For senior living, day programs and medical transport
Lift, ramp or low-floor: a bus your riders can board
Most small accessible buses use a powered lift at a side door, which lets riders board at the curb. A low-floor bus with a ramp boards faster with fewer moving parts but needs flatter stops. Start from where your riders get on and how many use a chair.
The three setups
Side-door lift
A powered platform at a door on the curb side raises the rider and chair to floor height.
Good for: Riders board at the curb, away from traffic. The common setup on small accessible buses.
Watch for: The lift is a machine to maintain. Boarding takes longer than walking on.
Rear lift
The same powered platform, mounted at doors in the back of the bus.
Good for: Keeps the side free for walking passengers and seats.
Watch for: Riders board behind the bus, which can mean the street side or a driveway. Check where you load.
Ramp on a low-floor bus
The floor sits close to the ground, so a short ramp folds out instead of a lift.
Good for: Faster boarding with fewer moving parts, and it suits riders who use walkers too.
Watch for: Needs reasonably flat ground or a curb at each stop, and low-floor buses sit closer to bumps and driveways.
Federal minimums every lift meets
- A design load of at least 600 pounds.
- A platform at least 28 1/2 inches wide and 48 inches long, clear.
- Ramps no steeper than 1:4 when deployed to the ground.
Source: 49 CFR 38.23.
Test these before you buy
- Run the lift or ramp through several full cycles, with someone on the platform.
- Check the manual backup works, for when the power does not.
- Read the lift's rated capacity label and its service records.
- Count the securement positions and test every belt and anchor.
- Bring your largest chair and make sure it fits the door, platform and aisle.
Accessible buses for sale
Common questions
What weight must a wheelchair lift hold?
Federal accessibility rules require a lift design load of at least 600 pounds (49 CFR 38.23). Power chairs with a rider can come close to that, so ask for the rated capacity of the lift on the bus you are buying.
How big is a wheelchair lift platform?
At least 28 1/2 inches of clear width and 48 inches of clear length under federal rules (49 CFR 38.23). Larger chairs and scooters may need more, so measure the chairs your riders use.
How steep can a bus ramp be?
A ramp deployed to ground level can be no steeper than 1:4 under federal rules (49 CFR 38.23). Deploying to a curb makes the slope gentler.
How many wheelchair positions do we need?
Count the most riders who use a chair on a single trip, and add one. Each position takes the room of several seats, and it counts toward the 16-person CDL line.