Glide Right a solution for wheelchairs

An Australian company has promised a wheelchair conversion for vans and people movers that provides a “dignified approach” for passengers.

Tysons sales manager Ryan Tyson said their Glide Rite wheelchair access system would not leave a wheelchair-bound person in full view of passing traffic.

“They were also positioned in the back of vehicles, away from other passengers and either stuck up in the air on a platform, or down in a pit in the rear of the vehicle. It robbed them of dignity.”

Glide Rite uses airbags to lower the vehicle and the floor. An access ramp also deploys to allow entry to the vehicle for manual and electric wheelchairs as well as mobility scooters.

The passenger is not confined to the rear or in a lowered floor area.

A low ramp angle and “soft-start” winch allow the carer to be with the wheelchair-bound passenger at all times and reduces the risks involved in high-lift transfers.

The ramp folds into a dedicated area and cannot be seen from outside the vehicle.

An alloy/honeycomb construction reduces the weight of components and the risk of injury to carers.

The system is available for Mercedes Benz Vito Wagon and Vito XLWB, Renault Traffic and Master and is under development for the Volkswagen T5 van.

Tysons is an Australian family business that has been converting vans for various uses for 30 years.

The basic conversion cost for the fitted Glide Rite system is about $15,000, but most people spend around $28,000 having the whole interior fitted out with extra seating.