the larger wheels in the center and a set of swivel wheels at the front and back. They are very difficult to back up in a straight line because of the back swivel wheels.

 

[JoyMouse]

kmjmom,
My DD uses a scooter. She does well with loading and unloading on the buses, but still worries. It seems to help her confidence if either DH or I give verbal directions, even if it is only to say "good, keep going". If she need to turn more right/left we tell her. Maybe one of your group would do this for you. Most of the drivers were very helpful and patient. (Other guests too!)
Have fun and enjoy the magic!

 

[kmjmom]

Thank you JoyMouse! I appreciate the advice! It will be my 13 yr old DD and myself on this trip. We've decided that Mother/Daughter trips are an awesome way to do the "World." Now if I can handle the ECV we'll be all set! I will be working hard in Physical Therapy to build my strength for walking more, but I know I won't be ready for all that I'll need to do the parks.