THE CHALLENGES OF WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT: SEARCHING FOR SOLUTIONS

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) brought along transportation requirements that meant better public transportation accessibility for persons with disabilities. The requirement for accessible fixed route transportation as well as complementary paratransit services for those who are unable to use available fixed route services gave persons with disabilities the same mobility opportunities as others. The paper discusses one specific ADA accessibility requirement: the securement of a wheelchair in public transportation vehicles. The Center for Urban Transportation Research surveyed 270 agencies about their securement policies, difficulties, and strategies to assess the scope and magnitude of securement issues currently facing transit agencies and paratransit providers in the United States. The survey findings are provided; they appear to validate and provide support for initiatives that identify securement solutions that address the needs of both providers and passengers.