Eye Candy And Wheel Chair Vans: An Evolution
Wheel chair vans used to be very plain, often white, cargo vans. This did not suit the young and free spirits that so many of the drivers or passengers possessed. The automobile industry, however, has heard the call for younger, more stylish, yet practical, wheel chair vans, and they have answered. These vans no longer advertise the occupants as disabled; instead, modern wheel chair vans scream of glamour, fame and world domination.
The old model wheel chair vans were often cargo or efficiency-model vans. These old wheel chair vans were large; instead of eye candy, they were eye sores. The flat, white paint and tinted windows made for a great horror film prop, but not for great everyday travel. These vans had other major fallbacks as well. The vans were often very high, making it more difficult to get the wheelchair into the van. The vans also had heavy, high-set doors that were difficult to open from a wheelchair. The vans themselves were difficult to steer because of their size, and often were not able to be converted for handicapped drivers.
Thankfully, those days are over. The new wheel chair vans are fluid looking, and often differ very little from the regular vans that drive the streets every day. The paint comes in as many colors as one can imagine, and often can be ordered with graphics and racing stripes. These new vans are true eye candy for the handicapped driver and rider. These vans are lower than the originals, often lower than the standard van. The ceiling is also higher than the standard van. These changes in design do not affect the beauty of the van in any way. The doors often open with either “feather touch” or remote sensor. This makes it very easy to open the wheel chair vans from a wheelchair. Many of these vans come pre-converted for handicapped driving with the ability to be driven in the standard modes. The seats are also lightweight and easy to remove.
While wheelchair cars are coming into popularity, wheel chair vans still hold many advantages over the car. The vans are bigger and therefore easier to load. These vans also have more room for other things that the cars do not have room for, like speakers. While the old style vans had plenty of room, entertainment was often limited by a radio-only deck. The new vans have many audio features, such as CD players and MP3 player hook-ups. These vans also have the potential of housing many large speakers. Just because walking is hindered does not mean the ear is hindered. After all, if one is going to have a modern van, one might as well have a modern stereo system to go with it. Now, as handicapped individuals look for wheel chair vans, they should be glad these vans have evolved. In the old world of ugly vans, with no accessories and no accessibility, disabled drivers and passengers were just that: disabled. Now, they are as free as anyone.
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