Mobility Scooter Ramp

If you have a mobility scooter, you may need a scooter ramp to get access to your home. This article will discuss issues to consider when building or buying a mobility scooter ramp. But as every scooter is different, every scooter ramp will be different. Therefore, there will likely be issues to consider when building a scooter ramp that this article does not cover. It is best to discuss your scooter ramp needs with an ADA qualified ramp builder.

The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) sets requirements for accessibility to any place of public accommodation. While these requirements do not necessarily apply to home ramps, they set important standards which should be considered when modifying any building for access by people with disabilities. Slope The most difficult part of building a scooter ramp is getting the slope right. Very steep ramps can be dangerous. Weather conditions, such as rain or ice can make the climb even more challenging. Also, the steeper the scooter ramp, the more likely the scooter will bottom out when the ramp transitions from the incline to a level landing.

ADA guidelines recommend that ramps have the most gradual gradient possible. However, ADA guidelines dictate that 1:12 is the maximum slope allowed. This means that for every 1 inch in rise, the ramp must be at least 12 inches long, or preferably longer.

Width

ADA guidelines require that the minimum width of a ramp is 36 inches. But as many scooters are 26 inches and some are up to 32 inches, this would not leave much room on either side for example, if the driver needs to get off of the scooter while on the ramp. Check the width of your scooter and allow ample clearance for the scooter and for the rider to get off in case it is necessary.

Other issues covered by ADA Guidelines

ADA guidelines also set requirements for:

  • landings (level areas at the top, bottom and often the middle of the ramp),
  • handrails (required when rise is greater than 6 inches),
  • cross slope (no greater than 1:50),
  • edge protection (to keep from slipping off the side),
  • outdoor conditions (to keep water from accumulating)

For complete specifications, see the ADA guidelines, which are subject to change at anytime.

Issues not set by ADA Guidelines but nevertheless important include:

  • Type of materials to build the mobility scooter ramp (for example, wood, concrete, aluminum, steel, etc), Some discussion about these materials can be found in this wheelchair ramp article.
  • Covering for the scooter ramp, for example to minimize slippage during rain, snow or icy weather.
  • Weight Specifications: The scooter ramp must be able to support the weight of the scooter, occupant(s) plus any other freight being carried on the scooter. Heavy Duty scooters can weigh as much as 300-400lbs. These scooters can have a weight capacity of 400-500 lbs. Therefore, a scooter ramp which must accommodate a heavy duty scooter, an occupant and freight should be built to carry 1000lbs or more.
  • Approach to the scooter ramp: Some scooters have very wide turning radius. For example, four wheelchair heavy duty scooters can have a turning radius over 75 inches. Make sure that your mobility scooter ramp has a long enough, unobstructed approach that allows for the scooter to straighten out by the time the front wheels touch the scooter ramp.
  • If there is a door at the top scooter ramp, consider how the door will be opened. For example, if the driver of the scooter must get off of the scooter to open the door, there should be a level landing which is longer than the length of the scooter plus the length of the door so the door is able to be opened. Otherwise, the driver would be forced to stop the scooter on the incline of the scooter ramp, which could be dangerous if the scooter slipped backwards.
  • If the scooter ramp will have a switchback (two long ramps with a flat landing in between) the landing between the switchbacks must accommodate the turning radius of the scooter. That is, the landing must be considerably longer than the scooter and wider than the turning radius of the scooter, otherwise, the scooter will not be able to turn.
  • Ground clearance. Some scooters have a very small ground clearance, as low as 1-2 inches. Be certain that there is nothing that will cause the scooter to scrape, particularly when the scooter is transitioning from the scooter ramp to a landing or if going over a threshold.

See this guide for a more details about how to build ramps for home accessibility.

This article is COPYRIGHTED. It may not be copied or used without permission from the owner of the Mobility Scooter Website.