Important Notice for Wheelchair & Mobility Device Users
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that accessible vehicles and railcars accommodate people who use "common wheelchairs." If a wheelchair or mobility device does not fall within the definition of a "common wheelchair" (see below), because it is too wide, too long, or too heavy, its user may have difficulty boarding, disembarking from or maneuvering within some buses and some railcars. When purchasing or ordering a new or used mobility device, individuals should take note of this definition to ensure that the mobility device can be used in accessible vehicles and railcars.
The Department of Transportation's ADA regulations define a wheelchair as follows: "Wheelchair means a mobility aid belonging to any class of three or four-wheeled devices, usable indoors, designed for and used by individuals with mobility impairments, whether operated manually or powered. A 'common wheelchair' is such a device which does not exceed 30 inches in width and 48 inches in length measured two inches above the ground, and does not weigh more than 600 pounds when occupied."
