I use an electric wheelchair and was wondering if I could use the Worcester buses

Comments

No_Cartographer_5298 t1_itoc4rk wrote on October 25, 2022 at 2:47 AM

Yes. A ramp extends from the front bus door, you ride on, the bus driver lifts up the front seats (if people are sitting there the bus driver has them move), then you get positioned and the bus driver locks you in

crippledcommie OP t1_itocofl wrote on October 25, 2022 at 2:52 AM

Thank you!

No_Cartographer_5298 t1_itogo5h wrote on October 25, 2022 at 3:24 AM

Of course, make sure to thank your bus driver!

motherof16paws t1_itok7xe wrote on October 25, 2022 at 3:55 AM

Fellow chair user here. As you know, having a ramp and having a ramp that works and a driver who knows how to tie down a chair are two very different things. This is very true for the WRTA, who has yet to be sued within an inch of its life for ADA violations unlike the MBTA.

Para transit is for residents only with paperwork on file signed by a doc. So if you are visiting, it'll be a no-go for you. Like most paratransits, it is also trash.

legalpretzel t1_itrqwkp wrote on October 25, 2022 at 8:35 PM

Worcester’s paratransit is super-trash compared to Boston’s. They’ll only go to places on a bus line, which is absurd given how many areas of Worcester and surrounding towns aren’t serviced by a bus line. The Ride in Boston isn’t amazing, but it covers almost the entire metro-Boston area without question.

motherof16paws t1_itsf4rd wrote on October 25, 2022 at 11:25 PM

It's so, so, so bad. I'm ok because I can drive. But there's no way I'd live in this area of the state of I couldn't drive and had a choice.

thedecentshepherd t1_itodktk wrote on October 25, 2022 at 2:59 AM

Here's information from the WRTA's website regarding the bus accessibility. https://www.therta.com/elderly-and-disabled/accessibility-at-the-wrta/

And they also offer complimentary paratransit service that allows for more direct service (these do have to be reserved ahead of time though) https://www.wrtaparatransit.com/access-ada-complementary-paratransit-service.htm