ECV riders stay on the scooter on bus now

[mamabunny]

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.

I fully agree with you, on both points.

However, as I am certain you have noticed not all Guests at WDW remember to bring along their common sense, courtesy, and/or sense of decency.

There *are* ways to make it safer for ECV riders to remain seated while on the bus, but given the amount of time that it currently takes to load/unload just one average ECV, I doubt that anyone wants to add to that by requiring additional restraints and/or procedures. Is there a better way? Possibly, but someone would have to be able to design a system that essentially has to be "one size fits all mobility devices" (which encompasses everything on that spectrum from a simple ECV to a standard wheelchair, and more complex (and heavier) electric motorized wheelchairs, and potentially even strollers-as-a-wheelchair. Not to mention riders of different heights, weights, etc.) that would also be backwards compatible with Disney's entire fleet.

There is risk inherit with simply riding/using an ECV. If you don't have the upper body/core strength needed to be able to self-balance while seated on a moving vehicle, it may be that you shouldn't be using an ECV. The manufacturer of my personal ECV clearly states that in all of their sales and owner literature. It's also why my ECV doesn't have armrests, or a more substantial seat back - they believe that for safety reasons you need to be able to control your upper body while using the device. I personally choose not use the seat back at all, because it's very important to me to maintain my core. So, I ride 8 to 12 hours per day at WDW with no seat back; however it also means that on the bus, there is no additional (higher) mounting point for a safety strap, so it is safer for me to sit in a bus seat.

The current availability of "seat belts" for ECV riders (and others), while not a perfect system, is still much better option than anything offered by any place else I have ever traveled with my ECV. And while Disney isn't perfect, it's a whole helluva lot better than any place else I ever been.

 

[I Love Pluto]

Great pic of the bus sign, Sue M! Thank you!!

 

[Toffeewoffy]

I was asked a few times on our trip in August if I was going to transfer. I would have been more comfortable sitting on my scooter (as they gave me a big, high-backed seat for it this time), but I agree - it's not safe! I guess when it's busy it makes more room for others to get on if you're not taking up the 3 fold-up seats plus another one for yourself - but even with the 'brake' on the scooters still move an inch or so forward or back when the bus is accelerating away from traffic lights or turning corners.

 

[seashoreCM]

I believe that when any wheelchair or scooter is properly secured on the bus it will not move more than two inches in any direction nor will any of its wheels rise off the floor more than two inches. This is enough to keep it from tipping over on someone nearby.

 

[SueM in MN]

I believe that when any wheelchair or scooter is properly secured on the bus it will not move more than two inches in any direction nor will any of its wheels rise off the floor more than two inches. This is enough to keep it from tipping over on someone nearby.

That's not true.
They are less likely to tip if properly secured, but still not impossible.
Because most of the places ECVs can be secured are fairly low to the ground and ECVs are top heavy, they can tip even if properly secured.
That is especially possibile with the 3 wheeled ECVs because three wheels are less stable than 4.
It's more of an issue with an occupied ECV because a person sitting on the seat makes the center of gravity even higher.

It's not as much a problem with 4 wheeled devices. And, wheelchairs generally have places higher up to secure the tiedown straps.

 

[stitchlovestink]

That's not true.
They are less likely to tip if properly secured, but still not impossible.
Because most of the places ECVs can be secured are fairly low to the ground and ECVs are top heavy, they can tip even if properly secured.
That is especially possibile with the 3 wheeled ECVs because three wheels are less stable than 4.
It's more of an issue with an occupied ECV because a person sitting on the seat makes the center of gravity even higher.

It's not as much a problem with 4 wheeled devices. And, wheelchairs generally have places higher up to secure the tiedown straps.

My 4 wheel model tipped!! But that said, it is a much lighter weight model weighing only 80ish lbs total. My model is not top heavy the weight is in the base where the wheels/motor and battery are. The rider makes "my model" top heavy. But I ASSURE YOU, with an occupant on it, it will and has tipped over on the WDW buses!!!

 

[camper06]

We were at WDW last week and got home yesterday. I also saw the same thing as the OP with the ECV, but not every time. There were only a couple times that I remember the ECV operator remaining on the scooter and a seatbelt clipped around them. Both times that I remember, it was when the bus was already fairly crowded (we stayed at POR where there are 4 bus stops, so by the time we got to the fourth one, the bus was pretty full sometimes). I heard the driver tell them one of those times that there were no available seats but if they wanted to stay on the ECV, he would move the people in the seats where the scooter gets tied down. If they preferred to transfer, he said they could wait and another bus would be around shortly. The rest of the times, it was the same as its always been with the ECV driver transferring to a regular seat, and the signs that Sue posted were still on the busses. So I am guessing that it is not a change of policy, maybe just another option for those that do not want to or cannot transfer.

 

[pampam]

I'm finding this thread very informative. I did not know that the ECV became top heavy with someone sitting on it. I just never thought of it.

That being said, we use a WC and not all bus drivers are careful about how it is strapped in. I understand they could be rushed, but safety must always come first.

 

[Carnator]

I'm not sure what the rule is about staying seated in ECV or not. I have been bringing my own ECV or rented one from outside vendor for 15 yrs now. I average 1 trip per year. In the hundred + rides on Disney buses, I have probably been told less than 10 times that I needed to transfer to a seat. I am given the option almost every time. I am more comfortable staying in my ECV. I don't see why the driver would not let you transfer to a seat if you wanted to.

 

[unwritten01]

Scroll down below video and you can see a quote from someone who tipped over but apparently you can indeed stay in.

http://diz-abled.com/wheelchairs-ecv-info-using-disney-world-buses/

 

[seashoreCM]

When an ECV is strapped down using its seat post then it is least likely to tip when backed up so the seat post is approximately centered between the back floor tie downs, the straps are positioned to not easily slip further up or down the seat post, and from there the straps go in as straight as possible lines (diagonally) down to the floor tie downs.

Each strap must go all the way around the seat post and fastened to itself or to the same tie down. Not up and over to the other tie down.

However some experts say that the ECV should be more or less centered between the front tie downs and the back tie downs.

 

[SueM in MN]

This is from the WDW website page about mobility disabilities:
Wheelchair and ECV Accessibility with Walt Disney World Transportation
Most of the transportation systems at the Walt Disney World Resort are accessible to Guests with disabilities.

All bus routes are serviced by buses equipped to accommodate various types of wheelchairs within the following guidelines:

• The mobility device must fit the lift without being forced. Some motorized chairs and ECVs are too wide or too long for the bus lift. The standard lift size is 30” x 48”.
• The mobility device must be securely fastened in the onboard restraints.
• It is recommended that Guests using a scooter transfer to a bus seat while onboard.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/mobility-disabilities/

When an ECV is strapped down using its seat post then it is least likely to tip when backed up so the seat post is approximately centered between the back floor tie downs, the straps are positioned to not easily slip further up or down the seat post, and from there the straps go in as straight as possible lines (diagonally) down to the floor tie downs.

Each strap must go all the way around the seat post and fastened to itself or to the same tie down. Not up and over to the other tie down.

However some experts say that the ECV should be more or less centered between the front tie downs and the back tie downs.

The current tiedown system for buses is an integrated wheelchair containment system called Q'Straint Q'Pod.
It's been in use since sometime in 2013 and wheelchairs and ECVs are not strapped down in the way you describe when using Q'Pod.
The device is supposed to be as far back toward the 'wall' of the Q'Pod module as possible, not centered.
The Q'Pod has a single strap in the front , which is attached to one side of a 4wheeled device. For 3 wheeled ECVs, there is a ring so that the front strap can go around the tiller area of a 3 wheeled and then attach to the ring.

Some ECVs actually have securement points built in - these could be loops that are built for the purpose of securement or points on the ECV that are marked. They are usually low points on the frame, near the wheels.
The seat post is usually not recommended. They are adjustable and many include some shock absorbing features, so they are not a stable attachment point and may even be damaged.

The ECV securement points are mostly for transport to keep an unoccupied ECV from moving or tipping. The ECV companies still all suggest transferring to a seat if possible.
My daughter's new power wheelchair came with securement devices and was even crash tested, but the manufacturer still recommends transferring to a vehicle seat if possible.

 

[surffood13]

I have used an ECV in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2016. The last trip I transferred every time. I had a choice on all prior trips.