Works Department

Transit Services Division

LOW FLOOR BUS POLICY

Procedures for Passengers Using Wheelchairs 

and Other Mobility Devices

Guelph Transit - Currently 41% of the fleet are Accessible Low Floor vehicles.  These vehicles are designed to assist in accommodating customers who use wheelchairs, walkers, and canes.  Each of these vehicles are capable of accommodating two wheelchairs.  One space is located immediately behind the driver.  The other is located on the driver side of the bus immediately behind the first wheelchair position.

The two wheelchair positions have "flip-up" triple seats.  These seats are designed to accommodate ambulatory transit riders when there are no wheelchairs on the bus.  When a wheelchair boards the bus the triple seat "flips-up" and out of the way to expose the wheelchair tie down system.

The accessible Low Floor buses are currently in operation on the following routes for 16 hours each day from Monday to Saturday.  These route are:

3      Waterloo/ Fife 

8      General Hospital

4      York Road

7      St. Joseph Health Centre

51    Gordon

22    Conestoga

9      Stone Road

23    Paisley Imperial 

24    Industrial

When a customer using a wheelchair whishes to board a Low Floor Bus, the driver, the customers on board the bus, and the customer using the wheelchair all have responsibilities.  The following is a summary of those responsibilities:

Responsibilities of Customers Onboard the Bus

All customers occupying the "flip-up" triple seat will be required to move to accommodate a customer using a wheelchair.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF CUSTOMER USING A WHEELCHAIR

A.  All customers in a wheelchair must make their own way to and from the bus stops.

B.  All wheelchairs boarding and alighting must be done from the front doors.

C.  Customers in a wheelchair will board the bus first and immediately begin to secure their wheelchair in one of the designated wheelchair positions.

D.  Customers in wheelchairs must stay clear of the entrance doors while the bus is being lowered and the ramp is being deployed.

E.  Customers in a wheelchair must have the ability to board, manoeuvre and alight independently, safely, effectively and efficiently.

F.  If assistance is required, the customer in a wheelchair must be accompanied by a companion who will assume these responsibilities.

G.  The customer in a wheelchair, and/or their companion, must be capable of sufficiently securing the wheelchair using the devices provided without the assistance of the driver.

H.  In addition to setting the wheelchair brake and wearing the wheelchair seat belt, customers in wheelchairs will be required to use at least one of the three securement devices provided:

        i.  The grab claw type wheel lock which is automatically activated when the wheelchair is firmly backed into the wheelchair space.

        ii.  The wheelchair restraint belts attached to the frame of the wheelchair.

        iii.  The bus equipped lap belt.

I.  Customers in a wheelchair should be aware that too many bags and parcels attached to, or hanging from, the wheelchair may interfere with the securement devices provided.

J.  To signal the driver to get off the bus, the customer in a wheelchair should push the stop request yellow strip located on the underside of the “flip-up” seat.  This yellow strip is located adjacent to the wheelchair customer when the “flip-up” seat is in the up position.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DRIVER

1.  Prior to entering service, as part of their circle check, each driver should test the wheelchair ramp and the kneeling device before they leave the garage each morning to avoid any on-street change-offs.

2.  When approaching a transit stop where a customer in a wheelchair wishes to board the bus, the driver will politely ask customers sitting in the “flip-up” seats to move to accommodate the customer in the wheelchair.

3.  The Driver will select an on-street location to stop the bus where the ramp can be deployed to create a minimum incline between the bus and the wheelchair customer.

4.  Upon arriving at the transit stop where a customer in a wheelchair wishes to board, the driver will:

      i.  Politely ask all customers to stay clear of the front doors while the ramp is being deployed.

      ii.   After positioning the bus at the transit stop, the driver will apply the maxi (parking) brake.

      iii.  Place the transmission in neutral.

      iv.  Open the front doors of the bus.

       v.  Activate the fast idle.

     vi.  Lower the front of the bus by activating the kneel switch.

     vii.  Deploy the ramp by activating the ramp control switch.

    viii.  Politely advise the customers when it is safe to board the bus.

      ix.  Board all customers in a wheelchair ahead of the ambulatory customers.

       x.  Politely caution customers in the immediate area of the wheelchair positions prior to the customer in a wheelchair manoeuvring into position.

5.  When the customer in a wheelchair is safely on the bus and manoeuvring into position the driver will:

         i.  Depress farebox Key #8 to record the accommodation of a customer in a wheelchair. The appropriate farebox key should also be depressed to record the fare collected (i.e. transfers, monthly passes, University passes).

        ii.  Lift the ramp.

       iii.  Raise the bus from the kneeling position.

      iv.  Close the front doors.

        v.  Place the transmission in drive.

       vi.  Release the maxi brake.

6.  The driver must be familiar with the proper use of the wheelchair securement devices and able to provide instruction should it be requested.

7.  The driver will not continue from the transit stop until the customer in the wheelchair has confirmed they are secured and prepared to proceed.

LOW FLOOR BUS POLICY

GENERAL INFORMATION 

When both wheelchair spaces are occupied, or if the bus is full to capacity and cannot accommodate another customer in a wheelchair, the intending customer in a wheelchair will be advised to wait for the next accessible Low Floor Bus. 

Pick-ups and drop-offs will be done at regular transit stops; special drop-off provision between stops may be accommodated at the request of the customer in the wheelchair.  Special drop-off between transit stops will only be accommodated when, in the opinion of the driver, it is safe to do so. 

The ramp can also be deployed at the request of a customer who walks unassisted but cannot exert themselves or bend their legs enough to climb steps. 

FARES

Regular Guelph Transit fares are in effect for all customers in a wheelchair; they must show their monthly pass to the driver or deposit their cash fare or ticket directly into the farebox. 

Mobility tickets will not be accepted on City Transit Buses.

Companions or assistants are also obligated to pay a regular Guelph Transit fare. 

RAMP FAILURE

If the ramp fails to operate in the manner in which it was designed, the Orion 6 Low Floor Bus is equipped with a manual override feature. To manually operate the ramp, turn the “manual override switch” to the horizontal position.  The ramp can now be lifted to either position.

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