Bermuda adds 15 wheelchair-accessible buses

From The Bermuda Sun:

Wheelchair user Willard Fox spends thousands of dollars each year on taxis to and from work.

Now, with the introduction of 15 wheelchair-friendly buses on the island, he hopes to save a small fortune.

Mr. Fox, who is also the Chairman of the Bermuda Physically Handicapped Association, says he will be first in line for the new fleet of specially-adapted buses which will be rolled out this week.

"If it's going my way you better believe I'll use it," said Mr. Fox who was born disabled 63 years ago. "Although it's about 40 years too late.

"Attitudes have changed a lot since then. Back then the line of thought was, 'Why would you want to go to town? You don't have a job, you don't have any money. Just stay at home.'"

Plans for the new buses have been underway since last spring and costs for them were outlined in this year's budget.

The buses, which cost $300,000 each, have a special ramp, which extends to allow wheelchair users to board the bus without assistance.

They are fully air-conditioned and can carry two wheelchairs at a time and only have six seats less than the previous buses they are replacing.

They will initially be started on all routes, with a focus on routes to and from Dockyard in lieu of cruise ship season.

"I just hope they run on a regular schedule," Mr. Fox said. "There seems to be a misconception that disabled people are never in a hurry to get anywhere - that we have all the time in the world. This simply isn't true. If I want to get to town for 9am, why can't I? They need to be as regular as possible."

"Also, I hope the bus drivers will not be put off collecting us because we are in a wheelchair and will take just that little bit longer to get on the bus. Some drivers may not want to be thrown off schedule by waiting for us."

Don Simmons, Director of Public Transportation, said the new buses, which were manufactured in Germany, are also more environmentally friendly with their high-pressure diesel engines.

"The disabled community is always in the back of our mind," Mr. Simmons said. "They are citizens too whose tax dollars have helped pay for these buses.

"This is just the start. We are always looking for ways to improve the transit service."
Premier Ewart Brown said the government is "currently researching hybrid vehicles for the next future set of buses."

The Premier added: "The drivers have welcomed the new buses. We take the drivers to test drive the buses before we buy them."