Wheelchair Accessible Taxis
Transport services to physically handicapped persons, particularly those on wheelchairs, were at best limited until a few years ago. The occupants of wheelchairs had no choice but to live a seclusion life. We had to be separated from their seats for moving purposes and packed into the cars. This also gave the patient and the driver great difficulty. Officials recognized a significant need for transportation services and metropolitan city government implemented usable wheelchair taxis.
The wheelchair-accessible taxis development process went through various testing phases. These cars require a large space for wheelchair accommodation. Very few vehicles could accomplish such a monumental task.
Many taxi owners adapt their regular vehicles by allowing such changes to their cars to be open to wheelchair occupants.
- Such adjustments may include the following: reducing a portion of the board.
- To handle a wheelchair, the seating configuration is changed and reconfigured.
- The suspension can be stiffened to allow the vehicle to carry additional weight.
- The vehicle’s fuel lines and gas tanks can be changed.
- A power kneeling device can be introduced to minimize the gradient of the ramp in side-entry vehicles.
- Of passenger safety, a license to run a wheelchair-accessible taxi is a must.
Side Entry
The wheelchair user can be placed in the front passenger position in the wheelchair or operator position in the side entrance equipped vehicle which provides more regular storage space. The main problem for wheelchair accessible taxis equipped with side entrance is that they need a handicap parking spot or some extra space for wheelchairs to enter or exit the car to install the ramp as some driveways may not be large enough to accommodate the automobile. More than 75% of taxi holders use this type of vehicle designed for entry.
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