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Using a Mobility Device in San Mateo

San Mateo County is located in the San Francisco Bay Area and covers a big portion of the San Francisco Peninsula, south of the state. The place is extremely diverse and affluent. Due to this, traveling inside the county, for some, requires special mode of transit such as, mobility devices. Mobility devices aid people with severe walking disabilities or who have difficulty undertaking longer journeys.

Scooters and wheelchairs

Mobility scooters or wheelchairs are a great substitute for walking. Wheelchairs can either be propelled manually or can be powered electrically. Mobility scooters, on the other hand, are only electrically powered, as are motorized wheelchairs. Scooters and wheelchairs are usually recommended for any person that has tremendous mobility/balance impairment.

Traveling with Mobility Devices

There are several transportation providers in the county that have room for mobility devices. From buses to private vans, people can choose from a variety of options as per their requirement.

Buses:

San Mateo is very accommodating for people that travel with mobility devices. However, they have set standards when boarding such vehicles. While entering, following measures need to be taken:

  • Flags and poles need to be attached to the mobility device.
  • In case the patient requires using a ramp or a lift then the bus operator will request him/her to board the vehicle before anyone else. Once the stop arrives, the operator will assist the patient off the bus after others.
  • When the patient boards the lift in a wheelchair, he/she is requested to lock the brakes to prevent unnecessary rolling when the lift is operating. Once the machine is properly secure, the operator raises the lift till the time it levels with the floor of the bus.
  • Patients are asked to face forward when boarding the ramp.

The bus is equipped with belts to secure wheelchairs and scooters. The belts on majority of these buses have a retractable design which makes it easy for operators to secure the device quickly. All these buses also comprise of a lap belt to protect the passenger.

Wheelchair Accessible Vans:

Apart from public transportation, provision for private vehicles is also highly developed in San Mateo County. There are several operators that offer wheelchair accessible vans that easily accommodate mobility vehicles, the patient and his/her traveling companions. These vehicles come with a personal attendant that watches over the health of the patient during travel.  They are also equipped with ramps or lifts that can be utilized by people who make use of mobility devices or are not able to climb steps.

These companies are completely insured and licensed with state-of-the-art wheelchair transport vehicles and attentive drivers who have been trained in the special requirements. They are well aware of the areas they serve and can find the smoothest and shortest routes to any place the transportation is required. Senior citizens, people with disabilities can ride these vans at a discount if they talk to the company. Most of these businesses also offer online reservation. All the customer needs to do is visit the company’s website and book a van of his/her choice.

People living with disability are benefitted heavily from wheelchair transportation as it offers increased independence – whether they want to go shopping, work or want to socialize. The best way to find out about these services is to use the internet. The World Wide Web will list a variety of local companies within the county that provide this facility. Patients can filter out the company that best suits their needs and budget. Better Business Bureau is one of the best websites to find out about the reputation of the owner. Almost all good companies are listed at the BBB.