Minibus Hire Across Australia

Travelling together when someone uses a wheelchair

A day out should include everyone. Tell us what your group needs, and we'll ask licensed operators for a wheelchair-accessible minibus or a mix of vehicles, then confirm what they can actually provide before you commit.

Start with the details

The more we know, the better the match. How many people use wheelchairs, and are they manual or powered? Can anyone transfer to a seat? Roughly how large and heavy are the chairs? Are there walking frames, scooters or assistance animals?

These vehicles board by lift or ramp and secure each chair at a restraint point, and every such point takes the place of seats. That's why a mixed group sometimes travels best in an accessible minibus plus a second vehicle.

Ford Transit minibus cabin with blue and grey seats
Ford Transit minibus cabin with blue and grey seats

What the rules cover, and what they leave open

The Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport apply to operators providing public transport services. Whether a private charter counts is not clear-cut, and limousines and chauffeured hire cars are not covered at all. So rather than assume, we ask each operator what the vehicle offered has.

NSW is more specific for booked wheelchair-accessible vehicles: each chair needs a floor area of no less than 1,300 mm in length and 800 mm across, plus a height of 1,500 mm. It's a handy yardstick when you compare vehicles in other states too.

Rules worth knowing

  • Under those Standards, buses and coaches are conveyances when used to provide a public transport service
  • In NSW, drivers of wheelchair-accessible hire vehicles must be competent in loading and transporting wheelchair passengers
  • At the Australian Grand Prix, Gates 1 and 5 are the recommended entries for people with accessibility needs

Getting in at the other end

Some venues publish accessible drop-off points. Brisbane's cruise terminal has two accessible bays at the end of its two-minute set-down area, and Melbourne Park sets one aside by Entrance D on Olympic Boulevard, beside the Eastern Plaza Car Park. At Flemington, route 57 trams aren't low-floor, so a booked vehicle or the train is easier for anyone using a mobility aid.

Your questions

Can you guarantee an accessible vehicle?

No one can until an operator confirms a specific vehicle for your date. We'll tell you what's been confirmed, and what hasn't, before you rely on it.

Will the driver help with boarding?

The driver usually works the lift or ramp and fastens the restraints, and NSW expects drivers of these vehicles to know how to do that safely. Personal care is best left to your own carers.

Can carers travel in the same vehicle?

Yes. Count carers in the seat numbers, and let us know if anyone needs to sit next to a particular passenger.

Can you arrange passenger mobility vehicles in Sydney?

Yes, through licensed partner operators. In Sydney, as anywhere in NSW, a booked wheelchair-accessible vehicle needs the floor space per chair set out above, and its driver must be competent at loading and carrying wheelchair passengers. Tell us your group's needs and we'll ask for one.

Cities

Vehicles