Anthropometry of Wheeled Mobility Project: Final Report

3.3.11 180-Degree Turn

The mean width required for all participants to complete a 180-degree turn in our sample was smaller than the UDI findings (Figure 3‒10), but our 95th percentile values for power chair and scooters users were larger than the maximum values obtained in the UDI study. The disparities are likely due to the differences in the studies described previously.

The space requirements for a 180-degree turn are similar across countries, ranging from 1500 mm (59 in.) in the U.K. and Canada to 1540 mm (60.6 in.) in Australia. The U.S. standard of 1525 mm (60 in.) accommodates just over 80% of the manual and powered wheelchair users, but less than 50% of the scooter users in our sample. An increase in the 180-degree turning width of at least 175 mm (7 in.) would be needed to accommodate 95% of manual and powered wheelchair users and 90% of the scooter users. Again, there are some manual chair users, power chair users and scooter users who require much larger spaces than the 95th percentile values, exceeding 500 mm (almost 20 in.) beyond the current U.S. standards!

* indicates data plotted in the graph

Figure 3-11. 180-degree turning width: research findings versus the standards.