Abstract
We propose an
engineering solution that will address the issue of universal accessibility in
public transport for disable people in Bangladesh. We are going to develop a solution
based on “push and slide system with a lifting jack” so that a disable person
with his wheelchair can take himself into a BRTC China Bus easily.
The lifting device will
be a mechanical jack. We are going to use a single farm jack of handle and
socket design. It has a long handle which works as a fulcrum and the handle goes
up and down along with the device to be lifted. A disable person can lift himself easily using
this handle by moving upward and downward. We will attach a platform with its
lifting part by welding. Here is a web link of the jack:
The platform which is made
of aluminium, will be provided as the resting place of the wheelchair. This
platform might move up, down and also rotate about the jack. The design load as
per ADA specification (access-board guideline) is 300 kg (660 lbs) and our
platform will be strong enough to carry it. The movable aluminium platform will
be kept under the bus aligned with the position of the door which can rotate
about 90o. When the disable person goes to the door of the bus, he
can easily slide the platform out with his hand by rotating it. Then he has to
switch on the jack to make it loose that the platform will go down and touch
the footpath/ground. A front elevation is given below to make you understand the
total process. The edge of the platform will be sloppy and smooth enough to
ride on it which is not mentioned in the simple picture below. Then after
riding on it, the disable person will be able to lift himself vertically up to
the floor level of the bus with the help of the steel handle attached to the
lifting device. There will be a sliding plate that will cover the trade area of
the stair of the bus. This portion will emerge from the main platform. And
finally, the wheelchair will reach to the passage of the bus.
Considering the economy
of Bangladesh, no modification is suggested for the wheelchair, so there is no
extra financial burden on the disable people. Moreover, there is no major
modification in the BRTC bus. It only needs some accessory devices to be
attached to the left side of the door of the bus.
Our total estimated
cost is about only 12,000-15,000 Tk to build and attach the total system initially.
In this system, we do
not have to use any ramp or elevated platform at the footpath. We are able to
take a disable person onto the bus from anywhere we want.
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