ECV riders stay on the scooter on bus now

[MinnieMSue]

i noticed for the first time on this trip that scooter riders stay on their scooter for bus rides. They put a seatbelt around the rider's lap to the floor. I am sure this has been posted but just in case it hasn't been I just wanted to mention it. I thought it was a nice change as it seems much easier. I did notice someone picked up two little ones and held them on their lap on the scooter and am not sure if that was safe or not.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Thanks for the warning. I'm a little nervous about this-I hope it's not too bumpy

 

[Chip_Dale]

I thought that they preferred that the rider transfer to a regular seat. The ECV are top heavy and might tip. The rider is safer in a regular seat.

 

[stitchlovestink]

I thought that they preferred that the rider transfer to a regular seat. The ECV are top heavy and might tip. The rider is safer in a regular seat.

Well my unit only weighs 80 lbs and the bulk of that weight is at the base, so when I am on it I make it top heavy!!! It is DEFINITELY NOT safe for me to stay on mine while on the bus. I did one time and I was constantly being tilted on 2 wheels. It was worse than any attraction in the parks!!!!

I will be contacting them in writing to discuss this. This is just not safe for some models.

 

[lanejudy]

Actually, while there have been some drivers willing to allow ECV riders to remain on the ECV in the past -- it's not a safe practice. The ECV is not designed to hold a person during transport. With a rider on it, ECVs are top-heavy and the seatbelt is not sufficient to prevent tipping or falling. I suspect OP's observation was not as much an actual policy change but a driver(s) who didn't follow safe protocols.

 

[MinnieMSue]

Every single scooter we saw was strapped in on their seat (we saw one on every bus but two). I was so surprised. I thought it was not permitted. The people didn't ask the driver just did it. They pulled a seatbelt up and over them. I didn't look closely but believe it was anchored to the floor. I am sure they wouldn't make you sit on it. I just wanted to post his because I was so surprised by it. In fact I told my daughter the first time we saw it that I thought it was illegal. (Or unsafe if not actually illegal). But after seeing it so often I figured it must be a policy change.

 

[I Love Pluto]

I am sure Disney has their reasons for changing their policy. However - I would appreciate it if Disney would please just make a rule and stick to it!!!!!!

We are Passholders - but we live in PA. We don't get to Disney as often as others do. BUT --- Some of the bus drivers get annoyed when we don't automatically know what to do when we board with our scooters.

Get a plan & stick to it!!! Do we wait in the resort line, or do we wait by the handicapped rectangle? Do we stay on our scooters, or do we get off & use a seat???? Do I drive it on - or must I be treated as if I never drove an ECV before & let the bus driver steer it (while I am on it)!!! I do know how to use an ECV!!!

Settle it all & post it at each bus stop & on the buses. THEN we would know what to do!!!!

Thanks for listening!!!

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I know there is at least one bus driver on here. Can he please let us know if the policy changed?

 

[I Love Pluto]

Yes - he does post here, and it is a great help to us when he does. I think his name (or User Name) is David.
He helps us a lot at times such as this one.

 

[SueM in MN]

I'm sure the policy has not changed because the ECV companies caution not to ride on their products in a moving vehicle. Disney would not make a policy encouraging people to do something the company warns about.
This is a link to the general Pride Mobility Owners Manual (most of the rental companies use Pride Mobility products).
http://www.pridemobility.com/includ...ls/Safety_Guides/SC_Consumer_Safety_Guide.pdf
Quote:
Unoccupied Motor Vehicle Transport

We recommend that you do not remain seated in your scooter while traveling in a motor vehicle. The scooter should be stowed in the trunk of a car or in the back of a truck or van with batteries removed and/or properly secured. In addition, all removable scooter parts, including the armrests, seat, and shrouds, should be removed and/or properly secured during motor vehicle transport.

WARNING! The scooter user should transfer into the motor vehicle seat and use the vehicle- installed restraint system if and whenever feasible. The scooter user should never sit on the scooter while it is in a moving vehicle.

WARNING! Although your scooter may be equipped with a positioning belt, this belt is not designed to provide proper restraint during motor vehicle transport. Anyone traveling in a motor vehicle should be properly secured in the motor vehicle seat with safety belts fastened securely. End Quote

The ECVs are fastened down with the tie down straps whether someone is riding on it on the bus or not.
The tiedown is to keep it from tipping over; tipping is especially a potential problem with the 3 wheeled ECVs because anything with 3 wheels can tip more easily. They can tip even if empty, but they are more 'top heavy' and likely to tip if someone is sitting on the seat.
(In fact, at least one DIS poster - lovetoscrap - has tipped when she was riding on an ECV on the bus.
Strapping it down doesn't make it safe for someone to ride on the ECV, although some people do still ride on it.
There are signs on the bus that suggest ECV users transfer to a bus seat. If they are visible all the time, they are when the seat is folded up to make the wheelchair/ECV seat.

Some bus drivers are more proactive about suggesting transferring to a seat. Some don't say anything and leave it up to the ECV user, especially if the bus will be full. I have personally heard drivers suggest people transfer to a bus seat; some did and others refused.

 

[SueM in MN]

This is a photo of one of the signs on the underside of bus seat that is folded up to make a wheelchair/ECV spot.

 

[MinnieMSue]

I am sure Disney has their reasons for changing their policy. However - I would appreciate it if Disney would please just make a rule and stick to it!!!!!!

We are Passholders - but we live in PA. We don't get to Disney as often as others do. BUT --- Some of the bus drivers get annoyed when we don't automatically know what to do when we board with our scooters.

Get a plan & stick to it!!! Do we wait in the resort line, or do we wait by the handicapped rectangle? Do we stay on our scooters, or do we get off & use a seat???? Do I drive it on - or must I be treated as if I never drove an ECV before & let the bus driver steer it (while I am on it)!!! I do know how to use an ECV!!!

Settle it all & post it at each bus stop & on the buses. THEN we would know what to do!!!!

Thanks for listening!!!

I agree with you 100%. I never knew what I was supposed to do with my rollator. Most of the time people told me but sometimes I was confused about where to park it and the busses confused me the most.

I am really surprised so many bus drivers let (or even encouraged) people to sit on the scooters. It didn't feel right to me but seeing it happen every time is just plain bad. That so many are not following safety rules is really unfortunate. I can understand it happening occasionally but the fact that they are lax about this makes me wonder what other corners they are cutting. One bus driver had a gentleman back his scooter onto the bus (I think he thought parking would be easier on the bus that had a number of people on it). I was so anxious watching him go up the ramp. One wheel was partly off the side. I was afraid he would tip off the ramp. I once saw a lady tip over backwards on hers (in fact I helped tip her back up onto her wheels). It was terrifying to see (and she was beyond terrified when it happened). I am obviously an anxious person but as a nurse am worried about safety all the time. Anyway ... my 2 cents

 

[disney david]

It to much of a lilability risk to have them change the policy to guest ride in the ecv. just because some drivers might not enforce the polices as they should Dose not mean it a policy change. plus the dot would over ride that policy change as they say the drivers have to operate the bus in a safe manor. So even if Disney came out with the policy and stuck to it the drivers couldn't enforce it without breaking the law and risk losing their Cdl license. Also the ada says they can't force guest to put on the seat belts unless all passengers have seat belts so Disney would have to install seats belts for all seats. to make it legato for the driver to have you wear one even if you didn't want to. Of course the same dot law would take effect again and still over ride the ada law as it a safety law. But since it proven that it not safe to ride on it even with the seat belt even though their no law saying you can't just that the driver has to operate in a safe Manor as their responsible if something happens or you get injured while on it while the bus is in montion. The dot would have to investigate the nature of the accident so for Disney and the driver they should be sticking to no one rides in it while the bus is enmotion.


Disney makes polices and some of the problems is to why you see some not enforced or them not sticking to is the drivers and guest. Guest try to change policy or bend the rules to suit them leaning the driver or the cm in a to They spot. Some drivers don't enforce them like they should either bad apple or don't want to deal with getting the guest to comply finds it easier to break the policy. Most drivers had problems in new policy and having to stay in the line instead of waiting towards the back we getting on first. and the drivers got that changed as Disney couldn't get them to stop telling guest not to follow it. So they went back to how it should be and able bodied guests who complain in the first place can just deal with it.

Maybe they could install the cameras by the back door not just the front door and one to see the middle of the bus just for this reason. So Disney could randomly check tapes and see and make sure drivers are following policy not just until a guest complains.

 

[lizziepooh]

It to much of a lilability risk to have them change the policy to guest ride in the ecv. just because some drivers might not enforce the polices as they should Dose not mean it a policy change. plus the dot would over ride that policy change as they say the drivers have to operate the bus in a safe manor. So even if Disney came out with the policy and stuck to it the drivers couldn't enforce it without breaking the law and risk losing their Cdl license. Also the ada says they can't force guest to put on the seat belts unless all passengers have seat belts so Disney would have to install seats belts for all seats. to make it legato for the driver to have you wear one even if you didn't want to. Of course the same dot law would take effect again and still over ride the ada law as it a safety law. But since it proven that it not safe to ride on it even with the seat belt even though their no law saying you can't just that the driver has to operate in a safe Manor as their responsible if something happens or you get injured while on it while the bus is in montion. The dot would have to investigate the nature of the accident so for Disney and the driver they should be sticking to no one rides in it while the bus is enmotion.


Disney makes polices and some of the problems is to why you see some not enforced or them not sticking to is the drivers and guest. Guest try to change policy or bend the rules to suit them leaning the driver or the cm in a to They spot. Some drivers don't enforce them like they should either bad apple or don't want to deal with getting the guest to comply finds it easier to break the policy. Most drivers had problems in new policy and having to stay in the line instead of waiting towards the back we getting on first. and the drivers got that changed as Disney couldn't get them to stop telling guest not to follow it. So they went back to how it should be and able bodied guests who complain in the first place can just deal with it.

Maybe they could install the cameras by the back door not just the front door and one to see the middle of the bus just for this reason. So Disney could randomly check tapes and see and make sure drivers are following policy not just until a guest complains.

 

[lizziepooh]

A couple years ago we were traveling on a bus to Hollywood studios. As we turned left into the Studios from the main road, a lady who was sitting on her ECV tipped over onto the floor along with the ECV. I think she hurt her arm or elbow. It was quite scary. I would definitely not stay seated on an ECV on the bus.

 

[gap2368]

I was just at disney and took the busses every where and every one that had a scooter on the buss was not in the scooter when it was driving they all moved to a set in fact one guest tried to sit in someone else scooter and the owner yelled ( or maybe talked loudly) for them to get out. and then there was a little back and forth between the two. I finally told the guest that did not own the scooter that the guest was not in the scooter because it was not safe to sit on in a moving vehicle and they should leave other people things alone

 

[MinnieMSue]

Isn't it funny how different people have completely different experiences on the same trip. I am relieved they didn't change policy but disappointed that so many do not follow policy. I can understand them no longer wanting to fight the battles but safety should come first. I am most disappointed that so many guests don't listen to employees and do as asked. Why can't people just follow the rules? As I tell my daughter just because you don't know the reason for the rules doesn't mean they don't have a very good one.

 

[gap2368]

I have a feeling the driver let the person with the ECV decide what they want to do so if they want to stay on it they can if they want to transfer they can. But I do agree in most case it is better to transfer to a set

 

[mamabunny]

When we were there last month, I had several drivers ask me if I wanted to stay seated on my ECV or transfer to a bus seat. I chose to transfer every time, because SAFETY. Having said that, if the bus gets too crowded, we now have a family policy where one of my family members will stand next to my scooter because we have had issues in the past with other Guest's children "playing" with my scooter on the bus. (it doesn't look like a regular scooter, has color changing lights under it, it has a "dingy-bell" LOL) I have to be protective of Angus - he is my legs.

I did see several people elect to stay on their scooter; one Guest rather loudly declared to the driver that "if I could get on and off the dang bus and sit in the dang seat, why would I be using this stupid thing?" So possibly it has been encounters like THAT that are leading to this new way of doing things.

Maybe historically, WDW has assumed that if you are on an ECV, you can easily transfer to a bus seat, and that isn't always the case, and they are trying (albeit rather clumsily) to address that.

 

[seashoreCM]

Not to say that anyone must or must not but, in general, the person who has difficulty getting off the ECV and sitting in a bus seat is the most vulnerable to falling off the ECV seat during movement of the bus.

The scooter user's children should not accompany him on the scooter out on the ground let alone in the bus. That is very unsafe.