Accessibility Specification for Small Buses Designed to Carry 9 to 22 Passengers (Inclusive)

Wheelchair Access and Accommodation

For those vehicles which are intended to carry wheelchair users seated in their wheelchairs, the following features are also required.

Wheelchair access should ideally be incorporated in all vehicles providing services to the general public, or in any vehicles intended for use by disabled people.

A10 Entrances for use by Wheelchair Users

A10.1 Wheelchair entrances may be at either the nearside or rear of the vehicle.

A10.2 If the same entrance is used by both wheelchair users and ambulant passengers, the conditions in A1 above will still apply in addition to the specific requirements for wheelchairs.

A10.3 All doorways intended for use by wheelchair users must have a clear unobstructed width of at least 800mm and must have a height at the point of entry of at least 1750mm.

A11 Boarding Aids

A11.1 All entrances used by wheelchair users must have a boarding aid i.e. a ramp or a passenger lift. Ramps and lifts are also for the use of ambulant disabled people, and facilitate access for many other people, including those with pushchairs, luggage or shopping trolleys.

A11.2 Ramps

A11.2.1 Access ramps must be capable of taking a minimum weight of 300kg and must have a slip resistant surface not less than 800mm wide. Due to the fact that some mobility aids are three-wheeled, and also that it is unsafe for an attendant to reverse a wheelchair down them, channel ramps must not be used. The transition from the ramp into the vehicle must avoid severe changes of gradient, and every effort must be made to eliminate any vertical projections at the point where the ramp links to the floor in the doorway. Access ramps must also be capable of extending to ground level.

A11.2.2 Deployment of a powered ramp must be indicated by an audible signal. Clear warning notices should be displayed to advise passengers not to board a moving ramp.

A11.2.3 If a portable ramp is used it must be carried on the vehicle at all times and must always be available for intending users. A portable ramp must be securely located in the doorway when deployed, and be securely stowed when not in use.

A11.2.4 Ramps should be of such a length as to provide a maximum slope of 7^° (approximately 1 in 8 or 12%), measured with the vehicle suspension lowered if appropriate. This is the maximum slope which many wheelchair users can manage independently, and which also reduces the hazard of an attendant having an unacceptable load when boarding or alighting a wheelchair user.

A11.2.5 Ramp lengths greater than 2.7 metres are likely to cause difficulties, whether at side or rear entrances.

A11.2.6 As a consequence of paragraph A11.2.4 and paragraph A11.2.5, vehicles with a floor height in excess of 330mm when in the boarding condition should not be fitted with a ramp.

A11.3 Passenger Lifts

A11.3.1 A power-operated passenger lift must have a load-bearing capacity of at least 300kg, and have a platform size of at least 750mm wide and 1200mm long when deployed.

A11.3.2 Passenger lifts should have colour contrasted handrails on both sides.

A11.3.3 Deployment of a passenger lift must be indicated by an audible signal. Clear warning notices should be displayed to advise passengers not to board a moving lift.

A12 Gangways

A12.1 It must be possible for a reference wheelchair - (see Annex A) - to move freely from the wheelchair entrance to any designated wheelchair space. In vehicles designed to carry two or more wheelchair users, other than on local services, it is not a requirement for the wheelchairs to be able to manoeuvre past each other. Last in, first off, can apply.

A12.2 Personal access to emergency exits must be maintained; an unobstructed width of less than 350mm is unlikely to permit emergency egress of people.

A13 Wheelchair Space

A13.1 A space of not less than 750mm in width and 1300mm in length must be provided for a wheelchair. These dimensions are derived from measurement of a wide range of wheelchairs, and provide for both occupant comfort, and some limited manoeuvring of the wheelchair. This amount of space required may have to be increased to accommodate particular wheelchair restraints.

A13.2 Where more than one wheelchair is carried additional spaces may measure no less than 600mm width and 1000mm length. This amount of space required may have to be increased to accommodate particular wheelchair restraints.

A13.3 Occupied wheelchairs must only be carried forwards or rearwards facing; sideways facing is not permitted. If facing rearward, wheelchairs must be positioned against a padded bulkhead or other structure designed to provide back and head protection. Even in this situation, the wheelchair must be restrained, and the occupant provided with a passenger restraint.

A14 Wheelchair Restraints

A14.1 A wheelchair restraint system must be provided for each wheelchair.

A14.2 Wheelchairs must be secured (restrained) before travel.

A14.3 Wheelchair restraints must, as a minimum, conform to the requirements of VSE 87/1 Code of Practice "The Safety of Passengers in Wheelchairs on Buses", or to a recognised equivalent standard.

A14.4 Instructions for the correct use of wheelchair restraints must be provided adjacent to the wheelchair space(s). The use of pictograms is recommended.

A15 Wheelchair User Restraints

A15.1 All passengers travelling in wheelchairs must be provided with a suitable passenger restraint anchored to the vehicle.

A15.2 Restraints should be of either lap-and-diagonal, or full harness types.

A16 Storage of Unoccupied Wheelchairs and Equipment

A16.1 Unoccupied wheelchairs and equipment carried in the main body of the vehicle must be firmly secured before the vehicle is in motion, and positioned so that they do not create an impediment or a hazard to passengers.

A16.2 A suitably labelled storage space should be provided for loose safety straps and wheelchair restraints.

Published: 7 December 2001

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