Question about ECVs and seating on buses

[turtlechick6]

I am not trying to be insensitive. I have close family members who are very disabled myself. I am just wondering....what is the policy on can you or can you not sit on your ECV once it gets strapped into the bus?

 

[SueM in MN]

I am not trying to be insensitive. I have close family members who are very disabled myself. I am just wondering....what is the policy on can you or can you not sit on your ECV once it gets strapped into the bus?

There is more information in the disABILITIES FAQs thread - one of the posts is about buses.

But, the short answer is that you can, but it is safer to get off of the ECV and ride on a bus seat.
Because ECVs have a high center of gravity, do not have a lot of good tiedown spots, they can tip with someone riding on them in the bus.

 

[Mouse's Shadow]

We were there 2 weeks ago and my DF rented a ECV. It seemed to depend on the style of bus. I didn't pay close attention to the circumstances of when she needed to take a seat. It could be by driver, but I'm thinking the bus style makes more sense. Bottom line, is that there will be times when you will not be able to ride on the ECV. I hope this helps.

 

[Magicbus]

We were there 2 weeks ago and my DF rented a ECV. It seemed to depend on the style of bus. I didn't pay close attention to the circumstances of when she needed to take a seat. It could be by driver, but I'm thinking the bus style makes more sense. Bottom line, is that there will be times when you will not be able to ride on the ECV. I hope this helps.

You will always be able to stay on the ECV if you are unable to transfer. There is no difference due to the style of the bus or the driver regarding sitting on ECVs. All drivers are supposed to request that you transfer. If you tell them that you're unable, you will be allowed to stay seated. It is safer to transfer but drivers will not insist. I have never heard of a properly secured ECV tipping over with someone sitting on it. They're secured at 3 or 4 points, plus the person has to wear a seatbelt that is attached to the wall of the bus. I have heard of WCs tipping over though.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The owner's manual of my ECV says that I should not be seated on it when it is inside of another vehicle.

I will never sit on it in a bus. A monorail is a different situation, as there are no bumps. But I will hold onto a vertical post when it is starting up or stopping for added stability.

 

[turtlechick6]

Okay thanks for the info.

 

[mom3sonstt]

I have stayed on my ECV if the bus looks particularly over-crowded. There have been times I have transferred an the bus filled to standing room only sardine-style and people sit on the arms of my ECV or lean into the basket of it - basically just lay all over it. Since I am the one who is responsible for any damage to it I try to avoid that and will stay in it. If the buses aren't crowded I transfer.

On the monorails I have so far always transferred, but I have yet to be in a crowded monorail with the ECV. Usually its just my husband and me in the whole car.

 

[Magicbus]

I have stayed on my ECV if the bus looks particularly over-crowded.

Unfortunately it's not your call. If you're able to transfer, you should as long as there is an open seat for you. And if there isn't, you shouldn't have been loaded. The drivers that allow you to remain seated should have not, unless you told them you could not transfer. If someone tells me they want to remain seated, I inform them that if you're able to, we would prefer that you do so for your own safety. That is usually enough to persuade them. The bottom line is that if you can transfer, you should.

 

[mom3sonstt]

Unfortunately it's not your call. If you're able to transfer, you should as long as there is an open seat for you. And if there isn't, you shouldn't have been loaded. The drivers that allow you to remain seated should have not, unless you told them you could not transfer. If someone tells me they want to remain seated, I inform them that if you're able to, we would prefer that you do so for your own safety. That is usually enough to persuade them. The bottom line is that if you can transfer, you should.

I am going to say on a percentage basis if times I go on the bus that I have stayed on the scooter is probably less than 10% - probably way less if I really think about it. And of the times I have opted to stay on the scooter (initially) there was probably only one or maybe two times that the driver implied or indicated that they would prefer I move to a seat. (If they asked me to or suggested I should I did). Usually my response to the question "will you remain seated" in those circumstances would be "It looks like you're going to be packed, I can just stay here". If the driver doesn't say anything and straps me in, fine. If they say we'd rather you took a seat, or something then I will move.

I'm not arguing that they shouldn't request that I move - or that I shouldn't just automatically do it - but observing that they don't.

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't think ECVs overturn often, but I am aware of at least 3 DIS posters whose ECV overturned when they were riding on it and thought it was well tied down. I don't remember if they were also wearing the seatbelt, but it could still go over with a seatbelt ( more difficult though).

 

[Magicbus]

And of the times I have opted to stay on the scooter (initially) there was probably only one or maybe two times that the driver implied or indicated that they would prefer I move to a seat.

I hear you. Too may drivers just automatically buckle you in without asking if you can transfer. I think, and hope, that you may see a change due to a department wide class that all drivers had to take in order to get everyone on the same page. We'll see.

 

[Magicbus]

I don't think ECVs overturn often, but I am aware of at least 3 DIS posters whose ECV overturned when they were riding on it and thought it was well tied down. I don't remember if they were also wearing the seatbelt, but it could still go over with a seatbelt ( more difficult though).

I'll add that I know they don't overturn often. As I said, if they are properly secured and the rider is buckled in, it's hard to imagine how it's able to tip over even during a rough ride, but I guess they can. My guess is that the rider was not buckled in and when they lost their balance, they took the scooter down with them. Just a hunch.

 

[Eeyore5]

I'll add that I know they don't overturn often. As I said, if they are properly secured and the rider is buckled in, it's hard to imagine how it's able to tip over even during a rough ride, but I guess they can. My guess is that the rider was not buckled in and when they lost their balance, they took the scooter down with them. Just a hunch.

I tipped over in my ECV. I had a seat belt and I hadn't lost my balance. If it wasn't for a guy jumping up and grabbing the ECV, I would have been hurt.

What I tell people who try to lean or sit on my ECV is please don't sit/lean on my scooter, if it was safe to be on the ECV, I would have stayed on it, it may tip over if you are on it. I never had a problem with people getting off it when asked. I was shocked at the number of people how tried to sit on it though, even with the seat folded down.