Ride Away Blog | Local Information | Wheelchair Accessible Vans | Handicap Van Conversions

Ride-Away shows off the Fiat 500 equipped with GuidoSimplex Hand Controls

Posted on February 6, 2012

The first Fiat 500 equipped with hand control devices for individuals with physical disabilities, offered by GuidoSimplex and installed by Ride-Away, was in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in late January. For the first time, a section of the NAIAS was dedicated to the physically challenged population. In conjunction with the Automobility program, The Chrysler Group invited Ride-Away to be a part of the show.

Please see below for a picture of the Fiat 500 from the event:

Share this:

Tagged GuidoSimplex, Ride-Away, ride-away-front-page | Comments Off

Ride-Away Demonstrates Corporate Social Responsibility in New Hampshire

Posted on January 31, 2012

Company closes out 2011 with sizeable donations to local non-profit organizations

Ride-Away Handicap Equipment Corporation, America’s largest provider of wheelchair accessible vehicles and adaptive mobility equipment for people with disabilities, ended 2011 with substantial donations to Lakes Region Community Services, and The Way Home. These contributions are just the latest events in Ride-Away’s long established history of good corporate citizenship.

Lakes Region Community Services (LRCS) supports individuals living with developmental disabilities or acquired brain disorders and their families in the greater Lakes Region of New Hampshire. Designed to enhance quality of life, LRCS offers services such as early intervention, resource coordination, parent education, transition support, family support services, and a HomeAssist eldercare program.

Since 1988, The Way Home has worked to help low-income households obtain and succeed in safe, affordable housing. The organization has assisted more than 15,000 families and individuals with its community advocacy and homeless prevention services such as housing counseling and skills training. Jaime Kuczewski, Vice President of Ride-Away, has previously served as a member of the board. Continue reading →

Share this:

Tagged Ride-Away, ride-away-front-page, wheelchair accessible van | Comments Off

Accessible Driving Options for Senior Citizens

Posted on January 30, 2012

If you are a senior citizen and looking for a new vehicle, you may have a checklist of things you want your vehicle to have. For example, comfortable seating, safety, good visibility and wide doors with high entries so as to not struggle to get in and out of the vehicle. Automakers are now designing cars with features that are more senior-friendly but to improve the driving experience, seniors may want to look at a wheelchair lift, mobility seating, or adaptive driving equipment. These devices will make getting in and out of your vehicle much easier to accomplish. Ride-Away has a full line of wheelchair and scooter lifts available for seniors. We offer single and double post lifts, under-the-vehicle lifts, and more items for customization to fit your needs.

Ride-Away also offers products like Turning Automotive Seating, lift-up seats, and extended and lowered mobility seats to name a few. These mobility seating options can give you peace of mind in knowing that you can still drive your current vehicle and be able to enter and exit the vehicle with ease. Adaptive driving equipment is also available whether you prefer mechanical or electronic hand controls and Ride-Away has a wide selection of such driving controls to choose from.

Ride-Away’s highly trained and certified Mobility Consultants will help you step-by-step through the decision making process to find the right equipment to assist you and your loved ones. Contact a Ride-Away Mobility Consultant at any of our 11 East Coast Locations to learn more about these and more accessible driving options for seniors.

Share this:

Tagged Adaptive Driving Equipment, Ride-Away, ride-away-front-page, Scooter Lifts, wheelchair lifts | Comments Off

Tips on Wheelchair Van Maintenance for Winter

Posted on January 19, 2012

January means winter. It’s also time to make sure your handicap van is ready for the problems that come with wintertime weather. If you’re not sure how to go about winterizing your handicap van, don’t worry. Ride-Away believes in making sure you are safe on the road, so here a couple considerations to keep in mind for your wheelchair accessible van as the snow starts to fly.

Tire Concerns

As cold weather arrives, the roads may become slick. That means it’s time to double check your tires. Make sure your tires are rated for mud and snow (you’ll find an M+S or M&S rating on the sidewall). You might also consider studded snow tires if you live in an area where snow and ice can be extreme. Finally, ensure that your tires are rotated so that the best tread is on the front, as this will provide better handling and grip on the road.

Continue reading →

Share this:

Tagged handicap van, Ride-Away, ride-away-front-page, wheelchair accessible van, wheelchair van | Comments Off

Ride-Away Provides Temporary Handicap Van to Help Benefit Disabled Marine Just in Time for the Holidays

Posted on December 28, 2011

Just in time for Christmas, Ride-Away provided a temporary wheelchair van to help benefit a disabled Marine and his family.

Ride-Away has always been dedicated to helping within their community. That dedication was recently shown when Ride-Away arranged for a temporary fully equipped rental wheelchair van to disabled Marine Staff Sergeant Scott Nicholas and his family while his new BraunAbility van was being modified. SSgt Nicholas is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

SSgt Nicholas was disabled in a motorcycle accident in 2010, leaving him paralyzed from the shoulders down. His family has stood by him throughout his physical therapy and rehabilitation, and now, they received the gift of mobility just in time for Christmas. Currently, SSgt. Nicholas is going through physical therapy in Tampa, Florida, at the Tampa Veterans Administration Hospital.

Continue reading →

Share this:

Tagged handicap van, Ride-Away, ride-away-front-page, wheelchair accessible van, wheelchair van | Comments Off

Mobility Seating – Choosing the Right One

Posted on November 17, 2011

For those with that struggle getting in and out of their vehicle, it might seem that the only course of action is to purchase a wheelchair van. However, that’s far from the case. In fact, there are quite a few different setups available that can provide you with excellent mobility, without the need to buy a wheelchair van. Mobility seating is one of your possible choices, and can make a huge difference in your life.

What Is Mobility Seating?

These automotive seating solutions provide you with easier ingress and egress from your vehicle. For instance, if you own a pickup truck or a taller SUV, then you’ll benefit from using a stow-away transfer seat. This type of mobility seating solution is installed under the driver-side door and extends outward from underneath. A transfer seat is mounted on a lift and allows you to easily move from the driver or passenger seat to the transfer seat, and then gently lower toward the ground (or rise up to enter the vehicle).

Another mobility seating option is a rotating lowering seat. These solutions rotate towards the door, and then gently lower you to the ground, eliminating the need to step up to get inside the vehicle. Once on the ground, you can use other mobility aids to get around. Continue reading →

Share this:

Tagged handicap van, Mobility Seating, Ride-Away, ride-away-front-page, Transfer Seat, wheelchair accessible vehicle, wheelchair van | Leave a comment

Wheelchair Securement Options – Safety and Security on the Road

Posted on November 10, 2011

A wheelchair van should give you all the freedom that you need to live the life you want. Of course, there are some important choices you’ll need to make when purchasing a wheelchair van, including things like whether you need a wheelchair lift or a ramp, whether you want hand controls installed and what seating configuration will work best for you and your family. However, you’ll also need to consider something else – your safety while in the vehicle. Wheelchair securement options exist to provide you with the best safety while you’re on the road, but you will need to know what system is right for you.

Here at Ride-Away, we offer two types of wheelchair securement options – Q-Straint and EZ-Lock. Both are industry-leading solutions and provide you with tremendous security while riding in your chair on the road. Q-Straint offers a 4-point securement system with floor anchors. You’ll also find docking systems available that lock the wheelchair in place. Q-Straint offers a powered locking mechanism as well, which is more convenient than many other solutions. Continue reading →

Share this:

Tagged EZ-Lock, Q-Straint, Ride-Away, ride-away-front-page, Wheelchair Securement Options, wheelchair van | Leave a comment

Top Spots for Wheelchair Accessible Dining in Philadelphia

Posted on November 7, 2011

Finding a great place to go out and have a nice meal with friends and family can be difficult. Finding a great place to go out and have a nice meal with friends and family that is also completely wheelchair accessible, is even more difficult. This list of top spots for wheelchair accessible dining in Philadelphia can hopefully help you find a great place to eat, and not have to worry about being able to enjoy your meal.

The Rose Tattoo Café: Since 1989, this American style restaurant has been serving lunch and dinner to thousands of patrons in the greater Philadelphia area. Their menu adapts to the different seasons, so you can enjoy a seasonal meal in a relaxing environment. They offer a variety of hors d’ oeuvres and menu items so that you can have a memorable experience. There is a wheelchair ramp available so that you can easily enter the building without any issues. The Rose Tattoo Café is located on 1847 Callowhill Street in Philadelphia. (www.rosetatoocafe.com)
Continue reading →

Share this:

Tagged Ride-Away, wheelchair accessible vehicle, wheelchair van | Leave a comment

Walk for Wheels for Friends of John Hudson Dilgen

Posted on November 3, 2011

The Cub Scouts of Cub Pack 21 are holding a Walk-A-Thon fundraiser for their fellow Scout and friend, John Hudson Dilgen on Saturday, November 5th in Tottenville, NY. John Hudson Dilgen is a 9 year-old-boy who is actively living with a rare genetic skin disease called Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (RDEB), which makes simple day-to-day activities painful and difficult. All proceeds for this event will go to benefiting John Hudson Dilgen and his family, so they can acquire a wheelchair accessible vehicle and make their home more accessible for John as well. For more information on this event, please contact Lucy Schwarz (lschwarz@si.rr.com) or Eric Knutsen (eric1075@aol.com) .

Share this:

Tagged fundraising event, wheelchair accessible vehicle | Leave a comment

The Importance of Servicing Your Wheelchair Van and Adaptive Equipment

Posted on November 3, 2011

Owning any type of vehicle means that you have to commit to regular service and maintenance to keep it in good condition. Owning a wheelchair van and adaptive equipment is no different – you still need regular service to keep everything operating the way it should. However, it comes with some additional caveats – you can’t just go to any service center and ensure that you’re maintaining your wheelchair van or mobility equipment correctly.

Here at Ride-Away, not only do we understand the importance of maintaining your mobility vehicle and adaptive equipment, but we take the needed steps to ensure that everything is always in top condition. For example, we can maintain primary and secondary driving controls, as well as providing service for wheelchair and scooter lifts. Power seat bases, power door operators, wheelchair securement systems and other adaptive equipment are only a few of the areas that our certified technicians can service and maintain. Continue reading →

Share this:

Tagged Handicap Accessible Van, mobility equipment, Mobility Van, wheelchair van | Leave a comment

Former Kino Mobility President, Joe Allen, Joins Ride-Away

Posted on November 1, 2011

Joe Allen, former President of Kino Mobility, Inc., has joined Ride-Away as the new Vice President of Sales & Marketing

Ride-Away, America’s largest provider of wheelchair accessible vehicles and adaptive mobility equipment for people with disabilities, has announced Joe Allen as their Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Joe’s responsibility will include leading all of Ride-Away’s sales initiatives, such as customer satisfaction, customer retention, measuring sales activities, and assisting in the development of many Ride-Away satellite locations.

“I have worked with Joe for almost 15 years, sitting next to him on many boards throughout the industry including NMEDA and the ADA,” says Mark Lore, Ride-Away President/CEO. “Joe brings more than a decade of industry knowledge and experience to Ride-Away, and we look forward to his expertise.” Continue reading →

Share this:

Tagged hand controls, Ride-Away, Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles | Leave a comment

7 Benefits of Wheelchair Accessible Pickup Trucks

Posted on October 27, 2011

The world of wheelchair accessible vehicles has changed dramatically in recent years. New mobility equipment, hand controls and suspension-lowering designs have made wheelchair vans more beneficial, comfortable and safer. However, vans aren’t the only vehicles that have made waves in the world of mobility. Wheelchair accessible pickup trucks are also available, and offer some pretty significant advantages. Here are 7 of the most significant advantages offered by these innovative wheelchair vehicles.

Passenger Space – While you might think a wheelchair pickup truck would limit the number of passengers in the vehicle, you can actually fit up to 5 people within one of these advanced designs.

Towing – Wheelchair vans can certainly tow a smaller payload, but they’re really not designed for such use. However, wheelchair pickup trucks can tow almost anything you want, from a boat and trailer to campers and everything in between. Continue reading →

Share this:

Tagged mobility equipment, Mobility Trucks, Wheelchair Accessible Trucks, Wheelchair Vans | Leave a comment

All Terrain Outdoor Wheelchair Options

Posted on October 24, 2011

Being able to go where you want to go in your wheelchair accessible vehicle is a great feeling. Being able to go where you want to go in your wheelchair is an exhilarating feeling all on its own. Trekking across a snow covered trail or through muddy terrain was once a very difficult task for a person in a wheelchair to accomplish on his or her own. Now with many different variations of all terrain outdoor wheelchairs (or off-road wheelchairs) you can experience the exhilaration of conquering unfavorable terrains with your family and friends. Here are some all terrain wheelchair options for you to choose from:

X4-Extreme: This powerful off-road wheelchair gives you the freedom to navigate through sand, soft ground, wet ground, and even many slippery surfaces. Its huge knobby tires makes getting through terrain feel like a breeze. The 4X-Extreme has a patented passive steering system which allows the wheelchair to better navigate and push through landscape that many wheelchairs cannot. Once you get a feel for its power and versatility, you will want to continue to push the limits of places you can go and things you can do! Continue reading →

Share this:

Tagged handicap van, Ride-Away, wheelchair accessible pick-up truck, wheelchair accessible vehicle, wheelchair van | Leave a comment

Top 10 BraunAbility Wheelchair Van Conversion Features

Posted on October 20, 2011

Getting around town in your wheelchair van and experiencing all of the great features that they have to offer can be a great feeling! The BraunAbility 2011 Dodge/Chrysler, Toyota and Honda wheelchair vans are specially designed to offer plenty of features that make transportation easier and safer for people with disabilities, as well as their families and friends. These latest BraunAbility vans are filled with wheelchair van conversion features that make their vans safe, reliable and comfortable to drive. Here are the top ten:

Exterior Styling

Custom Ground Effects

BraunAbility Badging

Automotive Styling

OEM Suspension

OEM Ride and Handling Retained

Minor Suspension Modifications

BraunAbility Ramp Design

800lb Capacity

Powder Coated

Smooth Transition

2” high Side Rails Continue reading →

Share this:

Tagged handicap vans, Mobility vans, wheelchair accessible van, Wheelchair Vans | Leave a comment

Accessible Activity Adventures in New England

Posted on October 18, 2011

Duet Wheelchair Accessible Bicycle

With the Fall season upon us, many people throughout New England are trying to get in some final outdoor activities before the cold Winter months arrive. Whether you are looking for places to go hiking or looking to simply get out and enjoy the crisp autumn air, there are many accessible activities to choose from, right here in New England! Take the family, get into your wheelchair accessible vehicle, and enjoy these wheelchair accessible activity adventures:

Interpretive Sensory Trails: Enjoy the outdoors as you take a path through some of Massachusetts’ accessible interpretive sensory trails in Natick, Norfolk, Attleboro, and the most recent trail to have been completed, Easthampton. When you travel along these trails, you will have the opportunity to interact at many different interpretive stops along the way by being able to read via Braille, read in a text, or listen to on a cell phone. With more trails opening up next year, make sure you stop by and explore the accessible trails that are currently open in your area. Continue reading →

Share this:

Tagged Ride-Away, ride-away-front-page, wheelchair accessible vehicle, wheelchair van | Leave a comment

Guidosimplex Driving Controls Offer Freedom and Independence

Posted on October 13, 2011

Wheelchair vans have changed dramatically over the years, becoming sleeker and more convenient. However, one of the most empowering changes to handicap vehicles in the modern world is the line of hand controls available that give individuals with disabilities the ability to get behind the wheel once more and enjoy the freedom of the open road on their own. One of the leaders in innovation here is Guidosimplex – their hand controls include some of the most advanced options on the market today.

For instance, they offer the 906 accelerator ring, which allows disabled drivers to control the vehicle’s speed by gently pushing the ring forward while ensuring a natural gripping position. The 906 accelerator plunger does the same thing, but allows acceleration control by depressing the plunger with your thumb.

Continue reading →

Share this:

Tagged hand controls, handicap vans, Mobility Products, Wheelchair Vans | Leave a comment

Injured Marine Receives the Truck of his Dreams

Posted on October 11, 2011

Ride-Away, The Semper Fi Fund, and the Help Our Military Heroes worked together to get CPL Charles Donnelley the truck of his dreams.

October 11, 2011 – Londonderry, NH: A Ford F250 Super Duty truck and a check were presented to New Hampshire native and Marine Corporal (Cpl.) Charles Donnelly at Ride-Away Handicap Equipment Corp. at their Corporate Offices in Londonderry on Thursday, October 6^th. Kirt Rebello, Director of Community Outreach – East for the Semper Fi Fund, Laurie Hollander from Help Our Military Heroes, and Mark Lore, President/CEO of Ride-Away, handed a check to CPL Donnelly for $10,000.00 towards the cost of the vehicle.

“We did what we could do to help,” said Ride-Away President Mark Lore. “Chuck has a very compelling story, and once we heard about it, so many people here wanted to step up and help. This is how we’re able to do what we do.”

Continue reading →

Share this:

Tagged Handicap Vehicle, Mobility Vehicle, Mobility Vehicle Conversion, wheelchair accessible vehicle | Leave a comment

See the New England Fall Foliage in your Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle

Posted on October 10, 2011

Fall is upon us and now is the perfect time to get into your wheelchair accessible vehicle to see the fall foliage throughout New England. Sure you can go to other places throughout the world to see the leaves change, but there is no other place that creates that sense of fall than right here in New England. The unique combination of the different types of trees with blazing red and orange leaves, mixed with the yellow and stunning brown leaves, make for a sight you have to see to believe.

Taking this voyage with family and friends makes the trip even that more enjoyable and memorable, and by traveling in your wheelchair accessible vehicle to check out all the sights, you’ll be sure to have plenty of room for everyone! Some of the best places to watch the fall foliage in New England are at Camden Hills State Park in Maine, Killington Peak in Vermont, Mount Greylock in Massachusetts, West Rattlesnake in New Hampshire, and Haystack Mountain State Park in Connecticut, to name a few.

Continue reading →

Share this:

Tagged handicap van, Ride-Away, wheelchair accessible vehicle, wheelchair van | Leave a comment

Side-Entry and Rear-Entry Wheelchair Vans – Choosing the Best Option for You

Posted on October 7, 2011

Shopping for a wheelchair van is not something that you should rush through. Not researching your options fully can lead to you purchasing a van that simply doesn’t meet your mobility needs. One of the most important decisions you’ll make are between side-entry and rear-entry wheelchair vans.

The Primary Difference

The primary difference between side and rear-entry handicap vans is (you guessed it) where you enter the vehicle. Side-entry vans make use of the sliding side door and either a ramp or a lift (a ramp is more common). Rear-entry vans make use of the rear of the vehicle for wheelchair access (again, a ramp is most commonly used here).

Continue reading →

Share this:

Tagged handicap vans, Ride-Away, wheelchair van, Wheelchair Vans | Leave a comment

SBA Announces Ride-Away Handicap Equipment Corp. is selected as one of the ‘SBA 100’

Posted on September 29, 2011

Ride-Away Handicap Equipment Corporation, with twelve locations including headquarters in Londonderry, NH is one of the SBA 100 companies. Ride-Away is in the business of modifying wheelchair accessible vehicles and adaptive equipment for people with disabilities.

From humble beginnings in 1986 owner, Mark Lore and an ever growing number of highly qualified staff have continued to build upon his vision through their commitment to product excellence and unsurpassed service. When they obtained their first SBA loan back in 1991 Ride-Away employed 14 and today with 165 they are the nation’s largest provider of wheelchair vans with twelve offices in nine states from Maine to Florida. Ride-Away is also in the business of investing back in the communities they serve by donating at least 10% of their earnings to more than twenty local, regional and national charitable organizations engaged in assisting individuals and families to flourish in the face of adversity.

Continue reading →

Share this:

Tagged handicap vans, Ride-Away, Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles, Wheelchair Vans | Leave a comment

Ride-Away shows off the Fiat 500 equipped with GuidoSimplex Hand Controls

Ride-Away Demonstrates Corporate Social Responsibility in New Hampshire

Company closes out 2011 with sizeable donations to local non-profit organizations

Accessible Driving Options for Senior Citizens