Table 4.5 - Amusement Rides Alternatives

Item:  Rides Covered 
Proposed Guidelines:  No exceptions for mobile or portable rides, or kiddie rides.
Final Guidelines:  Exception for mobile or portable rides.  Kiddie rides only required to comply with accessible route
provisions and provide maneuvering space in load and unload area

Item:  Scoping
Proposed Guidelines:  At least one wheelchair space and one transfer seat required per 100 seats on a ride. 
Exception permits two transfer seats where not structurally or operationally feasible to provide wheelchair spaces on
a ride.
Final Guidelines:  Designers and operators have choice of providing at least one wheelchair space, or ride seat
designed for transfer, or transfer device per ride.

Item:  Alterations
Proposed Guidelines:  Modifications to ride that affect or could affect usability subject to guidelines.
Final Guidelines:  Modifications to ride's structural or operational characteristics that change ride's performance
from that specified by the manufacturer or original design criteria subject to guidelines.  Existing rides also subject to
guidelines if load and unload area newly designed and constructed.

Item:  Accessible Route
Proposed Guidelines:  No exceptions.
Final Guidelines:  Where compliance with accessible route provisions not structurally or operationally feasible,
exceptions permit steeper slope (not to exceed 1:8) and no handrails in load and unload areas.  Exception also
permits limited use/limited application elevators (LULAs) and platform lifts as part of accessible route serving load
and unload areas.

Item:  Wheelchair Spaces 
Proposed Guidelines:  Minimum wheelchair space must be 36 inches wide and 48 inches deep.  Where space
entered from side only, space must be 60 inches deep.
Final Guidelines:  Minimum wheelchair space must be 30 inches wide and 48 inches deep.   Where space entered
from side only, sufficient maneuvering space must be provided to permit individuals using a wheelchair to enter and
exit ride.  Exception permits space to be mechanically or manually repositioned.  Protrusions permitted along front
of wheelchair space for distance of 6 inches maximum between 9 inches and 27 inches above the floor, and for
distance of 25 inches maximum more than 27 inches above the floor.  Exceptions also permit securement devices to
overlap required clearances, and exempt space from headroom provisions.

Item:  Companion Seats
Proposed Guidelines:  Where seating for more than one rider provided, companion seat must be provided for
each wheelchair space.  Where shoulder-to-shoulder seating provided, companion seats must be shoulder-to-shoulder
with adjacent wheelchair spaces.
Final Guidelines:  Where interior of ride greater than 53 inches, seating provided for more than one rider, and
wheelchair space not required to be centered within ride, companion seat must be provided for each wheelchair
space.  Where shoulder-to-shoulder seating provided, companion seats must be shoulder-to-shoulder with wheelchair
space.  Where shoulder-to-shoulder seating not structurally or operationally feasible, exception permits compliance
to maximum extent feasible.    

Item:  Transfer Seats/ Ride Seats Designed for Transfer
Proposed Guidelines:  Clear floor space must be provided with longer dimension parallel to the unobstructed
side of transfer seat, located within 3 inches from seat, and extend 12 inches beyond back of seat.  When in load and
unload position, entry with at least 36 inch wide opening must be provided and  positioned parallel and adjacent to
longer dimension of clear floor space.  Transfer seat must be 17 inches to 19 inches above load and unload surface,
and end of transfer seat adjacent to clear floor space must be unobstructed when in load and unload position.
Final Guidelines:  Clear floor space must be provided adjacent to ride seats designed for transfer.  Where openings
are provided, space must be designed to provide clearance for transfer from wheelchair to ride seat.  Ride seats
designed for transfer must be 14 inches to 24 inches above load and unload surface.

Item:  Transfer Devices
Proposed Guidelines:  No provision.
Final Guidelines:  Flexibility provided for designers and operators to develop transfer devices as an alternative. 
Transfer devices can be integral part of the ride, or permanent or temporary part of facility.  Clear floor space must
be provided adjacent to transfer device, and transfer device seats must be 14 to 24 inches above load and unload
surface.