Photos:

Bridging the gap to public transport access

About five million Australians (one in four) stand to gain from an automatic ramp invented by a Brisbane architect that provides safe and easy access to trains, trams, buses and ferries.

Wednesday 11 May

The ramp, which is stored in a small cassette carried by the vehicle or ferry, automatically unfolds at a stop, bridging the gap to the platform or dock.

“Wheelchair users, families with toddlers and the elderly, all struggle to board and leave public transport,” says Fresh Innovator Kevin Fullerton who worked on the design with structural designer Theo Schacht.

“Large gaps and steps of different height—some more than 40 centimetres—can make boarding difficult, hazardous and to some, impossible. The Glidelok ramp can provide these people with newfound freedom and the confidence to travel.”

The Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates that about one quarter of the population falls into these categories of need. Disability legislation in Australia, North America and Europe stipulates that public transport cannot discriminate against wheelchair users.

“The present system of manually placed ramps does not comply with this legislation, and the currently available automatic ramps are too large to attach to existing trains without major structural alterations,” Kevin says.

“Our ramp retracts into a compact cassette only 11 cm high and 16 cm deep, and can easily be bolted under the train’s doorstep.”

The Glidelok ramp can also close the dangerous gap between a train and platform when they are the same level.  No other ramps are capable of this function.

“The multi-plate system assembles itself inside the cassette as it extends and finds the platform level so there are no moving parts exposed. Built-in sensors can detect if the ramp is obstructed, and stop it.”

The ramp can be activated by the guard or driver or can be programmed for automatic deployment at all stops.

Kevin has applied for patent protection and, with the assistance of the Triton Foundation—a national not-for-profit organisation that assists inventors in commercialising their ideas—is confident of obtaining licensing agreements with manufacturers to capitalize on the huge potential of overseas rail markets. 

The invention of Glidelok won Kevin a place at Fresh Innovators, a national initiative to bring the work of early career innovators to public attention. As one of the 16 finalists Kevin has received media and presentation training and is now talking to the media, schools and business about his ramp.

One of the 16 will win a study tour to the UK courtesy of the British Council Australia.

For more information contact Kevin Fullerton t: 07 3893 2990 m: 0412 510 516 e:  kfullerton@optusnet.com.au

Prototype demonstration available

Photos:

Mind the gap: Sometimes the gap between train and platform can be 40cm	Nice and Neat: The Glidelok can be retrofitted to all trains and sits just under the door	In six seconds: The ramp glides out in 6 seconds
The unit fits into a box that is 11cm high and 16cm deep. It slides out like a pack of cards.