NO MORE

EXCLUSIONS

4/30/2016

Making the Lobo Village Shuttles More Accessible

A Report by Isaac Alderete

Accessibility on the lobo village shuttle

Table of contents
Introduction.. 2
Methodology... 3
Results.. 4
Discussion...... 5
Final Recommendation. 5
Works Cited 5

Abstract:
The purpose of the report is to examine the accessibility of the Lobo village shuttles. The lack of universal
features such as wheelchair ramps and low floors have made it difficult for individuals with limited
mobility to use the shuttles. This led to the examination of the buses and further research through the web
on how these shuttles could be improved. Our plan included four steps: 1) Examination of the bus 2)
Asking the drivers of the bus about its accessibility features 3) Surveying Lobo Village residents in person
4) Gathering research on how to improve these buses. From our research I learned that the shuttles did
not have universal features. I also discovered ways how big city transit systems have made their buses
more accessible such as the implementation of wheelchair lifts, ramps and lower floors. We felt that
there were only two realistic solutions to this issue, either adding a platform lift or replacing the buses all
together. Due to the price of both, we recommend that the best way to fix this issue is to add a platform
lift designed by the company Lift-U. By adding this platform lift, it will allow individuals with limited
mobility to have better access to these shuttles.

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Accessibility on the lobo village shuttle

Introduction:
It has occurred to me that the buses that Lobo Village uses to transport students from the apartments to
the campus at the University of New Mexico. Recently, I have seen two accidents happen involving
disabled individuals trying to enter the bus. One student athlete on crutches nearly tripped while trying
to enter up the stairs of the bus, while another female nearly fell face first getting off the bus had it not
been for her friend who was helping her get out. After watching these incidents happen first hand, I
realized that the buses needed improvements.
The bus system at Lobo Village, which are apartments located off campus, is the most convenient way to
arrive to campus for its residents. The buses come frequently and they eliminate students having to pay
for parking on campus. However, the steps on the buses are very high making it difficult for individuals
who physically are injured in their lower body. These steps also make it impossible for any individuals
who are in a wheelchair because there are no ramps to roll up on. Through my research and asking the
Lobo Village front office, I have learned that 31 percent of all the student athletes reside at lobo village.
This is something that they are very proud of. Student athletes seem to be the most susceptible to injury
out of all of the residents because of all the running, contact and weight lifting that they perform. It
would be unfortunate if coaches decided to stop having their athletes live in Lobo Village due to the lack
of accessibility on the buses.
In this report, I go over my research and my findings in regards to the accessibility of the shuttles. I
explain the steps that I took to get my findings. I also present two solutions: the addition of a platform
lift and the replacement of the buses with more universal ones. I believe that it is important

ATHLETES VS NON ATHLETES IN LOBO

VILLAGE
Student Athletes

Non-Athletes

31

69

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Accessibility on the lobo village shuttle

Methodology:
The steps that I took to determine what the biggest issues of the buses are and the solutions to these issues
are stated below.
Step One: Observations
The first step that I took in my research was examining the buses. I entered the shuttle on April 17 around
8:35 as I was headed to class with the intentions of learning more about its accessibility. During my
examination, I observed the following things: the steps on the entrance to the bus, whether or not there
was a wheelchair ramp, and I also looked at the isles to see if a wheelchair could fit through. By
examining the bus first hand, I was able to get a better idea of whether or not these buses have universal
features such as platform lifts or wheelchair ramps.
Step Two: Interview
The second step in finding out whether or not the buses are accessible was to ask the bus drivers. As I
boarded the Lobo Village shuttle, I simply asked three different bus drivers throughout the week of April
17-April 23 the same question: Do these buses have any extra features that allow an injured or
disabled person enter the bus more easily? By asking the people who handle the buses on a day to day
basis, I was able get a reliable answer on whether or not these shuttles were accessible.
Step three: Survey
The third step that I took was to conduct a survey. I chose to survey residents of lobo village in person. I
chose to do it in person because I felt like I would receive the most feedback and more honest answers. I
was able to survey 22 residents of lobo village and I asked them three basic questions:
1) Do you think that the shuttles have wheelchair ramps or lifts for those who need it?
2) Do you think the steps of the shuttle are too high for an individual with poor mobility?
3) Do the shuttles need to become more universal in its design?
By asking these questions I was able to get feedback that would help guide me in my next step towards
solving this issue.
Step four: Online Research
Next I conducted secondary research by browsing the web for information. I wanted to get information
on how other bus systems make their buses more accessible. I came across good websites such as the San
Diego metropolitan transit site. I visited the website for New Yorks Broome County, which had
information regarding its transportation and its accessibility. I also researched websites of manufactures
that create products to make buses more accessible. I stumbled upon a great company called Lift-U and
learned about the products that it had to offer. This part of my research really helped me learn more
about the solutions to this issue.

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Accessibility on the lobo village shuttle

Results:
My methodology led me to retrieving valuable information.
Observations:
When I examined the bus, I first noticed that the steps were too high. I realized that these steps are easy
to trip over even for those with good mobility. These steps are a nightmare for anyone with crutches. I
couldnt imagine having to climb up the steps of lobo villages shuttle with limited mobility.
Interview:
After noticing the high steps, I looked to see if there were any wheelchair ramps or lifts in the bus. I was
unsuccessful in finding these, so I asked several bus drivers if there were any, and they claimed that there
were not any that they knew of. This shocked me and it made it clear to me that these shuttles needed to
become more accessible.
Survey: 14 out of 22 individuals surveyed were shocked to believe that there was no wheelchair ramp or
lift in the bus. However, 19 out of the 22 agreed by saying that the steps of the shuttle were very high
and seem difficult to climb with limited mobility. Lastly, all 22 of the participants believed that these
shuttles needed to become more universal.
Question:

Yes

Do you think that the shuttles

14 out of 22 individuals
have wheelchair ramps or lifts for responded yes
those who need it?

Do you think the steps of the

shuttle are too high for an
individual with poor mobility?

Do the shuttles need to become

more universal?

No
Eight out of 22 individuals
responded no

19 out of 22 individuals
responded yes

Three out of 22 responded no

22 out of 22 individuals
responded yes

Zero out of 22 responded no

Online Research: Through online research, I learned about how San Diego and Broome County in New
York have buses with lower floors and smooth ramps for wheelchairs to easily enter in. Some of their
buses even had wheelchair lifts to help individuals get over a flight of steps. After learning about this, I
researched if there were ways to implement this in buses that do not already have these features, and I

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Accessibility on the lobo village shuttle

stumbled upon a company called Lift-U. After Browsing through their website, I was able to find a
product that could benefit buses that do not carry universal features. Links to these sites are provide
below:

http://www.sdmts.com/ San Diego Transit

http://www.gobroomecounty.com/transit Broome County Transit
http://www.lift-u.com/products/liftsramps-for-transit/solidplatformlift-lu10/ Lift-U

Discussion:
In this section I will go over two potential solutions for making the buses at Lobo Village more accessible.
The first solution is to add a platform lift for wheelchairs and the second solution is to replace all the
buses all together.
The addition of a platform lift:
Through the research that I have done, I found that many companies have created products that can be
attached to vehicles to make them more accessible. One way to increase the accessibility of the shuttles
is to add a platform lift. The company: Lift-U, specializes in the construction of ramps and lifts made for
transit. One product that they offer, the LU-10, is a platform that lifts the individual up and over the steps
of the bus entrance. This device is hydrologically powered and has a 600-pound load capacity. This
device works on all buses and helps all individuals with limited mobility.
Replacement of Buses with more accessible design:
The method is the costliest as it requires for Lobo Village to dispose their current buses and then acquire
new ones. Rather than just adding accessible parts to the buses, a brand new bus with accessible
features will be used. In these buses, there will be lower floors, wider walkways and wheelchair
ramps. Currently, the shuttles that Lobo Village utilizes does not include any of these features, excluding
anybody with limited mobility to board the shuttle.
Final Recommendation:
Based on our research, I learned that Lobo Villages shuttle system does not allow individuals with limited
mobility to use it with ease. This is an issue as students rely on the bus system to get to campus as it is the
most convenient way to arrive to the University. I recommend that the best way to fix this issue is adding
the Lift-U LU10 platform lift to the buses. This will allow students in wheelchairs and crutches to enter the
bus without risking further injury. By adding this platform, the buses will become more accessible to all
which will prevent injuries and become more accessible to all individuals. Thank you for your time and
consideration. If you have any questions or would like to meet together, I can be contacted at
alderete1608@unm.edu and at 505-717-6705.

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Accessibility on the lobo village shuttle

Works Cited
"The Leading Source for News and Information on Universal Design." The Leading Source for News and
Information on Universal Design. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2016.
"Moving Merseyside Forward." Bus Accessibility. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2016.
"Public Transportation." Broome County News. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2016.
"Solid Platform Lift Model LU10." LiftU Division of Hogan Mfg Inc. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2016.
"We're Headed Where You're Headed." Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2016.

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