It’s the latest thing in securing wheelchairs rapidly inside buses and public transit. And now, it is being tested inside one of ABQ Ride’s Rapid Ride Buses through fall, 2015.
The Quantum is a stand-alone unit which doesn’t require hooking straps to a wheelchair. It only needs a wheelchair to back into it to operate. Starting May 8, the Quantum Securement System will begin tests inside Bus No. 6901, a 60 ft. articulated bus currently running the Route No. 790-Rapid Ride/Blue Line.
“It’s a state of the art system that could benefit passengers and drivers alike,” said Bruce Rizzieri, director of ABQ Ride. “We believe the Quantum’s design makes it easier and quicker for our wheelchair passengers to have their wheelchair secured.”
The Quantum Securement System is a product of Q’Straint America. The company touts it as the transportation industry’s first, fully automatic, rear-facing wheelchair securement station. It can be operated by a driver either with a release button by the dashboard or next to the system itself.
It works when a wheelchair backs into the Quantum’s backrest. The press of a button engages an automatic locking sequence, which entails two arms at the sides moving to secure the wheelchair into place. The arms continually adjust their grip as needed throughout the journey. Q’Straint says only when the bus stops at a destination can the release sequence be engaged, so that a passenger can get off.
The Quantum will be tested for six months.
