30.5Platform-Vehicle Interface

So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that life’s a great balancing act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.Dr. Seuss, writer and cartoonist, 1904–1991

The platform-vehicle interface can significantly affect accessibility for a variety of users. Levelness and gap issues can be serious barriers to access. This section describes techniques to ensure that the interface between the station platform and vehicle is accessible for all users.

There are many means to alleviating platform-vehicle interface issues. In Chapter 25: Stations, a variety of mechanisms that can be applied are evaluated and explained. Those mechanisms include:

Level Boarding;
Platform-Vehicle Gap;
Boarding Bridges;

Fig. 30.44 A boarding bridge deployed in the BRT system in Cape Town, South Africa — **Fig. 30.44**A boarding bridge deployed in the BRT system in Cape Town, South Africa *City of Cape Town.*

Fig. 30.45 Diagram providing detail of the alignment of the boarding bridge with the platform. — **Fig. 30.45**Diagram providing detail of the alignment of the boarding bridge with the platform. *City of Cape Town.*

Alignment Markers;
Guide Wheels;

Fig. 30.46 Front tire of the vehicle — **Fig. 30.46**Front tire of the vehicle *Cleveland RTA*

Fig. 30.47 guide wheel in greater detail — **Fig. 30.47**guide wheel in greater detail *Cleveland RTA*

Optical Guidance and Magnet Alignment;
Automatic Enforcement;
Beveled Curbs;
Platform Edge Treatment;
Dedicated Accessible Boarding Area;
Station-Side Driver.