ECVs and Magical Express, Need a Refresher

[clkelley]

We're going to be taking DME in August and bringing DHs new Heavy Duty ECV.

In the past with his old one, we didn't bother requesting a lift bus as it was small enough and light enough that I had no trouble loading it in the bay below.

It's been awhile since we've done this, plus his new ECV is quite a bit heavier.

I read that they have a ramp that they can put outside the bus to load and ECV underneath?

Has anyone else seen this ramp lately??

Also, are the drivers still asking guests to load their own ECVs under the bus if they don't use the lift??

I'd really rather not bother with a lift bus if I can avoid it, but if they don't have the ramp, I'm not sure I can load the new ECV under the bus by myself.

 

[mechurchlady]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=595713
That is the FAQs for this board. Somewhere on there should be a picture of the bus with the lift. There is a lift for wheelchairs and ECVs that would let you load the ECV into the passenger compartment of the bus. I strongly recommend not riding in an ECV on a bus unless you are going only in a straight line as I have done it and it is very hard and dangerous. Get out of the ECV and sit on a regular seat.

 

[clkelley]

Yes, I know some of the buses have lifts. However, in the past, we have never used the lifts, we have stored the ECV in the luggage compartment below.

The last few times we did this we had to load the ECV ourselves as the bus drivers were not allowed to do that.

Our new ECV is much heavier, and I'm not sure I can load it under the bus by myself.

I've read that there might be a ramp available to help load the ECV in the luggage compartment below. If that ramp is fairly common, OR if bus drivers are allowed to assist in loading the ECV under the bus, we will continue to not get a lift bus. If this ramp is NOT common, and if the bus drivers still are not allowed to help in loading the ECV underneath, then we will request a lift bus, AND DH will transfer to a regular seat.

 

[Bete]

and ask them about it. I think that is best, here.

 

[peemagg]

When used ME this last trip at the airport there was a ramp that the driver of the bus and another guy who worked around there used it to load my scooter under the bus, however on the way back there was no ramp, but the driver and myself loaded it in and unloaded it by ourselves. My scooter is a smaller on though. There was men at our hotel that was willing to help load it if we needed it.