“ The Q ’ POD is preferred for oversize wheelchairs and scooters that are a challenge , while the QUANTUM works for many sizes ,” Hockman said . “ Drivers appreciate that it is contactless and they don ’ t have to get out of the seat . It really does allow the passenger to be secured in a shorter amount of time .” In a post-COVID transit environment , riders require a sense of security when traveling . The QUANTUM and Q ’ POD securement stations are designed to give riders with mobility devices independence and reassurance . “ With Q ’ POD , even the most difficult mobility devices are typically secured in half the time as traditional four-point securement ,” Drouillard said . “ With QUANTUM , securements can take as few as 25 seconds . This time savings significantly reduces dwell time allowing the bus to maintain an efficient schedule . Passengers using QUANTUM experience the independence of securing their mobility devices without operator assistance , unless requested .” The systems have an added benefit of hopefully attracting more paratransit-focused customers to fixed-route trips , freeing up paratransit trips for even more customers . Similarly , Hockman said , drivers like the QUANTUM securement system because it requires minimal operator assistance .
“ The drivers love not having to get out of the seat , but also the peaceof-mind knowing that the passenger is secured in their position ,” he said . “ If someone has issues using self-securement , we move them over to the Q ’ POD and help strap them in – but the QUANTUM response has been very positive on all fronts .” The quick securement process helps drivers to maintain safe distancing . The bus operators also appreciate the Q ’ POD securement system because it is easy to use and takes less time to deploy than many other forward-facing securement systems .
Moving Forward Hockman said that Palm Tran envisions having QUANTUM and Q ’ POD installed on all future bus orders . Because some passengers had troubles with the rear-facing nature of QUANTUM , he said that Next-Stop screens will be added to the rear of the vehicles for their benefit . Drouillard added that Palm Train is on the cutting edge of passenger accessibility , which pays dividends in community engagement and ridership . “ With QUANTUM and Q ’ POD , Q ’ STRAINT has helped Palm Tran make safety accessible for everyone ; efficiently and courteously ,” he said .
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