Whew. I think I might have been in the presence of a decent vehicle that can transport a power wheelchair. Other than light rail (the best and easiest) the MV-1 is purpose built to meet and exceed ADA standards. I’ve been following their story for the past couple of years, hoping they would succeed. They seem to have.
I spent the morning in Emoryville rolling in and out of the two vehicles they had on display. I don’t really know what to call them. They’re not cars, nor are they vans. They are sort of a cross between a Checker cab and a London cab, only on steroids with a lift.
I’ve found my 2003 Town & Country lift-equipped mini van to be less than ideal. It works. It gets me to where I want to go, but it rattles and needs more maintenance on the ramp and assorted adaptations than the English sports cars my dad had in the 1950s. This new thing should be more rugged and easier to use as it was designed from the bottom up to be accessible. Here’s hoping anyway.
If you’re in the Bay Area tomorrow, Thursday July 22, they’ll be on display by the Barnes and Noble on Shellmound in Emoryville from noon to 7:00. Check ’em out and let me know what you think.
