ECV Warning on Disney Bus

[mom3girls2000]

I have visited Walt Disney World more than 20 times since 2007 and almost always have brought my ECV with me. I've also used it on the Disney bus transportation system with no problem - MOST of the time.

Some drivers make me get off of the ECV to transfer to a regular seat, others don't say a word if I opt to stay on - sometimes they insist on seat-belting me in, sometimes they do not.

One day, last November, my husband and I were at the World ourselves. This was the fist week of the month when the crowd levels are quite low.

We boarded a bus, and even though it was fairly empty, I was tired and opted to remain on my scooter. This driver insisted on belting me in, and I had no problem with that.

As he was making a turn, though, my scooter tipped towards the aisle! Because I was belted in, the fall was very slow. restricted by the seatbelt, so I never actually "hit" the floor, but just gradually lowered towards it. I was more shaken up than anything, as well as a little embarrassed (at my own stubborn insistence on staying on the scooter), as my DH and another passenger leaped up to help me up.

As soon as they had me up off the floor, I was all to happy to take a seat off of my scooter, and I vowed to NEVER remain on the scooter again, on a bus!

 

[disney david]

Sorry you got hurt that why they now have a sign on the bus asking you to transfer to a seat and the drivers will always suggest it. it for your safety because even with it tie down it top heavy and will as you seen tip. I hope your okay and didn't get to hurt but now you know to transfer to a seat for a safe ride.

 

[mom3girls2000]

Sorry you got hurt that why they now have a sign on the bus asking you to transfer to a seat and the drivers will always suggest it. They can't force you to but do suggest it for your safety because even with it tie down it top heavy and will as you seen tip. I hope your okay and didn't get to hurt but now you know to transfer to a seat for a safe ride.

Yes, David, thank you for repeating what I said, which is that I KNOW the signs are there and I opted to remain on my scooter despite the signs. I don't remember whether this particular driver actually asked me to transfer or not, but I do remember telling him that I was tired and didn't mind staying on the scooter. If I wanted to stay on my scooter, I was in the habit of informing the driver as I boarded or "parked" the scooter, before being asked to move by the driver.

I cannot even try to tally up the number of Disney busses I have ridden where I remained on the scooter without a problem of any sort.

I am very grateful that I was not hurt, other than my pride and ego and being shaken up a bit. But yes, this was something I had to learn the hard way.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

in all the times i used an ECV at Disney, never was allowed to stay on, i had to take a seat every time. on crowed buses had a few people complain that i was taking a second seat. hope some of them see this post.

 

[ttintagel]

Scary! So glad it turned out OK.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The owner's manual for my ECV says that I should not be seated on it when it is being transported.

Any time I use it on a bus or a shuttle van I will be sure to sit in a regular seat.

Monorail and boats are no problem to remain in it, although I make sure that I am holding onto a pole when riding the monorail.

If I am in a taxicab which loads from a ramp that opens at the back, I will stay in it as (a) there is no excess front-to-back room and I can easily brace to either side with my arms (and anyway there is no room to tip).

 

[SueM in MN]

A very good reminder of why it's important to transfer from an ECV on the bus.

You are not the first person it happened to and I'm sure you won't be the last.

Glad to hear that there was no lasting damage!

 

[stitchlovestink]

My only negative experience with a bus driver on my 12 day January trip was over a situation such as this!! I was leaving DTD late one night. I arrived at the bus stop after the bus was already there. And it was just about 11pm which is when then do their last bus runs from the marketplace stop for the evening. Well the bus driver said he could fit me on the bus which was fairly full and I wasn't super comfortable but he was rather insistent. So he had the people get up so he could make a spot for my ECV. Well when I got on, he was then going to seat belt me in and I said 'ABSOLUTELY NOT!!' It is not safe and I have been told by all other drivers to transfer to a seat! Well he said he can't make the others give me a seat so if I don't want to stand that was my only choice. So I told him then he would need to unload my ECV and send for another bus as that was not safe. I know he was ticked that he had loaded my ECV and then had to unload it but there was NO WAY I was staying on my ECV and he didn't even attempt to ask if anyone in the other seats would be willing to move. I don't know why they put those signs over top of those seats if they aren't going to enforce them?? It makes absolutely no sense to me. I understand he can't MAKE them get up. But he didn't even ask... So he wasted EVERYONE's time. But I wasn't risking my safety and staying on the ECV. I even asked him if he wanted the liability of if I fell. His answer was 'of course not'!
Oh, and a supervisor showed up while I was being unloaded and agreed that I should not be on the ECV but in a separate seat! the super radioed for a new bus to come pick me up and I was back to the resort about five minutes behind the other crew! And I believe that bus driver was going to be getting an earful from that super based on the conversation the supervisor and I had. He was not pleased with how my situation was handled.

 

[disney david]

My only negative experience with a bus driver on my 12 day January trip was over a situation such as this!! I was leaving DTD late one night. I arrived at the bus stop after the bus was already there. And it was just about 11pm which is when then do their last bus runs from the marketplace stop for the evening. Well the bus driver said he could fit me on the bus which was fairly full and I wasn't super comfortable but he was rather insistent. So he had the people get up so he could make a spot for my ECV. Well when I got on, he was then going to seat belt me in and I said 'ABSOLUTELY NOT!!' It is not safe and I have been told by all other drivers to transfer to a seat! Well he said he can't make the others give me a seat so if I don't want to stand that was my only choice. So I told him then he would need to unload my ECV and send for another bus as that was not safe. I know he was ticked that he had loaded my ECV and then had to unload it but there was NO WAY I was staying on my ECV and he didn't even attempt to ask if anyone in the other seats would be willing to move. I don't know why they put those signs over top of those seats if they aren't going to enforce them?? It makes absolutely no sense to me. I understand he can't MAKE them get up. But he didn't even ask... So he wasted EVERYONE's time. But I wasn't risking my safety and staying on the ECV. I even asked him if he wanted the liability of if I fell. His answer was 'of course not'!
Oh, and a supervisor showed up while I was being unloaded and agreed that I should not be on the ECV but in a separate seat! the super radioed for a new bus to come pick me up and I was back to the resort about five minutes behind the other crew! And I believe that bus driver was going to be getting an earful from that super based on the conversation the supervisor and I had. He was not pleased with how my situation was handled.

So instead of at least trying to ask another guest he untied you and unloaded you. It seem smarter for him to at least ask if Someone would be willing to get up. Or say I can Laos you but have no seat you okay staying on the ecv seat belted is that okay or I could call for another bus. Glad a supervisor showed up and got a new bus for you and you got to the resort. I guess the driver had good intensions on loading you and did try to get you on so he didnt have to refuse you but should of handled better once on the bus. He is required by the ada to ask but can't make guest move unless it a Disney policy to.

 

[bidnow5]

I was belted in once it was awful the scooter kept topping till the anti tip wheels hit I was fairly new at using a scooter and didn't even think about it at the time. No way I would stay on the scooter ever again. I thought sure I would fall over on almost every corner. I ended up hurting my hand from trying to hold on so tight

 

[I Love Pluto]

I have a friend who is a bus driver in Delaware. He drives a kneeling bus which is equipped to handle ECVs & Wheelchairs. The FIRST thing the drivers are taught is to ask the person on the ECV or in the wheelchair to please take a seat if possible. They further explain the chance of tipping.

It is much safer in a seat which is a legal part of the bus than in a vehicle with its own wheels.

If the person cannot transfer, a family member is asked to stand near that person to prevent tipping. A seat belt is mandatory.


At WDW - I have always been treated kindly with my ECV. Bus drivers have always politely asked if I can take a seat. I can - with assistance from a family member.

Bus drivers have always been kind, and ask if I need any assistance turning the ECV around, etc. They are awesome people!

 

[SueM in MN]

The 3 wheeled scooters are more of an issue than the 4 wheeled ones because 4 wheels are more stable than 3.

One of the other issues with n ECV is that they are fairly top heavy - the bottom half is generally not as heavy as the top-especially when someone is seated.

The last issue is that there are very few 'good' places to attach the tiedown straps and most of the places are pretty low down.
Putting that all together makes it more likely to tip, especially sideways as the bus corners or changes lanes.

 

[KPeveler]

Most scooters are long and narrow and have a fairly high center of gravity. also, as Sue has pointed out, there really aren't good places on the scooter to secure it. This makes many scooters top heavy and tippy. This is why it is generally a better idea to transfer to a regular bus seat.

a driver cannot force people to get up to provide a seat, but he can certainly ask. I'm surprised the bus driver did not ask before unloading the scooter. It seems like a waste of time to not even try!