WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT POLICY:

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discriminating against individuals with disabilities in providing transportation services. All “common wheelchairs” and their users, must be transported. A “common wheelchair” is defined by the ADA as a mobility device (including three-wheeled scooters), which safely fits on a standard passenger lift, has maximum dimensions of 30” by 48” and a maximum combined weight of 600 pounds of both passenger and common wheelchair.

Operators must require that a passenger permit his/her common wheelchair to be secured, if the common wheelchair can be properly secured. If the bus securement system cannot be used properly on a particular common wheelchair, operators must use their “best efforts” to restrain or confine the common wheelchair to the securement area and advise the common wheelchair passenger of a potential hazard. Operators may not deny transportation to common wheelchair users because his/her common wheelchair cannot be secured satisfactorily by the bus securement system.

Operators are to assist passengers in using passenger seat and/or shoulder belts upon request. The use of seat/shoulder belts is at the option of the passenger, but is strongly recommended by the transit authority. If an operator asks the common wheelchair passenger to use the seat/shoulder belt and the passenger refuses, the operator should immediately notify the dispatcher/supervisor that the operator did make an attempt to have the common wheelchair passenger use the seat/shoulder belt, and the passenger refused.

While the operator may recommend that passengers using “scooters” transfer from the “scooter” to a bus seat if the person is willing to do so, the passenger is not required to transfer.

Intending passengers using a mobility device not a common wheelchair shall not be transported by METRO Regional Transit Authority vehicles.