A special device and vehicle design for the accessibility of coaches and long distance buses for people with reduced mobility

A certain number of studies are currently carried out in the European countries to evaluate the increase of the traffic passenger volume which would result if coaches and buses transport were to become fully accessible to disabled people. In the last decade there has been a progressive increase in the social awareness regard the needs of disabled people, throughout Europe and in other parts of the world. The dissertation fits in the field of COST Action 349, titled “Accessibility of Coaches and Long Distance Buses for People with Reduced Mobility”: the main purpose of the action is to provide a series of guidance on the construction and design of interurban and international coaches and buses, in respect of the need of people with reduced mobility. The aim is to assist operators, passengers and authorities when developing plans for accessible and high quality transport system. The paper deal about a special device to allow a wheelchair user to get on a high floor bus and about the vehicle design solutions aimed to increase accessibility for all the people with reduced mobility. The designed solutions are checked with the recommendation of the COST Action 349, presented in the final seminar held on 25 October 2005, with the purpose to check out both the design and the recommendations.