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

Accessibility Specification B: Vehicles Used on Local Services

B8. Features for Wheelchair Users

B8.1 All doorways intended for use by passengers in wheelchairs are to have a clear unobstructed width of at least 800mm from floor level up to a height of at least 1800mm at the point of entry.

B8.2 Such doorways, if not within the driver's direct field of view, are to be provided with a push button on the outside of the vehicle near to the door to request operation of a boarding aid. This button is to be mounted on the near side of the vehicle as close as possible to the doorway between 850mm and 1100mm above road level, be capable of operation with the palm of the hand, colour-contrasted with its surroundings and illuminated when ready for use.

B8.3 Boarding Aids

B8.3.1 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.

B8.3.2 Ramps

B8.3.2.1 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 threewheeled, 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.

B8.3.2.2 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.

B8.3.2.3 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.

B8.3.2.4 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.

B8.3.2.5 For side entrances, the maximum ramp slope is measured with the ramp fully extended to a reference kerb height of 125mm. It is also important to ensure that the ramp length does not cause excessive intrusion onto the pavement.

B8.3.2.6 For rear entrances, the maximum ramp slope is measured to ground level. The ramp length must not exceed 2.7 metres. As a consequence of this requirement, ramps are not suitable for rear entrances when the vehicle floor height in the boarding position is more than 330mm above ground level. For vehicles where the rear boarding position is above this height, a lift is required.

B8.3.3 Passenger Lifts

B8.3.3.1 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.

B8.3.3.2 Passenger lifts should have colour contrasted handrails on both sides.

B8.3.3.3 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.

B8.4 Wheelchair and Passenger Restraints

B8.4.1 In vehicles which are certified to carry standing passengers and are not equipped with seat belts, wheelchair users may travel unsecured, provided that they are positioned in a designated rearward facing wheelchair space which accords with all of the following:

(i) The wheelchair space must be fitted with a backrest at the forward end of the space, positioned centrally within the wheelchair space, and incorporating a padded surface facing the rear of the vehicle;

(ii) The backrest meets the following dimensions:

1. Bottom edge not less than 350mm and not more than 480mm above the floor

2. Top edge not less than 1300mm above the floor, measured vertically from the floor

3. Width to be not less than 270mm and not more than 420mm up to a vertical height of 830mm from the floor, and between 270mm and 300mm above this height

4. Fitted at an angle of not less than 4^° and not more than 8^° such that the base is further rearward than the top

5. The padded surface is a single and continuous plane which passes through a transverse line 100mm to 120mm (measured horizontally) from the front end of the wheelchair space at a point between 830mm and 870mm vertically above the floor

(iii) The backrest is designed to bear a load of 2000N for a minimum of 2 seconds towards the front of the vehicle such that the backrest does not deflect more than 100mm or suffer permanent deformation or damage.

(iv) Within the wheelchair space, a clear space of not less than 750mm wide must be maintained and, in order to restrict the lateral movement of a reference wheelchair, there shall be a distance not greater than 900mm (measured in the lateral plane of the wheelchair space) between any two of the following adjacent means of support fitted on each side of the wheelchair space -

1. a vertical stanchion situated to the rear of the front end of the wheelchair space and running continuously from the floor of the wheelchair space to a height of not less than 1500mm, which shall comply with the following requirements -

(a) the base of the stanchion shall be not less than 400mm and not more than 560mm from the front end of the wheelchair space measured horizontally,

and

(b) at heights exceeding 775mm measured vertically from the floor of the wheelchair space, the stanchion shall be not less than 540mm and not more than 560mm from the front end of the wheelchair space measured horizontally;

Diagram B4: Wheelchair Space - Rear Facing - Specification B

or

2. a retractable rail extending continuously from a point not more than 200mm from the front end of the wheelchair space to a point not less than 540mm from the front end of the wheelchair space measured horizontally and at a height of not less than 600mm and not more than 800mm measured vertically from the floor of the wheelchair space;

or

3. a partition extending continuously from a point not more than 200mm from the front end of the wheelchair space to a point not less than 540mm from the front end of the wheelchair space measured horizontally and at a height of not less than 600mm and not more than 800mm measured vertically from the floor of the wheelchair space;

or

4. the side wall, or equipment fitted to the side wall, of the vehicle extending continuously from a point not more than 200mm from the front end of the wheelchair space to a point not less than 540mm from the front end of the wheelchair space measured horizontally and at a height of not less than 600mm and not more than 800mm measured vertically from the floor of the wheelchair space.

(v) A horizontal handrail is to be fitted along one side of the space at a height of 850mm to 1000mm measured vertically from the floor, to run continuously from a point not more than 300mm to the rear of the front end of the wheelchair space measured horizontally to a point not less than 1000mm to the rear of the front end of the wheelchair space measured horizontally, which does not intrude more than 90mm (measured horizontally) into the space.

(vi) an additional passenger restraint may be fitted to provide additional passenger security.

B8.4.2 (i) Other than as provided for in paragraph B8.4.1 wheelchairs must be carried forward facing, and are to be secured (restrained) before travel by a wheelchair restraint system.

(ii) 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.

(iii) Any passenger travelling in a forward facing wheelchair is to be secured before travel with either a 3-point passenger restraint (lap and diagonal belts) or a full harness passenger restraint anchored to the vehicle.

(iv) A suitable storage receptacle or space should be provided for loose safety straps and wheelchair restraints. Unoccupied wheelchairs carried in the main body of the vehicle are to be firmly secured before the vehicle is in motion, and positioned so that they do not create an impediment or hazard to passengers.

B9. Bus Exterior

B9.1 All route number and destination displays are to be clearly visible by day and by night under all lighting conditions (including bright sunshine) and are to use white or bright yellow numerals and letters on a black background.

B9.2 On the front of the bus above the windscreen there is to be a route number display at least 200mm high, preferably to the right (nearside) of an ultimate destination name in letters at least 125mm high. A route number at least 70mm high (together with the destination wherever possible) is to also be clearly displayed at or a little above eye level on the nearside, adjacent to the primary entrance door. Ideally, the route number (200mm high) should be displayed on the rear of the bus.

B10 Exterior Signing and Advertising

B10.1 The standard international wheelchair symbol (white on blue) should be displayed on the front of the bus so that wheelchair users are able to recognise accessible vehicles.

B10.2 No advertising material other than passenger information relevant to the services will be fixed to the door(s) or windows.

B11 Bell Pushes

B11.1 Bell pushes should be provided on vehicles which are used on any service operating on a request stop basis (i.e. except where the driver has a prepared schedule of where passengers require to be set down or there is a single set down point). Plastic bell strips and ceiling-mounted bell pushes are not to be fitted.

B11.2 Bell pushes must be mounted on fixed vertical handrails, sidewalls or bulkheads so as to be within reach of any passengers in wheelchairs, passengers seated on the priority seats and at every third row of seats (ideally at every row). Bell pushes adjacent to seats and wheelchair spaces are to be positioned between 700mm and 1200mm above the floor and between 1100mm and 1500mm above the floor for all other locations.

B11.3 The bell push surround and the bell push are to be in bright colours (e.g. yellow and red) which contrast with the surface on which they are mounted and with each other. The bell push is to project sufficiently from the surround so that it can be operated by the palm of the hand.

B12 Signs and Communications

B12.1 Clearly-visible illuminated signs reading "Stopping" or "Bus Stopping" are to be capable of being seen by all passengers in the bus, and are to remain illuminated until the doors are opened.

B12.2 Other signs in the bus are to be clear and in as large a print as practicable, drawing attention, for example, to the availability of concessionary fare schemes for elderly or disabled passengers. In particular, notices indicating emergency exits or the location of fire extinguishers and first aid boxes (if fitted) are to be clearly visible to the maximum number of passengers.

B12.3 A public address system is a useful option, to enable announcement of stop names and destinations, and to give other information to passengers, especially those who are blind or partially sighted or in need of special help.

B12.4 Tactile plates with raised symbols mounted on entrance and exit handrails can help blind or partially sighted passengers to distinguish features such as the number of steps. These may be fitted where agreement has been reached with local organisations representing blind or partially sighted people, thus ensuring that the message the plates convey will be understood.

Published: 7 December 2001

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