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motorised wheelchair
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Author:  Stinky Pete [ Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:52 am ]
Post subject:  motorised wheelchair
this evening i watched three WAV 's and a motorised electric 4 wheel buggy wheelchair with joystick steering
one WAV had a securing belt jammed or was it his winding in winch, i don't know, do WAV's have winding in winches???
the other couldn't make the buggy go up the ramp or had problems loading

so a London pig took the job,

the question is, can these be taken, is it legal and safe

what would be the weight of these machines ?, are vehicle ramps tested to a certain loading weight?

it seemed like the motorised wheel chair buggy sat facing the doors,
are the securing staps tested for this type of machine??
any thoughts
Author:  GA [ Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:14 pm ]
Post subject: 
Some rear loaders do have winches, some manual some electronic.

The thing is that if the vehicle is unable to carry a wheelchair because of a mechanical fault it should not be used until the fault is recified.

The thing is that not all wheelchair accessible vehicles can carry every type of wheelchair let alone these disability scooters.

The weight is dependant on the ramps used, with one piece ramps which are fitted to the vehicle the strongest and two piece ramps clamped to the side the weakest. Both types should be capable of taking the weight of an average sized wheelchair and average sized person.

B. Lucky :D
Author:  tx_op [ Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:30 pm ]
Post subject: 
no motorised wheelchair has been tested on any m1 spec vehicle as the cab is designed for manually pushed chairs only.
in dundee it is illegal to convey any wheelchair that is not properly harnessed in..you can refuse to take any motorised chair without fear of getting reported. as for buggies...well, they are side loaded, and according to our cabs unit, if the brakes are applied on the pram, it is no different to being conveyed on a bus..but i still ask the question..what did the buggy brigade do before wavs ?? they had to put the pram down and put it in the boot !! laziness on both sides methinks !! the fat saloon driver who can't get out to assist cause his belly is stuck under the wheel is happy..and the fat buggy pusher with her bag of doughnuts ready to eat after she watches you struggle to get the pram in is happy....sod's law mate...wavs are for chavs..so until the day comes that transformers design chairs and buggys..we get on with it :-|
Author:  Doom 101 [ Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:59 pm ]
Post subject: 
A good article in Taxitalk (available online) Nov 2006 regarding wheelchairs.
Author:  Doom 101 [ Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:04 pm ]
Post subject: 
Found it.

http://www.taxitalk.co.uk/pdfs/Taxitalk%20nov2006.pdf
Author:  JD [ Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:14 pm ]
Post subject: 
The 1995 DDA places the onus on the secretary of state to provide Taxi accessibility regulations for the taxi trade, the public at large and anyone else concerned in the transportation of the disabled.

The Secretary of State may make regulations ("taxi accessibility regulations") for the purpose of securing that it is possible for disabled persons to

1. Get into and out of taxis in safety?

2. To be carried in taxis in safety and in reasonable comfort?

And for disabled persons in wheelchairs.

1. To be conveyed in safety into and out of taxis while remaining in their wheelchairs?

2. And to be carried in taxis in safety and in reasonable comfort while remaining in their wheelchairs?
________________________

Unfortunately for us the Secretary of state has so far placed his own mandatory obligations on the heads of local councilors. This is not surprising when he has to juggle with provisions that allow him to regulate the confirmation of Taxis and their use not only in relation to the disabled in general but also to the wheelchair disabled?

Therefore you can perhaps see the dilemma in the delay of clear cut guidance from the Government.

Eventually the Government are going to have to address the issue of what will be licensed as hackney carriages and the limitations placed on them in respect of health and safety and the comfort of both passengers and Taxi drivers.

Some of the items to be addressed are the requirement for all or perhaps a proportion of regulated taxis, to conform with provisions relating to the following.
___________________

1. The size of any door opening which is for the use of passengers?

2. The size of the floor area of the passenger compartment?

3. The amount of headroom in the passenger compartment?

4. The fitting of restraining devices designed to ensure the stability of a wheelchair while the taxi is moving?

5. Require the driver of any regulated taxi which is plying for hire, or which has been hired, to comply with provisions of the regulations as to the carrying of ramps or other devices designed to facilitate the loading and unloading of wheelchairs?

6. Require the driver of any regulated taxi in which a disabled person who is in a wheelchair is being carried while remaining in his wheelchair to comply with provisions of the regulations as to the position in which the wheelchair is to be secured.
___________________

In the obvious absence of any clear cut guidance from the Secretary of State the only solution is to write to your local council and ask them to inform you of the requirements they place on a driver in relation to Health, and safety and comfort of both the Driver and wheelchair bound passengers when faced with their obligation under the DDA to transport the disabled.

In other words, considering the local council has placed itself in the position of the Secretary of State then you are of the opinion that such guidance should come from them. Failure to supply such guidance will result in you submitting your own conditions as to what you feel is reasonable under the terms of the 1995 DDA.

Regards

JD
Author:  GBC [ Fri Jul 20, 2007 7:13 pm ]
Post subject: 
I've carried a couple, they are a pain to get in and out, but the occupants have a right to get about the same as the rest of society. The users are very aware taxi's are not obliged to take motorised contraptions, and are usually very grateful for the journey.
Author:  grandad [ Fri Jul 20, 2007 10:31 pm ]
Post subject: 
If the wheelchair is motorised, why go in a taxi? They will get to where they are going far quicker under their own power.
Author:  gusmac [ Sat Jul 21, 2007 1:46 pm ]
Post subject: 
grandad wrote:
If the wheelchair is motorised, why go in a taxi? They will get to where they are going far quicker under their own power.
These contraptions have a max speed of 8mph and limited range due to battery power.
Author:  TDO [ Sat Jul 21, 2007 1:50 pm ]
Post subject: 
grandad wrote:
If the wheelchair is motorised, why go in a taxi? They will get to where they are going far quicker under their own power.


If they're going a mile or so perhaps, but I believe they're not much good on the motorways :P
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