Countywide : Low-Floor Buses Will Help Elderly, Disabled Get Aboard
Taking the bus is about to become less of a struggle for the thousands of disabled and elderly passengers who rely on the Orange County Transportation Authority to get around.
The OCTA purchased 50 buses with low floors that are just a few inches above the curb. Riders will be able to board the new buses without climbing up several steps, as they must now do on existing coaches.
The new buses also will be easier for wheelchair users to board, OCTA spokesman John Standiford said.
Most existing buses have an elaborate ramp and hydraulic lift system for wheelchairs that takes several minutes to operate. The lift systems also require frequent maintenance, Standiford said.
By contrast, the low-floor buses contain a less complicated ramp that can be activated easily to provide a straight path onto the coach, Standiford said.
“This is a (very) simple ramp. It gets passengers on smoothly and quickly,” he said. “It’s a big advantage to people with mobility impairments.”
OCTA bus wheelchair ramps were used about 75,000 times last year, and use is expected to increase as the county’s van service for the disabled is discontinued.
The OCTA spent $11.5 million to purchase the 50 buses. The 40-foot coaches will debut in mid-1995.
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