Walker Spacebus should suit disabled
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Roads and Traffic Minister Peter Bottomley has launched the Coachwork Walker minibus conversion of the Talbot Express. The vehicle has been designed with elderly and disabled passengers in mind.
The 12-seater minibus has been conceived, designed and built by Coachwork Walker in conjunction with SVO, the Department of Transport and the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee. It will be marketed as the Spacebus and by Talbot though its dealer network. Coachwork Walker says that the prototype will be touring the country this autumn.
At the launch Bottomley said: "The Spacebus shows what can be done if the needs of the passengers are built in from the outset. This vehicle demonstrates the simple concepts of good design that are so often overlooked. Features such as the 265inm-high entry step, the well placed and highly visible stanchions and handrails, the seat spacing, the aisle width and so on all add up to make a substantial difference to the ease and comfort with which all passengers can use the vehicle.
"Sadly the design of the majority of currently avaikable minibuses is basically unsuitable for elderly or disabled passengers," said Bottomley.