Guide

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5.5 Facilities
A very small paratransit system, especially one that uses three-wheeled vehicles, may
conduct much of its maintenance in informal situations. Care should be taken, of course, for
the proper disposal of fluids, and to reduce the noise from repairs and the testing of engines.
Care should be taken for the safety of pedestrians walking by and of children in the
neighborhood.
Maintenance for most paratransit systems is usually provided at a gas station or garage, or at
an in-house facility.
An ideal "home base" for many larger paratransit systems would have the capability of
vehicle fueling, vehicle washing and cleaning, pre-trip and post-trip vehicle inspections, and
work bays for vehicle maintenance to be used exclusively by maintenance personnel. (Work
bays would provide areas for work, spare parts storage, tire storage, and maintenance
supervision, all depending on the size of the paratransit system.) In any facility, attention
should be given to good lighting and ventilation, noise control, safe equipment, reduction of
fire hazards, and general cleanliness. Written procedures for all this should be kept on hand.
Even a small system can insist on professionalism, good organization, and clean conditions –
this will improve the morale of everyone, including your vehicle drivers. Indeed, some small
systems can differentiate themselves from other systems precisely by offering a quality of
professional service that will command a more loyal clientele.
When it comes to procuring vehicles and parts, maintaining vehicles and equipment, or
fueling vehicles, the one piece of advice that almost always applies is to have written
procedures and keep written records. The complexity of these procedures and records will
depend on the size of the system. Even the owner-driver of a single small vehicle will want to
keep procurement, operating and maintenance records in order to document concerns,
monitor fuel consumption, and consider when maintenance is needed.
This section was prepared by Richard Schultze, with the exception of Section 5.2, which was
prepared by Unwin Safety Systems of the United Kingdom. – Photos courtesy of Unwin Safety
Systems
Go to www.globalride-sf.org/paratransit/supplement/vehicles.html for Richard Schultze's
more detailed discussion of vehicles, facilities, and equipment.