Caring for customers who are in wheelchairs is something that most businesses try to do, but figuring out how to best serve them can be a tricky issue. Making the lanes in your store wide enough for them and having everything at a reachable height are two steps that many stores will take, but all these are moot if the person who uses a wheelchair cannot get into your place of business in the first place. That is why most companies decide on one of two options: wheelchair lifts or ramps. Here are a few reasons why wheelchair lifts make more sense.
Less Space
It is easy to forget that a ramp has to be at a gradient where someone in a wheelchair can easily get up and down it. That requires quite a low gradient, which means the distance is longer. For the same amount of steps, you might need double or even triple the amount of room for a ramp, which can make an odd entrance to your business. On the other hand, wheelchair lifts are attached right next to the stairs so they take up the exact same amount of room and are very compact when not in use.
Fits Any Design
Some stairs are not as straightforward as just going up in a straight line. You might have a curved design or something that would otherwise impact the placement of a ramp. A wheelchair lift can be custom-fitted to the available space, it doesn't matter if it curves or is a little bit steeper, the lifting mechanism will fit. This is also useful inside, where stairs can be even more elaborate to fit part of your store's aesthetic design. Luckily, these lifts can also be designed to fit your design through custom paintwork.
Easy For The Elderly
Sometimes ramps aren't just used by those in wheelchairs, but those with other walking implements such as canes, walkers and crutches. Ramps pose a problem for these people because the distance is so much longer than the stairs so they can get more exhausted going up and down them. Wheelchair lifts offer them a great and easy way to go up and down no matter the implement they are using and can even be used by customers who have a lot of luggage or something else that might otherwise make the trek upstairs difficult.
Talk to a wheelchair lift supplier to plan your installation.
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