Brattgdrd et al (1973) have studied the problems of
mobility impaired people entering and exiting taxi cabs.
Trials were carried out in five common cars and the
elements causing difficulties were identified. Proposals
were made for placing handles and using aids in the car
entrance to make the getting in and out easier. In 1976
trials were made with a specially built prototype car for
use in the special transportation service (Brattgbrd et
al, 1976). A British study of elderly and disabled people
entering and leaving cars has been carried out by
interviews, postal surveys and practical trials in different
cars, and in a dimensionally variable car-buck (Institute
for Consumer Ergonomics, 1985). The results show the
nature of problems and establish dimensional limits
to the doorway which would cause minimal
problems.
There are some specially designed cars for use in taxi
service for disabled people, for example the experimental
taxi by Volvo (Aldman and Brattgird, 1977),
the London Taxi (London Taxis International Ltd) and
the TransiTaxi (Dutcher Motors Inc, 1986). These
vehicles are designed to accommodate people sitting in
their wheelchairs.