Has anyone ever noticed...

[Biscuitsmom31]

how on the Disney buses people in wheelchairs are strapped in with fort knox security while others are left standing up and holding on for dear life? My DH uses and electric wheelchair and we always laugh about this. They spend five minutes strapping him in and then let everyone else fend for themselves. I guess if there were a bad wreck he'd be the only survivor!

 

[KristaTX]

That is kind of strange. It does seem like I have heard of a study that showed that people on buses (at least school buses) are safer not strapped in. Not sure how the physics works on that one. And I haven't bothered to google it so I don't know for sure that it is true .

Maybe they're more concerned about securing his wheelchair so that it doesn't tumble over and hurt someone if there were an accident.

Does he sit on his wheelchair when the bus goes? Most people do, but I was once on a bus with 2 wheelchairs on it (which take up 3 seats each when strapped in). The strange thing was that the people they belonged to moved to regular seats for the ride to the resort . So those 2 people were in essence taking up 8 seats on a crowded bus with a lot of people standing.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I would imagine it has to do with the law--you cannot have a free object with wheels--hence why ALL strollers must be folded even if we can lock down the wheels. I think it has to do with safety of other people as it doesn't matter if someone is in the "wheels" or not. So it must do with the safety of "other" passengers. Since accessibility of busses is just as important to someone in a wheelchair as it is to someone who can walk--the legal compromise is locked down and secure. And since not all wheelchairs have the person securely strapped to the device--that further supports the notion that it is to protect other passengers.

 

[minkydog]

The thought of an electric wheelchair NOT strapped down on a crowded bus. Yowza!

 

[Magickndm]

The strange thing was that the people they belonged to moved to regular seats for the ride to the resort . So those 2 people were in essence taking up 8 seats on a crowded bus with a lot of people standing.

Maybe they had been in the chair for hours and wanted to change positions for a bit?

 

[phorsenuf]

I was once on a bus with 2 wheelchairs on it (which take up 3 seats each when strapped in). The strange thing was that the people they belonged to moved to regular seats for the ride to the resort . So those 2 people were in essence taking up 8 seats on a crowded bus with a lot of people standing.

Preface: I am not directing this at you, but you make a point which is why I am quoting it.

This is the reason I hate taking the busses with my ecv. People assume things and then give nasty looks or make comments about taking up seats. What you don't realize is most bus drivers prefer you sit in a regular seat than in your wheelchair/ecv. I don't know their exact reasoning behind it but I do what they say.
So I am not choosing to take up so many seats but just doing as I'm told.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Maybe they had been in the chair for hours and wanted to change positions for a bit?

Or maybe as I said--the rider had no intention of riding in the WC on the bus--but due to safety reasons, the chair still had to be strapped in.

My mom uses an ECV at Disney and sits in it 50% of the time. Her disability requires frequent change in position and sometimes sitting in that chair does her more harm than good.

Not an issue on busses at this time.

But perhaps we should be thankful that the bus driver is legally required to secure these things lest they land on someone's foot who is having improper thoughts about other guests and their wheelchair nonusage on busses.

 

[Magickndm]

This is the reason I hate taking the busses with my ecv. People assume things and then give nasty looks or make comments about taking up seats.

I, for one, am sorry you feel this way. I don't think too many people out there actually choose to use a wheelchair. Disney transportation is open to anyone visiting there. People who have a problem with "lost" seats can just get over it.

 

[minkydog]

I, for one, am sorry you feel this way. I don't think too many people out there actually choose to use a wheelchair. Disney transportation is open to anyone visiting there. People who have a problem with "lost" seats can just get over it.

My thought, exactly. We were "treated" to the sighs and stares of some pretty rude adults on our last trip with Christian. While Christian walks just fine, he cannot walk for long without needing to sit. He is off-balance and hypotonic, though you wouldn't know it to look at him. Sometimes we put him in his w/c just to get a break from keeping up with him. Call me a bad mom if you want to, but I challenge you to chase after him and have him pulling on your arms all day. Christian is actually safer sitting in his chair on the bus than sitting in a seat because he wears a seat-belt in his w/c. Not that our bus-riding compadres would care.They grumbled and rolled their eyes and complained about "having to wait on the G__D___ wheelchair."

Karma is always watching

 

[justplaingoofy]

I am not saying this to sound sarcastic...honest...
but my father is in a wheelchair and he would gladly give it up to even stand on a bus let alone get a regular seat on a bus if he could.

I am guessing that they need to strap them down so well because of liability. A person that does not have limitations is able to hold onto things and use their muscles.. my dad has Multiple sclerosis and can barely move fingers on one hand.. so if there were an accident or the bus stopped short he could not put his hands out to brace himself.

Like I said I am not trying to be sarcastic, just to show anothers view point.

 

[Pop Daddy]

I secretly sigh to myself when I see a person in the wheel cahir at the bus stops, slows ya down, but I wouldnt want to be in there shoes

 

[BillSears]

I secretly sigh to myself when I see a person in the wheel cahir at the bus stops, slows ya down, but I wouldnt want to be in there shoes

I agree with ya PD. I secretly sigh too and I'm the one using the darn lifts. I hate how long it takes and inconveniencing others. It's just one of those unfortunate parts of life.

As someone who stays in his chair during the ride I think the wheelchairs are strapped in to prevent tipping to the sides. Some of those sharp turns can flip a chair right over especially if it has a rider in it. I tend to not worry about it usually because I have good upper body strength and can hold onto the bar next to the chair to prevent tipping. But if someone were to not pay attention and let go or not have the strength to hold on thier chair would easily end up tipping over to the side.

 

[chris1gill]

I have to agree, using that lift and getting me locked in is a total PIA for me too & yes I know EVERYONE is waiting to get on the bus!! But, in all fairness to me, I have almost no upper or lower body strength, so it's a good thing they lock me and my chair down... I certainly couldn't save myself & by golly I couldn't save that 300 pound chair of mine, I just got a new chair and it was the heaviest and most sophisticated chair I could find!!

Anyhow, it's all in the name of safety, you don't want that chair falling on you in an accident!

 

[SueM in MN]

The strapping in is for the safety of the other passengers as well as for the safety of the wheelchair user if they are riding in the wheelchair.

A power wheelchair weighs between 250 and 300 pounds - without anyone riding in it. Not something you want moving around in a sudden stop, sharp turn or accident. My DDs power wheelchair weights about 300 with the batteries, her footrests and seat cushions. Her manual wheelchair is a lightweight one and weighs nearly 45 pound with everything on it. Again, not something you want flying around a bus. I agree with Bill, that part of the strapping is to keep it from toppling over sideways.

Also, for those who get out of their wheelchairs/ecvs, sometimes that can save the driver some time strapping it in, especially if it doesn't have a lot of secure parts of the chair that he/she can use to attach the tiedown straps. It still will be secured well, but the driver doesn't have to worry about the passenger and can sometimes strap it in ways that are faster and would not be possible if someone was in the chair.
My DD can't easily get out of her wheelchair and, besides, she has been used to riding in it for many years, so she always rides the buses in her wheelchair. It's kind of scary though for some people who are not used to it. Besides that, ECVs are not designed to be sat on during transport - and many don't have any good points to attach the tiedown straps.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I get more upset when the freakin' bus is broken and they cannot get the lift set up properly to board the dang wheelchair.

Not the fault of the person in the chair by any means.

I think we watched as they attempted no less than 10 times to get the darn lift thingy flush with the curb.

For Pete's sake--WDW needs to have their equipment be reliable!