New Wheelchair Securement System Demonstration Thursday, Feb. 9

Rock Region METRO launches two new wheelchair securement systems on two different fleet buses for a six-month trial this week. The systems, produced by Q-Straint, are called the QUANTUM and QPOD wheelchair securement systems. Both offer streamlined securements that improve safety and customer convenience and reduce boarding times. The QUANTUM wheelchair securement system is the world’s first and only automated wheelchair securement system – riders can independently secure their wheelchairs upon boarding a bus that offers this system.

Demonstrations on each system will be offered to any interested persons Thursday, Feb. 9, 3-4 p.m. at the River Cities Travel Center (310 E. Capitol Ave., Little Rock) at the Route 19 and Route 25/26/36 bus bays on the west side of the station. A Q-Straint representative will be present to answer any questions and collect rider feedback.

The buses carrying the test securement systems are two of the longest buses in the fleet and are usually placed on high-ridership routes, including Routes 14 Rosedale, 10 McCain Mall, 5 West Markham and 3 Baptist Medical Center. Bus 1001 has the QPOD securement system installed, and Bus 1003 has the QUANTUM securement system installed. These two buses will resume regular bus service rotation Friday. Any riders wishing to test the system are encouraged to attend the demonstration. Riders may use the free METROtrack real-time arrival information mobile app to track which buses are on which routes on any service day.

All METRO buses have wheelchair securement systems and can accommodate up to two non-ambulatory riders. The METRO team will evaluate the systems at the end of the six-month pilot program and welcome rider feedback. Riders can contact the METRO team at 501-375-6717 or info@rrmetro.org.

For more information on Q-Straint systems, visit qstraint.com.