ECV usage discussion.....

[BillSears]

...Just for my clarity. Bill, is the outside bus in double loading no accessible because of the way they are positioned and no space to get your wheels to the accessible door?...

I'm not a CM so this is just my opinion. I think they skip loading wheelchairs to get the double loaded bus out faster. Also they might not have room between the buses to deploy the ramp when they double load. But I really think it's the time factor. As long as the second bus is loading the first bus can't leave.

 

[joelkfla]

I'm not a CM so this is just my opinion. I think they skip loading wheelchairs to get the double loaded bus out faster. Also they might not have room between the buses to deploy the ramp when they double load. But I really think it's the time factor. As long as the second bus is loading the first bus can't leave.

There is not enough room between buses. Even if there were enough room to deploy the ramp, there wouldn't be enough to safely maneuver the ECV onto the ramp.

But moreover, it's just not safe to have Guests walking between running buses.

Timing is a consideration, but safety is much more important.

 

[BillSears]

There is not enough room between buses. Even if there were enough room to deploy the ramp, there wouldn't be enough to safely maneuver the ECV onto the ramp.

But moreover, it's just not safe to have Guests walking between running buses.

Timing is a consideration, but safety is much more important.

Yea, but they do have guests walking between and in front of buses to load but not wheeling. In a lot of places they could park the buses a few feet further apart and have room to deploy the ramp and load.

So for me timing is the primary and safety is the excuse given. But again it's just my opinion.

 

[joelkfla]

Yea, but they do have guests walking between and in front of buses to load but not wheeling. In a lot of places they could park the buses a few feet further apart and have room to deploy the ramp and load.

So for me timing is the primary and safety is the excuse given. But again it's just my opinion.

Well, I haven't worked nights for a few years, but the way it used to be done was that the front of the outside bus was far enough forward that Guests walked in front of the inside bus directly to the door of the outside bus, without going between buses. The Guests walked past the inside bus in front of the bollards (the concrete-filled posts at the front of the load zone. If there was not enough room to have the Guests walk in front of the bollards, the inside bus had to have it's front wheels chocked.

Once people walk between the buses behind the front door, both drivers lose visibility of them except in their mirrors, and the mirrors don't cover 100% of the space.

Plus, as I said, there's not enough room to maneuver onto the ramp. The buses would probably have to be a good 15' apart to do that safely. The concern is the ECV hitting the side edge of the ramp, which can cause it to flip sideways, or hitting the side of the inside bus.

 

[goofy4tink]

May I just say thank-you for this very pleasant, civil discussion?! It's been very interesting to read everyone's experiences, and concerns. You're all the best!

 

[BillSears]

Well, I haven't worked nights for a few years, but the way it used to be done was that the front of the outside bus was far enough forward that Guests walked in front of the inside bus directly to the door of the outside bus, without going between buses. The Guests walked past the inside bus in front of the bollards (the concrete-filled posts at the front of the load zone. If there was not enough room to have the Guests walk in front of the bollards, the inside bus had to have it's front wheels chocked.

Once people walk between the buses behind the front door, both drivers lose visibility of them except in their mirrors, and the mirrors don't cover 100% of the space.

Plus, as I said, there's not enough room to maneuver onto the ramp. The buses would probably have to be a good 15' apart to do that safely. The concern is the ECV hitting the side edge of the ramp, which can cause it to flip sideways, or hitting the side of the inside bus.

That all sounds reasonable Joelkfla. So yea it is mostly a safety issue.