What will an operator do if the seats in the securement area of the bus are occupied and a passenger in a wheelchair wants to board the bus?
A. Metro policy requires that bus operators ask able-bodied passengers sitting in the wheelchair securement location to move from the area if a passenger in a wheelchair wishes to board a bus. Operators make a reasonable request and if the other passengers move, then the wheelchair passenger can board. In some cases, able-bodied passengers refuse to vacate the seats. The operators cannot force anybody to move from the securement area so this scenario would be considered a pass-up. In such a case, the operator is required to call Bus Operations Control and identify that the wheelchair patron could not be transported. Bus Operations Control will make arrangements for the next bus or alternative transportation depending on the schedule.
